We're Back! For those of you who miss reading our blog... we are happy to report that we will have it up and running again soon.  Stay tuned!

Oh, and of course as the image implies it is ALMOST TIME FOR SUMMER CAMP AT HUI NO‘EAU.  Join in the Summer FUN!

Hui No‘eau & Haleakalā National Park Present Natalie Westbrook

Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center is proud to collaborate with Haleakalā National Park for its inaugural Artist in Residence program, launching today with the arrival of New Haven, Connecticut-based printmaker, painter and collage artist Natalie Westbrook.

Westbrook received her BFA from the The Cooper Union School of Art, her MA in Critical and Curatorial Studies from the University of Louisville, and her MFA in Painting and Printmaking from Yale University. Her recent exhibitions include Interstate Projects in New York, NY; Institute Library in New Haven, CT; Reynolds Gallery in Richmond, VA; in Brooklyn, NY at Bushwick Basel 2012 and Vaudeville Park; and Co/Lab at Art Platform Los Angeles. Ms. Westbrook is Lecturer at the Yale School of Art and Part-time Lecturer at Norwalk Community College and Housatonic Community College. She lives and works in New Haven, CT.

Westbrook is Haleakalā’s first in-park artist selected by a jury panel comprised of National Park and Maui Arts and Cultural Center representatives.  The applicants included musicians, sculptors and painters. During her 2-week residency, the artist will create a new series based on Haleakala’s unique and rare flora, such as the `āhinahina, the Haleakalā silversword found only on east Maui, donating an original artwork to the park at the end of her stay.

Hui No‘eau will be hosting the artist at its public Kaluanui estate for a FREE artist chat and slide show on June 13th,  “Dreaming in the House of the Sun” as well as a hands-on “Basic Drawing Intensive” workshop on June 15th. Space for the workshop is limited with tuition set at just $25 ($32 for nonmembers), therefore pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Visit http://huinoeau.com/classes/adults/visiting-artists/ for details or call the Hui at (808) 572-6560.

Hui No‘eau Welcomes Internationally-Acclaimed Ceramic Artist Ken Matsuzaki

Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center is proud to welcome world-renowned ceramicist Ken Matsuzaki to its 2013 Visiting Artist Program. 

Hui No‘eauʻs Visiting Artist Program features professional local, national and international visual artists teaching specialized sessions integrating lecture, slide demonstration, films, group critiques and panel discussions with hands-on workshops. Through short-term residencies, the program provides in-depth, repeated contact between artist and student that offers new perspectives and helps foster our standing as a place where the arts are vital and diverse. Sessions are designed to be interactive and to expose and educate students by broadening their understanding of the arts through interaction with professional artists from various cultural and artistic backgrounds.

Joining us from his current home in Mashiko, Japan, Matsuzaki is currently the president of the Mashiko Potters Association and has work featured among the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Worcester Museum of Art, and the Tikotin Museum in Israel. His work captures the essence of the pots from the Momoyama Period and Mingei, yet pushes boundaries to create a style that is distinctly his own, garnering a reputation as one of Japan’s greatest potters.

Hui No‘eau Senior Program Manager Anne-Marie Forsythe states, “we are always on the lookout for dynamic teaching artists that can bring a new flavor to our Maui community. We are so fortunate to have been put in touch with Ken Matsuzaki through our Hui ‘ohana, who is a well-known and respected international figure in the ceramics community, and look forward to the methods, conversations and connections made through his visiting artist residency.”

Hui No‘eau will offer a FREE Artist Presentation & Pot-luck with Matsuzaki on Friday, June 14 from 6-7pm in the ceramics studio and a 2-day Japanese Pottery Techniques workshop on June 15 & 16. For further details, please visit us online at huinoeau.com/classes/adults/visiting-artists/ or give us a call at (808) 572-6560.

For more information on Ken Matsuzaki, visit www.goldmarkart.com/scholarship/ken-matsuzaki-biography/, where you will learn interesting tidbits about his process, (e.g. He fires his giant wood fired climbing kiln only twice a year, each firing lasting around a week, using up to three thousand bundles of wood and 30 bags of charcoal, with the kiln having to be watched and stoked continuously, 24 hours a day). COOL.

About Hui No`eau Visual Arts Center
The mission of Hui No`eau is to unlock creativity through exceptional visual arts education. Serving Maui residents and visitors for 79 years, the Hui is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, community based arts education organization providing a wide range of programs that support lifelong learning in the arts. These include public classes and visiting artist workshops, open studios, lectures, exhibitions, community art events, historical house tours and educational outreach programs with schools and community partner organizations. One of the last of its kind on Maui, the Hui is a nonprofit, non-degree granting, community arts education organization offering open access to quality arts instruction by teaching artists. Our programs and services are accessible to all, regardless of artistic aptitude or ability to pay tuition.

