(CMR) More than 30 Cayman Islands artists will come together for an evening of arts, poetry and conversation this Saturday, 24 April, for the ‘Sexuality Through Art’ show at Central Terrace in Bayshore Mall.
This multimedia exhibition aims to create a space for a healthy discussion about sex and sexuality, with arts and poetry as the guide.
The show has attracted diverse participation from the islands’ arts community, including visual artists Horacio Esteban, Luelan Bodden, Avril Ward, Julie Corsetti, Scott Swing, Damien Doorgen, Amrita Debnath, Sahana Parvatikar, and Lynn Smith Markoff. Poets and writers to present include Leonard Dilbert, Michel Powery, Hylton Grace, Jesse Coe, Billie Bryan, Catriona Walters, Shaniah Kelly, Alan Smith Markoff, and more.
Marleine Gagnon, one of the event organizers and a registered psychologist, said she became interested in organizing the show, in part, to better understand the cultural and environmental factors that shape sexuality, as well as the barriers that hinder healthy sexual expression.
“I had questions like, if you hear the word sexuality, what comes to mind? Are we comfortable to talk about the topic here on island? Art can provide a more comfortable means to begin exploring these culturally taboo and difficult subjects. ” Gagnon explained.
“Art is another language, and it’s another way to access knowledge and to learn about a topic. An exhibit like this one is a great way to create a space for the topic of sexuality and make it more open,” Gagnon added.
“Sexuality is part of what makes us human. Many times we talk about sexuality, we talk about it in a very negative way and, therefore, I thought this [show] was an important way of actually having positive conversations around sexuality. For us to understand our feelings, values, attitudes, sexual behaviors is actually a healthy and necessary thing to do,” said Karlene Bramwell, senior policy analyst at the Gender Affairs Unit in the Ministry of Community Affairs. “
The event will encourage participants to reconsider their own conceptions of sexuality through interactive questions set up throughout the show. Online, the public may also follow the ‘Sexuality Through Art’ show’s interview series available on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The ‘Sexuality Through Art’ show is sponsored by the Gender Affairs Unit, with support from the Cayman Islands Red Cross and Colours Caribbean. The event organizing committee includes Marleine Gagnon, Alyson Medeiros, Hylton Grace, and Michel Powery. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and admission is free. This show is intended for a mature audience.
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