Sponsored by State Street Trust Company, the National Gallery's Art Magnet outreach programme has recently been involved in a preservation project.

"Birds of Cayman," which is sponsored by both the Gallery and the National Trust is producing murals to raise awareness of Cayman's environment using visual arts.

The first of this series of murals can be seen on Shedden Road, George Town.

"These children took a lot of information with them on the whole process of doing murals, of laying out the artwork, how to prepare the pattern and some basic painting brushwork techniques," said Project Manager, artist Gordon Solomon who has been working with the youngsters.

Letitia Davis-Eden, the Art Magnet instructor who regularly instructs the young people at this weekly programme of National Gallery noted the benefits of the project.

"I have been observing the preservation awareness mural that was introduced by Mr Solomon, and have found that it has created an awareness of what birds are indigenous to these Islands, that are rapidly becoming extinct due to the consistent development of land.

This mural should serve as a reminder as to what part we as a community can do to help with the preservation efforts," she said.

Art Magnet serves to help middle-school aged youth through the visual arts, and is held weekly all year at the National Gallery's education centre.  For more information contact Letitia Davis-Eden at assistant.ng@candw.ky