The Hui Teaches

This weekend, Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center will launch the opening of its biennial student & faculty salon, “The Hui Teaches.” Curated by the Hui’s core teaching artists and open studio technicians, this exhibition showcases class and personal artwork inspired by the Hui’s adult classes and workshops from the past two years.

Last week’s receiving day yielded 209 entries for consideration by 15 curators representing 6 Hui departments: Printmaking, Painting & Drawing, Jewelry, Ceramics, Fiber and Photography. When asked to describe the process of selecting pieces for this exhibition in 5 words or less, responses ranged from, “the highlight of my day,” (Michael Clements), to “Variety, exploration, beauty, and expression,” (Chenta Laury). Ultimately, 107 works were selected for the exhibition – a living catalog of Hui offerings – by 78 artists ranging in experience from novice to well-established.

Interacting with the selected artists to gain feedback about their thoughts on exhibiting proved to be a validating, inspirational and, at times, emotional process - which is why we would like to share excerpts with YOU! Here is a sampling of what they had to say:

"First of all, I am amazed that my piece was selected for the show and very excited that professionals in the arts thought highly of my work. I submitted the piece mainly because (my instructor) called me and expressed a strong desire for me to participate. I absolutely LOVE the Hui. It opened up to me something I would never have had the opportunity to learn. I fell in love with creating jewelry using silver and argentium. I spend 4-5 months a year on island and the Hui has given me something to focus on in my free time. I look forward to going to classes as well as open studio. It's fun to see what others are working on and I have made many new friends, which is always a bonus for me. The Hui is definitely a community of talented and friendly people." (Eileen John)

"I am very honored and delighted to have my pieces chosen for this exhibition.  I submitted my work because I feel it is important to help gauge my progress as an artist and it's also a way to give back to the Hui. I enjoy seeing other artist's creations and feel that the sharing of my work might help inspire someone else to find a new idea within themselves. As a community, I think it is important that we recognize both the new and unusual as well as traditional approaches to art. I have very much enjoyed learning new techniques at the Hui and look forward to many more years of interactions." (Glenna Rand)

"We all bring different backgrounds and levels of artistry to these classes and in my felting class, we felt a good deal of freedom to explore, to do something new, and not to focus on what finished piece might look like.  I usually work in watercolor with some precision, so the idea of taking a class using fuzzy fibrous material was quite alluring to me. It was fun to have my options be completely altered, of how to shape or describe something.  I felt a little high after my first class, for the fun of poking at a felt surface with needle and teeny bits of wool. Such a revelation! The shows at the Hui show off our artistic community, away from pressures of "marketplace." Sometimes I walk through a show here or there, and imagine what I would think of the artist community as represented there, if I were otherwise unfamiliar with Maui. The Hui shows invariably create an impression of originality, accomplishment and creative fervor that one way or another is born of Maui's wondrousness, especially in our own "upcountry." (Elizabeth Keller)

"I first want to say thank you for providing this opportunity for all of us who have taken classes at the Hui. To me, after taking classes in many mediums over the last 5 years, I wanted to find out if I had progressed to a point that others, besides my husband & family, found my artwork to be enjoyable.  This salon gave me the validation that I was looking for.  I find so much joy in the creative process & I was hoping that that energy was coming through in my artwork. When we as a community allow all our members to be creative in whatever format they enjoy, then the community becomes so much more on so many levels. Inclusiveness and free expression are building blocks to a welcoming community and I believe the Hui fosters that type of community. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this artistic community on Maui." (Barb Tacyshyn-Roth)

"Even though I am an art teacher, I took a class to learn short cuts and tips on a technique that I don't have experience in.  I struggled as if I were a true beginner. The fact I got into the show at all is an honor.  Plus, the paintings I liked the best did not get in.  One has to 'go for it' because you never know what will get chosen. Putting something out there for the world to see can be scary if you don't have a lot of experience. Even with experience, it can sometimes feel as if you are standing naked on the street corner. We just have to remember our creative souls are beautiful. I discovered years ago, it is the act of creating, not the destination, is what is important. To share ones work just might be the inspiration for another's creativity." (Harriet Huff)

