The National Gallery’s Celebration of Art event which takes place this Saturday at Pageant Beach from 10am to 6pm is expected to be a day jam-packed with lots of art and entertainment for all ages, tastes and artistic sensibilities.

Visitors to this FREE event will have the opportunity to experience art in various forms, sample great local food and music and maybe even discover their inner artist, all thanks to National Gallery patron Sue Olde, who has funded the entire event.

Two stages will be erected on Pageant Beach and from 11am, there will be nonstop entertainment taking place starting with local band In Transit followed by a rope making demonstration. All girl group Paradise, Barnes Dance Academy, Heat, Dance Unlimited, Impulz, Chuck & Barrie, Trade Winds, North Side Kitchen Band, Coco Red, Salsa Dancing demonstration and Gone Country are all slated for half hour performances throughout the day.

The Heritage Art area will be very informative and entertaining for tourists and residents alike as Cayman Traditional Arts and other artists from the Cayman Craft Market showcase their arts and craft and demonstrate such traditional Cayman rituals as basket weaving, thatching, kite making and gig spinning.

The Funky Art area is expected to be a huge hit with everyone, teens in particular. In this section, people can get henna tattoos, have their bodies airbrushed or their hair braided, do some tie-dying, purchase and/or learn how to make jewellery and buy painted shirts. There will also be a giant paint wall on which to make a splash. Lil’ Creationz, a Junior Achievement company, will be selling CDs in this section and One345 Fashions will also be selling its products which promote Cayman culture through popular Caymanian words and phrases captured on clothing. In addition, kids and teens will be able to create their own One345 t-shirts at the event.

The Gift Art area will be stocked with a variety of items for sale including fabric handbags, key rings, painted cigar boxes, magnets, needlework, woodwork, ceramics, pottery, candles, soaps and jigsaw puzzles, all made or manufactured locally. The Cayman Taffy Company and Cayman Sea Salt will also have their products on sale and Island Glassblowing Studio will be doing demonstrations. Visitors to this area can learn about how some of these items are made while kids can also make some gifts of their own such as Valentine’s Day cards and jewellery.

The Fine Art area will feature the work of Cayman’s local painters, sculptors, jewelers, photographers and other artisans such as April Bending, Avril Ward, Franklyn Manderson, Charles Long, Kerwin Ebanks, Lennon Christian, Al Ebanks and Luelan Bodden. The Nelson, Morgan and Pure Art Galleries will also be exhibiting pieces. All art will be available for purchase by the public.

Culinary art enthusiasts will enjoy the quaint Culinary Art area which will feature cake decorating and sugar art. There will also be an ice sculpting demonstration at 4:00pm in the area and food carving demonstrations from members of the Cayman Culinary Society.

Kids will be entertained in the fully staffed Kids Zone which will have finger painting, giant paint by numbers, face painting and various arts and craft activities in addition to the traditional bouncing castle, an activity train, popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy,. There will also be three sand sculpting competitions held throughout the day for kids. In addition, babysitting services will be offered for children 6 months to 8 years old in a comfortable Moroccan-style sleeping area.

As soon as you enter you will be able to visit the National Gallery’s area which will provide information about the Gallery, its programmes and projects. Attendees can also learn more about the Centre’s new building currently under construction and the Name-A-Brick project which is a part of the Gallery’s fundraising efforts.

Celebration of Art is longtime Cayman resident and National Gallery patron Sue Olde’s contribution to the huge fundraising campaign being carried out by the Gallery to raise funds for the new building whose construction began in November.

Food will be on sale courtesy of Tony’s Jerk Food, Seymour’s Jerk Chicken, Island Taste Restaurant and The Wharf Restaurant. Alcohol can be purchased with food only.

Admission to the Celebration is free and complimentary bus transportation will be provided to and from all districts. For more information, contact organizers Kelly Holding at 623.8822 or email info@KellyHolding.com.