'70 April Bending, BFA

'70 April Bending, BFA, was honoured recently by the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands as an artist whose work was purchased for the permanent collection. The painting is titled Peaceful Palms. The image of a renewed palm emerging from a dark background references hurricane Ivan, which caused so much destruction. The painting reflects the indomitable essence of nature and of the Cayman people.

April, who moved to Cayman in 2001, taught at the University College of the Cayman Islands. While there, she was asked to help teach English to the inmates at Northward men's prison.

She recalls that the prison was hot, with no air conditioning. Men were housed in small concrete-block cells wide enough for a cot and space to shuffle past to look out the small barred hole in the wall that was a window. If they behaved well they could go out into the yard and play dominoes at a table under a thatched roof. Boredom and heat created short tempers. Fighting brought an addition of months to the sentences.

April recognized that a creative outlet would be beneficial and approached the director of the prison to get permission for art classes. It was agreed that if she could raise the funds for materials, the prison would arrange a room for art classes, funded by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman.

The guards reported that behaviour was improved after the classes and recidivism was reduced. April gained a sense of fulfillment and enjoyed spending time with the men who were cheerful and appreciative of the experience.

The classes grew to include Fairbanks, the women's prison, Art Magnet for at-risk teens through the national gallery and Art Sisters for abused women through the Women's Resource Centre. April received an award from the Rotary Club for creating these classes.