"I submitted my work to the Student & Faculty Salon because I feel it is a great opportunity to get exposure and be a part of the art community on Maui. It is scary to put one's artwork out to the community, so the affirmation is great.  I feel like I still have so much to learn, taking the oil painting classes from Terry Lopez at the Hui has been a wonderful learning experience, I hope to take more classes.  I really love to paint and have a creative outlet, connecting with other artists through the Hui has made it that much more enjoyable." (Carla Gangini)

"I chose to submit my art for this exhibition to promote my art and to share the creative work.  I am thrilled and privileged to be recognized by all who were in the jurying process, I think this particular exhibit is very cool for all of us, taking classes and growing in our craft.  I am excited to be sharing my work with the Hui community yet slightly intimidated as there is lots of talent.  Art will save our souls and this type of community support continues to fan the flames of creativity." (Tim DeShong)

"I actually thought about entering for quite some time but could not decide what to put in.  I had taken over 6 classes so wanted to enter a variety of media into the show.  I think that this is an important show because I think it is unique in Hawaii.  No other visual arts organization does this to my knowledge.  Having it every two years is good timing.  It is important to showcase the kind of work being done by those who participate in the Hui classes. I hope that it encourages the novice as well as the accomplished artist.  I like taking something that I am not familiar with as it gets me thinking creatively in other areas.  Painting crosses over into printing, etc. I was flattered to be accepted. This show is important in supporting the visual arts because it showcases the producing of art from a wide variety of studios." (Judy Bisgard)

"I submitted work for this exhibit because I like to support the Hui and this show lets the community see what types of classes are offered and some of the results which they too may be interested in or be inspired to join in and take a class. I'm very pleased and honored to have my work accepted for the show. I like the idea of having the instructors for the student show as the jurors because they have a real feel for what has gone into the pieces from what they have rather than an outside juror who is only picking on their tastes." (Mary Grandy)

"I applaud your efforts to have a more interactive show with artists, teachers, and the community. This past Spring after a 14 year hiatus from working with clay, I found myself drawn to create in this medium again and attended Chris Cowan's terra cotta hand building class.  She is an outstanding teacher with a beautiful spirit of generosity.  I was encouraged by Chris to enter my "Tea for Two” tea set in the Hui's 2013 Student & Faculty Salon.  In the future, I look forward to participating in the Hui's Open Ceramic Studio program when my schedule allows. As an artist/ musician/ educator, I am deeply committed to the transformative powers of the creative process to enlighten, inspire, and uplift the Art of Daily Living.  It feels natural to me to have different forms of creative expression cycle through my life like the seasons exemplifying the unity within diversity.  I encourage others to explore the creativity process in all its many forms to enhance their quality of life and enrich the community as a whole. Thank you for the work you are doing to promote creativity and communication in the Maui Arts community!" (Suzee Waters Benjamin (Suchi))

"I submitted my work because I feel it’s important to support the Hui community, and to keep the bigger community interested and meeting, enjoying new artists.  It is also good for the artists to see and get inspired by their peers new works. Art, for me, is a way to explore " ideas", open my eyes, feel & see my heart, look differently at the world, share vision, see common ground, be quiet, be still, see time evaporate, feel colors, textures, see differences, feel movement, see how the details of the outside world influence my inner world, feel my own vast uncertainties and joy and everyday occurrences that are fantastic, dark, light and unlanguaged. Nature is straightforward and totally non-judgmental. Neutral. The rest is interpretation. And sharing my art terrifies me. Has always terrified me. Thatʻs why I have to do it." (Marcy B Greene)

"I am surprised, elated and grateful that my efforts have found favor with the curators of the 2013 Student & Faculty Salon, "The Hui Teaches." I am approaching my 82nd birthday on July 30. My wife Sandra, long time activist with, supporter of and friend of the HUI motivated me to join the Jewelry Studio circa 2007. I was at a loss at first, never having done any art and never even thought of myself as a creative person. Since that time, under the encouraging and expert tutelage of J. B. Rea, I have initiated, developed and honed my skills. It is exciting and tremendously rewarding at this point in my life to find I have a creative spark... The Hui is, if not the most valuable asset on Maui, it ranks near the top. It offers a plethora of artistic venues for young and old and enriches ones creative spirit." (David Florence)

