The Gallery by Jason Kennedy and Janine Every opened its doors amid all the excitement you'd expect leading up to Cayman Art Week, the pinnacle of Cayman's art calendar.
They hosted a private grand opening event on 30 May that included a visit from HE Governor Jane Owen. Hours later, they jumped right in for the start of CAW, a whirlwind week of special events aimed at celebrating Cayman's artists and creatives.
This was far from a soft opening.
"The turn out that we had was beyond our expectations. People came in droves and were visibly excited to be immersed in artwork, live music, great food and other refreshments," said Kennedy, a visual artist known for capturing the people of The Caribbean in painted portraits. "The Gallery was able to participate in Cayman Art Week, with the help of Natalie Urquhart and her team and we received only rave reviews about CAW from all guests who came to see us."
The Gallery by Jason Kennedy and Janine Every is nestled next to Align on the Paseo, in the space formerly occupied by Audiophile. The collections in this brand new gallery space instantly connect visitors with the lifestyle, mood and faces of the people in the Cayman Islands, wider Caribbean and beyond.
"The heart behind The Gallery is not just to sell artwork. We want it to be a place where people from all journeys of life can come and catch their breath," Every said. "A place where one can get lost in the story of a painting. A place to catch up with a friend while appreciating fine art. A place to be a part of a community that values creative culture."
Every is a South African born, self- taught artist best known for her portraiture work who loves exploring different styles and mediums. Kennedy is a Canadian-born artist who, when coaxed, describes his technique as a loose composite of realism and impressionism with the message and emotion depicted in the subjects in his work the real focus.
The Gallery plans to host special events like private art lessons, classes for children, art therapy sessions and more. The artists say Camana Bay was an easy choice for the gallery.
"Camana Bay is not just a central location with great parking, it's a visually striking property that compliments the quality of the art in The Gallery," Kennedy said. "We wanted The Gallery to be in a family friendly, vibrant atmosphere with lots of other shops, restaurants and constant movement."
The Gallery is open during regular business hours but serious buyers can also schedule private showings by calling (345) 328-3565 or emailing jasonkennedyart@gmail.com. While the doors have only been open a short time, the artists say the reaction from the community has been overwhelming.
"Being new to this, I didn’t quite know what to expect," Every said. "I certainly didn’t expect this amount of support from the community and local businesses. Camana Bay has been so welcoming and helpful. I feel so at home here and excited about what the future holds."
This article was published in the July/August 2023 print edition of Camana Bay Times.