Friends with Needles

Top Left #1 by Celia Hydes

Turtle and Shark Fishing Cays and Sett Names

When the turtlers reached the cays, they would build temporary huts, mostly over the water, which had fewer sand-flies. They would help each other set those up before heading off to the cay where they would set up their own. A “sett” was the place where turtles slept, which the men would seek out in the night. This is where the fishermen would “sett” their nets.  Caymanian’s had names for those cays, some given by the indigenous people from the area, and some given by Caymanians according to who traditionally “sett”” in that spot.

Top Row from left #2 by Rhonda Edie and Cherrion Fairweather

The Old Men and the Sea Turtles

This story tells of Mr. Clinton Whittaker and two other men out in a catboat, ranging, when the mainsail got damaged in foul weather. The Captain, being known as “strong headed,” asked Mr. Green to watch for the reefs breaking in the east, to get them back to the Miskito Banks. Clinton and Green realised very quickly that the captain had gotten them lost. But he refused to admit it. Then they ran into a storm and quickly lost sight of land. Thankfully, they came across a red mangrove forest and tied to it. There they survived on little hot coffee they somehow manged to make. When the storm eased, they went out again, sailing aimlessly. They caught sight of another ship passing and followed it, hoping it was heading to land. Finally, they made it back to the Miskito Banks safely. Clinton described feeling such great relief when he saw three Caymanian schooners sheltering in the same area.

Top Row from left- #3 by Ms. Ina Augustine and Raejani Lopez

Hunters of the Sea Turtle

This work is inspired by the mystery of where the sea turtles go for six months of the year. They are “missing” from October to February every year. The good thing about this is that it allowed the eelgrass to replenish and the turtle population to replenish. Our fishermen fished for turtles from March to May, which was considered the short season. The turtles then migrated to Costa Rica for two months to mate and lay eggs, then back from July to September, the Long Season. It was October to February that no one knew where they went.

Top Row from left- #4 by Ina Augustine

Captain John Emmerson Hurlston

This work work tells the story of a man, John Powery, who asked Captain Hurlston to teach him how to navigate, as he was going to buy a little boat and catch turtles to sell and take care of his family. Capt. Hurlston did, and John began making trips to fish. Unfortunately, on one of his trips, his small boat caught on fire, and he perished with it.

2nd row down, from left #1 by Kerry Nixon

A Lost Tradition

This work was inspired by an interview where a seaman spoke about how he is unable to teach his son how to spear fish or catch turtles because those things are prohibited now. He questions how we are to preserve traditions we can no longer practice. He believes that generational Caymanians should have the rights, even if limited to a small season, to pass down heritage traditions.

2nd row down, from left, #2 by Nasaria Suckoo Chollette

Taino Woman

These passages reveal how many things practiced as a people were taught to us by the Taino. This includes having a matriarchal society, catching turtles with nets and hook ‘n line, keeping turtles in thatch-and-stick pens in the sea (Kraals), smoke drying meat to make it last and laying turtles on their back to travel, allowing them to live longer.

Though there is no substantial proof that the Taino lived in the Cayman Islands, their influence in the surrounding larger islands like Jamaica, Hispaniola and Cuba provided settlers in these places an expertise in the hunting of sea turtles, and eventually led to Caymanians becoming, “… the greatest of hunters in the Caribbean Sea”.

2nd row down, from left, #3 by Rhonda Edie and Cherrion Fairweather

Surviving the Storm

This piece is inspired by a story told to us by Ms. Daphne Orrett. Here's a concise summary of the passage, including all the major points, the quoted line about praying and holding on, and the final line:

A 14-year-old boy named Whitey, eager to go to sea, was taken on a turtle-trapping voyage by his great-uncle, WeWe. Before they left, Whitey’s mother asked Bebe to bring her son back safely, and he promised he would. The trip started off well, with Whitey amazed by the number of turtles they caught, but on the way back, a fierce storm began to form.