"I started taking jewelry classes earlier this year and I kept taking them... It felt good to be creative again.  It was plainly good for me, heart and soul.  I heard about the exhibition first from my Teacher, Luana Coonen.  The idea of being in the show inspired me and I got a vision of what I wanted to create... I challenged myself to do things I had not done before and I did it!  I was as stunned with my own creativity and thank the Hui and my teacher, Luana for the opportunity to surprise myself and share my creation with others! I feel like a little kid showing 'Mom' the picture I made in class that day.  "Look at this Mom, I'm so proud!" ... The Hui has so many fine artists.  I am constantly amazed at the level of talent, skill and imaginations of the artists at the Hui and the love of those that support such a fine establishment.  What an amazing place and it is all made possible by our community.  To be counted among them is a dream! ... Art is an expression I cannot find anywhere else. It is my time for myself, for whatever is going on in my life, to be with me, to challenge myself, to love myself.  It is a time of self-discovery, healing and fun. Art is good for my well-being and the Hui provides a place for all of us to come together - a place for the 'Whole' of us to grow, collaborate, expand and create a more rich community for us now and for those to come."  (Melinda Alexander)

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 “The Hui Teaches” celebrates the artist in all of us and recognizes our community’s many creative ideas, methods, and interests. Join in this important conversation as we deepen our understanding of who we are as a Hui ‘ohana! (Exhibition dates: May 18 – July 5, 2013 / 10 AM - 4 PM. Opening Reception for members, curators and artists: Friday, May 17 / 5 – 7 PM).

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation's Preservation Honor Award Goes to Hui

The Kaluanui History Room, FREE, located in the main house of the Hui

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation will honor exemplary achievements in the field of historic preservation at the 39th Annual Preservation Honor Awards ceremony on May 31, 2013 in Honolulu.  Hui No‘eau’s Kaluanui Preservation and Stewardship Program has been named the recipient of a prestigious Preservation Honor Award, one of three honor award categories presented each year.

The Hui’s Kaluanui Preservation & Stewardship Program serves to perpetuate the history and natural beauty of its Kaluanui home, promote responsible and appropriate use of the estate and grounds, and provide a much needed service to the Maui residential and visitor community by managing 25-acres of natural, open space dedicated for public use.

Designed by C.W. Dickey in 1917 for Hui founder Ethel Baldwin and husband Harry Baldwin, the Kaluanui Estate has been home to Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center since 1976. Through extensive physical repairs completed since Hui No‘eau’s purchase of Kaluanui in 2005 via the successful “Save the Hui, Buy Kaluanui” campaign and through the development of the Kaluanui Experience, which features an historical exhibition space, estate plant guide, and multiple walking tours through the artist studios and gardens, this program enables public access to the site and stories of this nearly 100-year-old Maui estate.

The Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s Preservation Honor Award will be received by Hui President Shannon Hoekstra, Executive Director Caroline Killhour and Vice President John Hoxie, who has been instrumental to the Hui’s Kaluanui Preservation & Stewardship Program.

Believing whole-heartedly in the Hui’s mission to unlock creativity through exceptional visual arts education, John’s leadership during the 2005 “Save the Hui, Buy Kaluanui” campaign was vital to the purchase of the 25-acre estate. As current chair of the Hui’s facilities committee, John takes personal responsibility in safeguarding a successful future for the Hui by overseeing the preservation of the Kaluanui estate and proactively exploring opportunities to meet the needs of our community through facility improvements and safety. A former Hui No‘eau board president, current vice president, executive committee member, facilities committee member, development committee member as well as artist, patron, member and donor, John’s 10 years of participation and support of the nonprofit organization has been a critical tool to its success as a high-quality arts education resource center and historic community gathering place.

“We are very pleased to recognize the outstanding efforts that Hui No‘eau has taken to preserve Kaluanui,” said Kiersten Faulkner, Executive Director of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation.

“This classic Dickey-designed home in Makawao is a treasure in the architectural history of Upcountry Maui,” said Faulkner. “A major rehabilitation in 1995 created a strong starting point for ongoing stewardship of the historic property, and the recent preservation projects will ensure that the building will continue to grace Maui in the long-term.”

“Historic Hawai‘i Foundation found that the projects to repair and restore damaged features were done in a way that preserved the historic character and will perpetuate this resource for continued use and enjoyment,” Faulkner said. “This exemplary effort is a fitting recipient of a Preservation Honor Award.”

To make a donation in support of the Kaluanui Preservation & Stewardship Program, please contact Senior Development Officer Shay Belisle at (808) 572-6560 ext. 25 or visit the Hui’s huinoeau.com/support. Your support will create a relevant, community bequest that voices its support of preserving an historic Maui institution, the 15,000+ artists, educators, visitors, and community members it serves annually, and a mutual commitment to quality, accountability and accessibility.

Visit Hui No‘eau 7 days a week from 10 am - 4 pm to enjoy the Kaluanui Experience. Admission is FREE.

