Deal Ebanks

Deal Ebanks is a heritage craftsman from West Bay. Working primarily with traditional local materials, he creates objects such as singing kites, calavans, walking sticks, and wauri boards, which he shares through Cayman Traditional Arts.

Carved from wood salvaged after Hurricane Ivan, this handcrafted gig—Cayman’s version of the spinning top—transforms a beloved childhood toy into a piece of sculptural folk art. With its smooth curves, balanced form, and teardrop shape tipped with a long metal nail, the gig is both playful and precise.

Traditionally used in competitive games, the gig holds deep cultural resonance in the Cayman Islands. Deal Ebanks has been making gigs since boyhood. His version alters the ordinary top with a nail to create a faster, longer spin—a feature that was eventually adopted by neighbouring islands.

Beyond its function, Warrior Gig has a sculptural presence: the carved guava wood, turned by hand, gives it an elegance and integrity that elevates it from simple toy to object of art. It reflects a tradition where skill, memory, and material come together in a form that is both playful and profound.

Biography adapted from National Gallery of the Cayman Islands website: https://www.nationalgallery.org.ky/artist/deal-ebanks/