Local developer gives to Miss Lassie project

(CNS): The Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s project to save and restore the home of the world renoun visionary artist Miss Lassie (Gladwyn K Bush) in South Sound received a $25,000 boost recently from the Dart Foundation. The money will go toward continuing assessment of the house by building and art restoration experts and ongoing reconstruction. The government purchased the property last year for $1 million and the CNCF now needs to raise at least another $1 million to complete the project.

Two Cuban experts had previously begun the first phase of the assessment aspect of the project. Dr. Isabel Rigol, an expert in the restoration of buildings and Dr. Elisa Serrano, an expert in conservation and restoration of pictorial heritage and mural art advised the Cayman National Cultural Foundation on what was needed to save the house for future generations. Local engineering advice has come from Alan Veeran. Work on the building continues with construction crews from Phoenix Construction working on weekends.

Miss Lassie started painting at the age of 62, after what she described as a visionary experience. Strong Christian themes run through her work, which she painted not only on canvas, but also on the walls, windows and furnishings of her home. The paintings on her house remain to this day andis one reason why there is an urgency to preserve the house as a national cultural treasure.