The 2013 Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 31, 2013 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu in the Pīkake Room at 4:00 p.m.  A reception will follow the presentation program. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s preservation awards have been presented annually since 1975.  They are Hawai‘i’s highest recognition of projects that perpetuate, rehabilitate, restore or interpret the state’s architectural, archaeological and cultural heritage.

Portrait of Kaluanui by Ron Dahlquist

Hui Heroes

Darrell Orwig & Mary "Maizie" Sanford

Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center is pleased to present its 21st annual Art Affair benefit, “Camelot at Kaluanui: A Feast of Art & Merriment” to be held Saturday, February 23rd from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at its historic Kaluanui home in Makawao. Proceeds directly support the Hui’s core programming, including free exhibitions, gallery talks, children’s classes, camps and field trips, the Kaluanui Experience, visiting artist workshops, residencies and open studios. 

The evening features a gourmet seated dinner by Bev Gannon’s Celebrations Catering, endless cocktails by Ocean Vodka and Chambers & Chambers Wine Merchants, live music by Jimmy Mack and the Kool Kats, Maui’s premier fine art auction, silent auction and an opportunity to meet a wonderful community of art enthusiasts.

The Hui recently announced Mary “Maizie” Sanford as this year’s Board of Directors Recognition Awardee and Darrell Orwig as the Hui Angel Awardee.

“This is sort of overwhelming,” remarked Orwig in response to being named as this years Angel recipient, “I am stupefied and amazed. In the 37 years that I have been here, the Hui has become such an integral part of the community. In the beginning, we were a volunteer recreational center – volunteers turned the horse stables into ceramics studios, the basement and dairy into a photography lab, everybody pitched in to make this place work. Today, the Hui is a bastion of artistic integrity in terms of the quality of what is offered and presented, accessible to all from small kids to elders. It’s a place where opportunity thrives. This is the place for Maui to find out what to do with creativity. I’m just happy to be a part of it”

When asked to share some of her most vivid memories having grown up as part of the Kaluanui home, Board of Directors Recognition Award recipient Maizie Sanford responded “It was amazing how the people of Maui and elsewhere rallied to raise the $4 million (and a lot of good will) so the Hui No'eau could own the whole property in 2005. The continuous care and maintenance of the house and grounds over the years that preserve the architectural integrity of one of the fine old historic homes on Maui (designed by Will Dickey) open to the public has been very rewarding to witness. I remember seeing Johnny Baldwin running a small tractor on the grounds in "hands on" work, grading the driveway to the parking lot. That is still an important goal for Hui No'eau:  to maintain and expand without destroying. In the early days of the Hui No'eau, my mother Frances Cameron, co-founder, enjoyed taking life drawing classes at Kaluanui to continue her education in art. This is still a very fond memory for me.”

It's local heroes like these that help boost the national conversation on the importance of supporting the arts in our communities. Mahalo, Darrell & Maizie, for helping to create a stronger, healthier, more vibrant Maui community.

Proceeds for this year’s “Raise the Paddle” auction will benefit Hui youth arts education programming, which include foundation arts workshops, free portfolio development programs, collaborations with local schools to integrate arts into the curriculum, scholarship programs for families unable to afford tuition, and youth-at-risk and special needs programs that enable access to high-quality arts education for Maui youth.

Seating is limited for this extravagant event. Call the Hui today at 572-6560 to reserve you place or visit the event website at artaffairmaui.com. We need your support!

30 Days of Black & White

 
WE WANT A PIECE OF YOU: Aloha, Maui residents, visitors and online friends! Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center challenges YOU to participate in its second ever PHOTO-A-DAY Challenge!

HOW IT WORKS: Starting Monday, 1/28, spend 30 days posting your smartphone photos on Instagram or Twitter, inspired by the daily prompts listed here. Be sure to tag your photos and tweets with with hashtag #huiblackandwhite so we can keep track of all of our players! At the end of the 30 days, we’ll award the top players with awesome Hui prizes. Can’t commit to all 30 days? No problem! Join in or opt out anytime, it’s supposed to be FUN!

WHY WE’RE DOING IT: It’s a fun and easy way for everyone to be creative! We are also using this fun exercise as a way to motivate and inspire our social media network to submit entries to our next open-call art exhibition “The New Black: Black & White Photography” featuring guest juror Darrell Orwig. This idea was a smash hit in October 2012 as we prepared for the Hui No’eau Maui Mural Project (you can see many of the images that were tagged with #mauieveryday referenced in our mural in Wailuku in the corner of Market & Main streets) - let’s keep the momentum going!