Recognizing the danger, Uncle Bebe insisted they abandon the ship and take shelter on a cay. He tied Whitey to a tall coconut tree and tied himself to another nearby. Preparing the boy for the storm, he told him:

“Pray and hold on. The wind is going to whip us, and the rain is going to beat us, but just hold on and pray.”

Throughout the storm, Whitey could hear his uncle’s voice repeating, “Just pray and hold on, my boy, hold on.”

The storm battered them twice, from both directions, and when it finally passed, all that remained of the ship and turtles were scattered debris and bodies. After being rescued with a few other survivors, they returned to the Cayman Islands. Keeping his word, Uncle Bebe led the boy to his mother and said:
“Ms. Hettie Lawson, as I promised, here is your son.”

2nd row down, from left, #4 by Kerry Nixon

This piece depicts the old George Town Market, where traditionally people went to get turtle meat on a Saturday morning. The people lined up with their "pudding pan" or basin to put it in. You could hear the men returning in their catboats, blowing their conch shells to let the family know they were back safely, and let the community know they were back with fish, turtle, lobster, conch and more, to sell.

3rd row down, from left, #1 by Celia Hydes

Andrew Powery

On October 26, 1932, just days before the devastating 1932 Cayman storm, the yawl Managuan set out from West Bay to turtle at the Serrano Banks but ran aground, leaving 20-year-old Andrew Powery with a deep sense of foreboding. As the vessel began to leak and eventually sank, the crew swam to a nearby cay, seeking shelter. Driven by determination, Andrew set out alone to find help, enduring multiple exhausting swims—once swimming in a full circle back to where he started—and battling thirst, injuries, and fear of sharks. Despite being swept out to sea and sustaining numerous cuts from coral reefs, he eventually reached Big Cay. There, he encountered two other survivors and directed them back to rescue his stranded shipmates. In 2003, Andrew Powery was honoured for his courage, with his name inscribed on the Wall of Honour in Heroes Square. This work depicts the excitement and relief of their homecoming.

3rd row down, from left, #2 by Carol A, Terry

Cowboys of the Turtle Range

This work depicts the process of setting up temporary homes, out in the cays- lodgings and kraals. We see the inside of the kraals and a ranger wrestling a turtle. These men were truly wranglers.

3rd row down, from left, #3 by Nasaria Suckoo Chollette

Isla De Pina

Has anyone ever noticed that the places we travelled to, to fish, are the same places we migrated to, to live? This work focuses on Isla Pines, where Caymanians were known and Caymanieros- great turtlers- and settled in a place known as “Crocodillo” to the local people. It was us that brought coconuts there, to grow, which are so plentiful now. We lived there for many generations, speaking English and singing songs about the home we missed, Cayman.

3rd row down, from left, #4 by Dorothea “Cindy” Shaw

Yee-Haw

Young boys used to travel with their older uncles, Father’s and Grandfathers, to learn to turtle. There are often mentions of how they used to ride the backs of the turtles when they were inside the drawls. What an adventure life must have been in those days.

3rd row down, from left, #5 by Lorna Reid

Andrew Powery

On October 26, 1932, just days before the devastating 1932 Cayman storm, the yawl Managuan set out from West Bay to turtle at the Serrano Banks but ran aground, leaving 20-year-old Andrew Powery with a deep sense of foreboding. As the vessel began to leak and eventually sank, the crew swam to a nearby cay, seeking shelter. Driven by determination, Andrew set out alone to find help, enduring multiple exhausting swims—once swimming in a full circle back to where he started—and battling thirst, injuries, and fear of sharks. Despite being swept out to sea and sustaining numerous cuts from coral reefs, he eventually reached Big Cay. There, he encountered two other survivors and directed them back to rescue his stranded shipmates. In 2003, Andrew Powery was honoured for his courage, with his name inscribed on the Wall of Honour in Heroes Square. This work depicts the painful journey Andrew took to save the lives of others.

Thank you to Edie's Decor and Angie Bryan for sewing/finishing services.