Cayman to take part in Carifesta X

(CNS): A Cayman contingent of 19 performers and support personnel is heading to Guyana for Carifesta X, which will showcase a play written by Frank McField and traditional Cayman music played by the Swanky Kitchen Band. Cayman’s participation in Carifesta is organised by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) with Henry Muttoo the group’s Artistic Director and CNCF Chairman Martin Bould heading the delegation.

CARIFESTA (Caribbean Festival of Arts), which started in 1970 is the region’s roving, multidisciplinary, mega arts festival featuring a wide range of creative artists from various Caribbean and Latin American Countries. This year it is being hosted by Guyana and runs August 22 through August 31.

According to a CNCF release, the Cayman troupe offers theatre, music, storytelling and visual arts. The National Gallery is supporting the visual arts section of Cayman’s Carifesta show and is represented by its Deputy Director Natalie Coleman.

Cayman’s theatrical contribution to Carifesta is a production of the Frank  McField play, “One White One Black”. The play stars Quincy Brown and Fritz McPherson who portray two down and out men searching to make sense of their situation through psycho-drama and role playing, including taking on the roles of each other’s wives. The play is scheduled for two performances in Guyana.

Swanky Kitchen Band, which was a big hit at Carifesta IX in 2006, will take Cayman style kitchen dance music and their traditional style renditions of contemporary music to Carifesta audiences. Led by violinist Samuel Rose, the band is comprised of guitarist NicholasJohnson and percussionists Daniel Rose, Phillip Rose, Paula Scott and Stan Ebanks.

 The visual arts are well represented in Cayman’s Carifesta mission, and some 23 paintings from 14 local artists are being exhibited in Guyana, including paintings from Al Ebanks, Avril Ward, Gordon Solomon, Bendel Hydes, Charles Long, David Bridgeman, Gladwyn K. Bush, Joanne Sibley, Nasaria Suckoo Chollette , Randy Chollette, Wray Banker, Teresa Grimes, Luelan Bodden and Maureen Lazarus.

Twenty-one photographs from 11 photographers are being exhibited to represent Cayman in Guyana. The Cayman pieces are the work of Art Pasqual, Aston Ebanks, Courtney Platt, David Wolfe, Jennifer Newton, Nimer Alverado, Patrick Broderick, Rabeeah Dilbert, Sean Evans, Sheree Ebanks and Yvette McField.

During Carifesta each country will have the opportunity to host a night of entertainment. Performing at the Cayman Night are Dave Martins with his mix of comedy and song, Swanky Kitchen Band, Virginia Foster telling stories, and Aaron Kimball on tassa drums.

Cayman also has a Country Booth exhibit at the Carifesta Grand Cultural Market and Trade Fair, which displays a mix of tourism and history. Department of Tourism (DoT) photos highlight scenes from around the three islands, and the Cayman Islands National Archive photos depict Cayman’s past and heritage. The DoT is also providing Cayman Islands souvenir items to give away at the booth.

The Carifesta tour is funded by the Ministry of Education, Training, Employment, Youth, Sports, & Culture.