With a mission to unlock creativity through exceptional visual arts education, the Hui sees this challenge as a way to create art by and for our entire online community!

Once you add #huiblackandwhite to your photo, the hashtag becomes a live link that will lead you to all of the other entries. Check in regularly to see what our community has posted or visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/hui.noeau for highlights. Comment, love, and retweet to your heart’s content!

Wednesday, February 27 is receiving day for “The New Black: Black & White Exhibition”. Call the Hui at (808) 572-6560 or visit us online at huinoeau.com/exhibitions for details.

1 Way to Play (Detailed instructions, as requested):

1. Snap a photo using your phone's camera 
2. Open Instagram, click camera icon (middle button), click camera roll icon (the button that is NOT a camera icon)
3. Select the photo from your camera roll that you would like to edit for today's PHOTO-A-DAY Challenge
4. Select a black & white filter and edit as needed
5. Click "next"
6. Where you see "write a caption" type in the day's prompts plus hashtag #huiblackandwhite. You can also add @huinoeau to alert us that we have a new entry - up to you!
7. Click "share"
8. You did it! Your hashtag (#huiblackandwhite) is now a live link. Click it to see all of the other public entries in this collection.
9. Tell a friend - it's way more fun when you have someone to share this stuff with!

Hui Announces Black & White Photography Exhibition

Photo by Matthew Thayer, Maui News

In our modern world of fast moving images and bold colors we seldom take a moment to pause and look deeper at the form and rhythm of the world around us. OK artists – now is your chance to capture these moments in time and share them with our Maui ‘oaha!

Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center is proud to present an open call to artists for its annual media-based exhibition, this year focusing on photography, with “The New Black: Black & White Photography Exhibition.” Featuring guest juror and Maui artist icon Darrell Orwig, the goal of this unique juried exhibition is to challenge artists to take pause and explore beyond the realm of color into shades of gray from the deepest blacks to the brightest whites. Both digital and film based prints will be considered – (yes, even smartphone prints!)

“One of my hopes is that people see this as an opportunity to do something they have taken for granted, capture a moment, find an old photograph and re-purpose it, dig into their slide and film archives and recreate a new present from that old past. There’s lots of room for interpretation here,” remarks the juror.

Orwig has worked with photography since 1969, the same year he graduated from Chico State College and moved to Oahu with wife Mary to become a civilian arts and craft instructor at Schofield Barracks on Oahu. He has taught photography for the Honolulu Academy of Arts Extension Services Program, Maui Community College, Seabury Hall and Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center. His 2011 retrospective exhibition “Waltzing With Time and Place” at Hui No’eau received critical acclaim for “focusing on the miracle of what is right before our eyes,” a relevant compliment for the job at hand of jurying the forthcoming “The New Black” exhibition.

“The Hui is such such an integral part of the community -  and an important part, I can’t imagine Maui without it” remarks Orwig, “It is a place that offers an opportunity to learn about the range and scope of what the visual arts can be. Over the 30+ years that I have been involved with the institution, it has over time become a bastion of artistic integrity in terms of the quality of what we present. It’s a place where opportunity thrives; this is the place to find out what to do with your creativity. This is the place to unleash the secret artist that is lurking someplace in our shadows – let that artist out of the bag!”

Receiving day for this open-call exhibition is Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 at the Hui, which is located at 2841 Baldwin Avenue in Makawao. Please visit huinoeau.com or call (808) 572-6560 ext. 26 with questions.

The New Black: Black & White Photography Exhibition
March 9 – May 3, 2013
Receiving day: Wednesday, Feb. 27th
Juror: Darrell Orwig

2013 Hui No‘eau Annual Juried Exhibition: Artist Feedback

Row 1: Luana Coonen, Kevin Omuro, Christy Vail. Row 2: Karin Rohr, Keri Meyer, Chenta Laury. Row 3: Debbie von Tempsky, Claudia Johnson, Steve Turnbull

We continue to be wow’ed by the level of participation in, enthusiasm for and visitation to the 2013 Hui No’eau Annual Juried Exhibition, which opened last weekend, January 5. With 3 pieces selected by the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture & the Arts for their Art in Public Places Program (congratulations Shane Robinson, Heather Burton and Mary Ann Leigh!) and a solid handful of others sold to collectors over the past 3 days, we thought we might share some feedback from the artists themselves, which speak to their intentions for being a part of this important community-based exhibition. Our warmest mahalo to guest juror Lauren Faulkner for putting together such a stunning collection. Enjoy!

