Gram Bella’s is proud to present "Manavelins 4," a new showcase by multidisciplinary artist Kerwin G. Ebanks. Opening on 1 April 2026, this marks the fourth iteration of Ebanks' evolving body of work, now expanded with new pieces and hosted within our project space.
"Manavelins" is a 19th-century nautical slang term referring to miscellaneous odds and ends, scraps of food, or extra gear. It is a fitting metaphor for Ebanks’ practice; since 2018, he has worked almost exclusively with repurposed materials and "trash" salvaged from Cayman’s shores.
At Gram Bella’s, we refer to our exhibitions as "dialogues". This terminology reflects our focus on the active communication between the artist, the artwork, and the audience. These creative dialogues are intended to foster broader community conversations regarding stewardship and our shared environment.
Ebanks’ collection is a living project. As he continues his efforts to clean local beaches, his supply of materials—and the works themselves—constantly expands. This showcase features 2D and 3D works crafted from discarded items like "ghost" fishing nets, HDPE plastics, and grocery store paper bags, reimagined into intricate mosaics and sculptures.
Kerwin G. Ebanks is a Caymanian artist whose work explores human impact on natural resources. His practice highlights critical issues such as pollution, overfishing, and the evolving politics of beach access using found objects, mixed media, painting and sculpture.
1 April: Dialogue opens
4 April 3PM: Community art activity followed by a "Meet the Artist" evening
18 April 8AM: Beach clean-up at the shore across from Gram Bella’s, followed immediately by a "Makery Session" using the items collected
22-24 April: Earth Week school field trips scheduled & requested through manavelins@gmail.com
22 April: Earth Day, Illuminate The Earth, green lighting switched on
25 April 6PM: A panel dialogue featuring government officials, artists, activists, and community members to discuss the intersections of art and environmental policy
16 May 6PM: Film screening related to environmental themes (film tbc)
30 May 9AM: Cayman Art Week East bus tours. Registration required at caymanartweek.com
13 June 6PM: Film screening related to environmental themes (film tbc)
27 June 6PM: Closing Party.
We invite you to explore Gram Bella's with 24-hour access
Lighting: The interior lights can be turned on via the switches located on the walls:
On entry (both the main right and left walls)
On the right-hand wall at the rear of the building
Please ensure all lights are switched off upon exiting the space. As Gram Bella's is an outdoor venue, please explore responsibly and respectfully.