An Exhibition by Alta and Gordon Solomon
A compilation of photography, sculpture and paintings by Alta and Gordon Solomon represents the current art movement of the Cayman Islands. Artist and Musicians, the original painting to their current album cover “Lamb and Lion” will be featured along with 30 other original oil paintings. Gordon’s series shows the versatility and limitlessness of his talent, which at a first glance, would appear to be three or four different artist exhibiting at once.From figurative carvings using the roots of trees from his Island that leads to a trail of swords and “heads” in his debut sculptors series called the”Art of war” to abstract paintings he calls “Mindscapes,” interpretations of parables and favorite songs, to paint dripping of the “The Sexes” series which reveals the balance of male and female. Impressionistic paintings entitled the “Majestic Tradition” details a history where Africa and Europe collide, catboats and schooners built in the Cayman Islands during it’s maritime peak display it’s heritage, and scenes of the islands portrayed in the collection “Destination Cayman” etch the history of the many cultures together to bring about the foundation of The Cayman Islands as the artist see’s them.”Portrait of a Hand” painted in a self taught style called spots of light tells the stories of different hands at work. Alta’s photography “Birth, Beauty, and Rest” will expose viewers to just a few of the people and destinations of the Cayman Islands, conveying the peace and harmony that those who come to The Cayman Islands seek. Alta is from the island of Cayman Brac and is a seventh generation Caymanian, whose for-fathers built schooners and sailed to diverse places.
A Youth and Community worker & PA with The NCVO, a local non-profit organization, Alta is known as one of the islands finest photographers. Her Photography has won her first place with the Cayman National Cultural foundation, the Honoring women’s competition and others through out the Island. As a fourth generation Caymanian, who hails from Grand Cayman, Gordon uses his talent to “awaken” the heritage of his people through contemporary art form, correcting and challenging those who say The Cayman Islands has no culture.
Gordon has taught art through the Cayman Islands National Gallery education program and The University College of the Cayman Islands as well as private lessons and his large-scale murals are found in various districts of Grand Cayman all of which gives merit to the genius of the “Caymanian in New York”.
Their islands are located 84-degrees west and 19 degrees North. “Las Tortugas” was the first name of the islands when discovered in 1503 by Christopher Columbus, until settled in the 1800s. By the 1900s these islands had only 1000 people living on them, today George Town is the official district of art in a chain of three islands consisting of 55,000 diverse peoples.