"It is an honor to have my work included in this year's Annual Juried Exhibition.  Not only is Hui No'eau a gorgeous venue and setting in which to experience art, but the dialogue - spoken and visual - that is born from the Hui's broad range of programs inspires, moves and pushes artists like myself to new heights. This show is a valuable forum and opportunity for me to have my work reach a broader audience, and hopefully for me to contribute to deepening, expanding and enriching the dialogue around art on Maui and beyond.  I am indeed most grateful for this opportunity." – Chenta Laury

"Submitting work to the Annual Juried Exhibition each year is one of the ways I keep art important in my life.  Each year, as I continue to grow and change as an individual and an artist,  I am able to reflect on what has been happening by looking closer at what work comes forward.  This year's entry was created out of confusion, frustration and a need to break out of typical patterns.  Repetitively winding and wrapping wire, layering the gages of wire and letting the piece happen helped me personally and created an over the top piece that I am proud of.  Art jewelry and sculpture that can be worn is a focus that is important for me to keep alive in my work.  I love the opportunity to share my work with the Hui community and with Maui.  Hearing feedback and seeing reactions to the work is something that I look forward to each year.  It is exciting that we have this gem on Baldwin Avenue, the Hui and all of the  exhibitions that get generated here.  More community involvement, publicity and attention to the wonderful Hui community of art and expression is the only thing I would want to ask for." – Anita Laviola

"I was so excited and honored to be included in the 2013 exhibit. What a fanfrick'ntastic way to start the new year. It also brings me a thrill to see my little army of daredevils and mutants find their way to the walls of the Hui, and "hang" out in a room filled with such visual treats. Maui residents are so lucky to have not only a place like the Hui to showcase such a sea of creative talent, but also exposing to Maui, the Islands, and the World a constant rhythm of cutting edge art. That's what I'm talk'n about. Mucho mahalo." – Jefferson Stillwell

"Most artists continue to make their art regardless of who or what their audience consists of; it is a process and a necessity which we feel is worth devoting our lives to. However, I do think that the aesthetic experience reaches its fullest expression when it is shared and supported. It is a special thing to be a part of a community that places great value in learning what each other cares about, dreams of, and absolutely needs to do- through visual codes, in order to stir ones feelings, refine our thinking abilities and continue to be inspired." – Arlene Taus Salomon

"Having been a full time artist for the last 25 years. I have made many friends on this Island. I enjoy the comradery of exhibiting my art with my peers. As with any juried exhibition there is a bit of anticipation after you delivered your art work on receiving day. It is that day that you see your fellow artists, your friends. Wishing each other good luck. Then you received the news that one of your pieces have been accepted. Always wondering if your friends were also accepted. Being such a small and tight art community you know that some of your friends art was accepted. You get to exhibit together, your extended Ohana.That's what the Hui No'eau is, an extended family. Without the Hui No'eau Visual Art Center, my family would be much smaller, Mahalo to the Hui for being there." – Derek Bencomo, Maui Wood Artist

"My favorite part about juried shows is to be able to see through the juror's eyes, to get their perspective and view of what is attractive art to them; to be able to see this through their choices from all of the fantastic work that is submitted.  Since we are all unique and individuals, this is the best way to see how someone's taste and experience in art can be portrayed all as one exhibition. If the the community was not supportive of this there may not be a place to exhibit for artists, the void would have to be filled some other way.  We are very lucky to have the opportunity to show our work at the Hui and be a part of the process." – Keri Meyer

"My choice of entry "Keane Magic"for the member's exhibit was based on the beauty of the day. This painting express so much of what the most epic day on Maui really is about,the nature of this island. I like the high key of light that calls out a dominance softly in the painting. One can actually hear the intense power of the waves hitting the rocks in the foreground through this painting. There is a mystery that I love about the shoreline of cliffs and the distance little islands. I'm honored that Lauren Faulkner picked this painting for the exhibit. I am inspired by past/present places and scenes on Maui whether on her shores or mountains. I find the Hui Noeau a place that calls to the Art spirit. There is a feeling that one has just found a hidden treasure as you drive through the gates, entering the portico, as one walks the grounds and hears the wind high up in the trees. The Hui No‘eau community is always on the move, contributing a space for learning and sharing that of the uncommon and undiscovered expressions of Hawaii's Artists. They are always reaching out to welcome anyone who has an interest in Art." – Debbie von Tempsky

