Huge, beautiful mural unveiled at CIS

By Christopher Tobutt

If you go past Camana Bay’s ARC center you’ll see a huge, colourful and amazing mural which shows turtles, catboats, chickens, and corals all blended together to make a huge work of art.  It was made by 14 students from Cayman International School under the guidance of Keri Lawrence and Gabrielle Scott, two visual designers who work for Dart. It was a big, collaborative project, and it has just been unveiled to the public.

“The students gave us their work. We combined them all into the mural,” Keri explained. “All 14 students gave us their pieces, and we collectively put all their pieces together into one. The mural shows life above and below water, so someone did a chicken, someone did some coral, someone did a sailboat and we combined them all together. We loved seeing it come to life from start to completion. We really wanted to make sure all their work was represented, and so it was very heartwarming to hear each student say, ‘hey, I did that,” or, ‘that’s my iguana’”

Explaining the process Keri said, “It began on an iPad where we managed to draw in the elements, making sure they fit into the composition. We also got inspiration from other artists around the world, so that this project was a true collaboration. When everyone was happy with the drawing, the next step was to get the sketch onto the wall. Gabby and I waited until the sun went down one afternoon, pulled out a projector. This ensured that all the proportions were correct, so that we could start the fun part, which was the colour. 

Each of the students received a gift certificate from Office Supplies, which stocks art materials, and then each of them too it in turns to sign their name a the bottom so it will be there for all to see

Gabrielle told her story in front of the students, encouraging them that, yes, art could be a ‘real’ job for them if they loved it: “A little over a year ago, when I was still in University going into my 3rd year. If you asked me what I wanted to be, I could not have told you. I especially would not have thought I’d be loving life in the sun, painting a huge mural. I went into university with no plan, just my love for creativity and the looming doubts in my mind saying, ‘art isn’t a real job.’ Well, interning here at Dart really proved me wrong.

“Here is where I discovered what it meant to be a visual designer. I could use the digital art skills I learnt in university and the fine art skills I learnt in high school, a form of art I thought I’d never be able to do again. That is why I am so grateful for this opportunity and future opportunities like this that allow my passion to blossom. In short, follow you passion, do those internships, and art is a job, a pretty fun job too.”