Copyright caymancompass
By Compass Contributor Christopher Tobutt Step through the doorway of Pure Art Gallery & Gifts on South Church Street and you’re no longer in a shop – you’re in a living mosaic. From floor to ceiling, every inch is covered in color, texture and story. Shelves brim with handcrafted treasures, walls pulse with paintings and corners whisper with the charm of mermaid toys and delicate jewellery. It’s a place where Cayman’s soul is stitched, sculpted, and painted into being. On Friday, 24 Oct., the shop shimmered with even more life than usual. ‘Meet the Artists’ was the occasion – a gathering of 12 local creators whose work fills the space year-round. Maria Tom Pack, who has managed Pure Art for three years, envisioned the event as a joyful launch into high season. “It’s been a lot of fun,” she said, smiling as guests mingled with artists and explored the kaleidoscope of Caymanian creativity. Many – but not all – of the artists began as amateurs, quietly honing their craft over years. Pat Nicholson’s delicate batik florals – and one joyful undersea scene – emerge “bit by bit,” she said, as if the fabric itself reveals its secrets. John Clark’s acrylic landscapes breathe with the soft breezes of Cayman’s shores – scenes so vivid you can almost hear the rustle of palms. Karen Flesch (née Tomlinson), who only began selling her oil paintings two years ago, layers Caymanian culture into her canvases, sometimes using newspaper as a textured backdrop. “I enjoy highlighting the beauty and colours of the environment here,” she said. Among the artists was Caymanian Kara Julian, whose beautiful hand-painted glassware has evolved over decades. What began in 1997 as mainly floral designs has blossomed into elegant tributes to traditional Cayman life – turtles, catboats and island motifs rendered in acrylic enamel. Her work, delicate yet vibrant, captures the essence of Cayman in every curve and brushstroke. Akinita Thomas threads her way through Cayman’s geography and culture with embroidery – bright, intricate and evolving. “When I started out it was more like a colouring book,” she reflected. “Now I produce intricate details.” Her work, like much of what filled the room that night, is a testament to transformation. Her exquisite series of stylised maps of Grand Cayman were iconic, the colours and simplified form of the island, seen from above, standing out like brightly coloured jewels. Photography, too, found its voice. Svitlana Gilyun’s lens captures the quiet poetry of island life – a lone coconut on Seven Mile Beach, waves curling in the distance. “We have to stop and smell the roses,” she said. Iryna Gross, once a nail artist, now paints vivid seascapes. “I love the scenery here. It inspires me a lot.” That night, the shop wasn’t just full – it had truly come alive. And for those who stepped inside, it offered not just art, but a glimpse into the heart of the island itself. Christopher Tobutt is a freelance journalist who has written for various publications in the Cayman Islands since 2003.
