Soaring Through Art: Cayman’s Trailblazing Female Pilots Honored at Hotel Indigo

By Christopher Tobutt. Christopher.tobutt@gmail.com  

On the evening of Saturday, May 24, the Catalina Restaurant of Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman became a vibrant celebration of art, aviation, and Caymanian pride. As part of Cayman Art Week 2025 (CAW), a special artist- talk honored two pioneering women of the skies—Captain Crystal Godet and First Officer Giselah Ebanks—whose stories now live on in two powerful portraits by local artist Cera-Tan Kennaird.

These portraits, now on display in the hotel’s dining room, are more than visual tributes—they are cultural landmarks. First Officer Giselah Ebanks made history when, at just 20 years old, she became one of the youngest Caymanian women ever employed as a pilot by Cayman Airways, and the youngest to fly the Twin Otter aircraft for Cayman Airways Express. Though she has since advanced in her career and now flies the Boeing 737-300 series, her early achievement remains a powerful symbol of youthful ambition and national pride.

Humanizing the Heroic

The artist behind the portraits, Cera-Tan Kennaird, is a mixed-media artist who relocated to the Cayman Islands in 2017 from South Africa. Her work is deeply influenced by cultural identity and pictorial storytelling . Though she has painted murals, her primary focus is on large-scale canvas portraiture, blending ink, vibrant acrylics, and layered textures to create what many describe as a fusion of pop art and contemporary realism. The two portraits in question stand out with gold leaf used on the pilots’ uniforms.

“People often glorify the profession—‘Oh my gosh, you’re a pilot!’—but I wanted to show that they’re human too,” she said during the event. “That’s why in Crystal’s portrait, her top button is undone. It’s a small detail, but it says a lot about comfort, confidence, and being real.”

A Year in the Making

The process of creating the portraits took nearly a year—from initial meetings and photography, design, incorporation of ideas from the setting where the portraits would be, to the final brushstrokes. “It was about getting to know the real person behind the pilot,” Cera-Tan said. “We talked, we laughed. I wanted them to just be who they are.”

She worked from many different photographs, zooming in on the tiniest details. “I absolutely loved Giselah’s her smile and her teeth,” she said of one of the pilots. “That was such a beautiful characteristic, and I wanted it to shine.”

The backgrounds of the portraits feature tropical plants and bursts of color that echo the vibrant décor of Hotel Indigo as well as the Cayman Islands and Caribbean region.  “We went for a monotone look so that the faces would shout out through the background,” she explained. “You’ll see those colors echoed around the restaurant—it’s all connected.”

A Connection Beyond Canvas

When asked what surprised her most about the experience, First Officer Giselah Ebanks smiled. “I was surprised at how down-to-earth Sarah was,” she said. “She just reached out to get to know me, and now it feels like I’ve known her for years. She made me feel relaxed and not like I had to put on a show.”

That sense of connection was a recurring theme throughout the evening. When the MC asked what she hoped audiences would take away from the artwork, Cera-Tan responded simply: “It’s about us connecting—culturally, emotionally, in any way we can.”

A Feast for the Senses

The event was not only a visual delight but a culinary one as well. Guests were treated to a selection of exquisite patisserie and confections—miniature works of art in their own right. From delicate fruit-glazed tarts to intricately layered mousse domes, the desserts mirrored the creativity and craftsmanship on the walls. It was a multisensory experience that elevated the evening into something truly unforgettable.

A Cultural Landmark

The event was part of a broader pop-up exhibition curated for Cayman Art Week, a dynamic, week-long celebration of local creativity. Hotel Indigo, an official cultural partner of CAW, was the perfect venue. With over 400 works by Caymanian and Caribbean artists adorning its walls, the hotel is a living gallery and a hub for cultural exchange.

As the sun set over Seven Mile Beach, the portraits of Crystal and Giselah stood as powerful symbols of progress and representation. In a world where aviation remains male-dominated, these women—and the art that honors them—remind us that the sky is not the limit, but just the beginning.