"I submitted work to this exhibition because of the reputation of the Hui and being a highly selective show it gives me a chance to participate with other artists of high caliber.   It's always great to be in a show with artists that you respect and admire.  With 66 pieces selected out of 233 that were submitted, this is a highly competitive show and I can't wait to see the other pieces chosen.  The Hui is a wonderful community, that I am just now finding.  I've only been on island a year and living in Lahaina, I haven't had much of a chance to be involved until now.  The Hui is a fantastic resource for the people of Maui, not just working artists but children and anyone interested in creating.  I hope that the community will continue to know the importance of art and will support the Hui and it's efforts to make art accessible to everyone.  Juried shows like this one are important to an artists progress and resume and I am honored to have been chosen."  – Heather Burton

"The Hui was where I got my start with digital photography over 5 years ago. Entering a show of this caliber is a great opportunity to grow.  It challenged me to be my own critic and motivator and to then be accepted was really satisfying.  I'm excited because photography is becoming more accessible with advances in hardware and intuitive software.  This allows more people to have access to tools that let them be artistic even if they can't paint or draw. Art is a big word and most commonly something that people observe but don't create.  To provide nurturing support to those that want to try making art while also showcasing work from friends and neighbors really helps to build a core of common ground which is a big part of what makes us a community." – Edward Baldwin

"The Hui is a beautiful setting for cultural events and it's a pleasure to be connected to such a fine organization." – Prof. Heidi Preuss Grew

"This particular Hui Exhibition has importance to me personally.  In the early 1980's when I was on the Board and the Exhibits Chairperson for the Hui (at that time a total volunteer operation), I suggested the idea of having a Hui No`eau Annual Exhibition showcasing our Hui members artwork in a juried exhibition.  The original purpose of the annual exhibition was to give Hui artist members an opportunity to exhibit their work for the community to see.  And as an opportunity for the community to experience the creativeness and professionalism of artist members of Hui No`eau. I understand this show will represent 28% of the art submitted.  I am pleased to be included and I am also saddened that more artists and their work are not exhibited to show the breath of art from the many fine artist members of Hui No`eau.  Maybe someday the Hui can (build) a larger gallery space for this to happen. It is important for the Hui to support such an exhibition so that the entire community can expand their awareness of the contributions the Hui is making to the community. It is an excellent opportunity to educate young and old through visual arts, sharing our culture and visions in various artistic mediums.  It is wonderful to have this exhibition free and open to all to view, community members and visitors alike.  It is important for the Hui to work hand in hand with the community.  Creating in the largest sense is something vital to our lives, be it art or ideas.  It is a form of giving to others.  Teaching visual arts to all ages provides learning ways to express ourselves.  As less and less art is taught in our schools, it is very important to have a visual arts center that can bridge that gap.  It is important for artists to have a place to gather, to share ideas, to continue to learn a vocabulary that better speaks what the artist wants to say visually, to learn new ways to approach art in the creative process.  The Hui No`eau has the opportunity to provide this.  The support of the Community is the same as supporting ourselves, as we are the community.  It is important to keep creative desire alive in people." – Donnette-Gene Wilson

"I am honored to be one of the selected artists for the 2013 Hui No'eau Annual Juried Exhibition.  I have been fortunate in being selected before and also participating in some invitational exhibits at the Hui and I'm very grateful that the Hui sponsors these exhibits and that a few generous people also offer financial support for these exhibits.  I think that the gallery space is special in the way it allows such intimacy with the viewer and the art.  The charm of the old building and the uniqueness of showing work in a historical building in "real" rooms, makes it feel as if one is enjoying the art in someone's home.  I think that's a fun way to view art, in a real living room and dining room, albeit retrofitted as gallery space.  Through past involvement on the Hui board of directors and one time chair of the exhibits committee, I know the enormous work and work hours that go in to providing such wonderful opportunities to exhibit and view art. It would have been impossible over the years, living on Maui, to have furthered my art education, through any other venue OTHER than the Hui. Some of the most interesting art created on Maui is not art that is particularly suited to selling in a gallery.  I'm very, very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Hui's juried exhibit so that I can share some of my non-commercial work with the public.  It's always fun to make art and even more fun to share it with others.  Thank you, Hui No'eau Visual Art Center." – Christy Vail

"I feel so honored to have been chosen for the Hui's annual show. I also feel so fortunate to have the Hui No'eau here on Maui and have been able to partake in classes, the open studios, shows, everything the Hui has to offer and the wonderful art community. This is a beautiful place."
Mary Grandy

Visit our Facebook page's"Exhibition Program" photo album to see all of the art included in the 2013 Hui No‘eau Annual Juried Exhibition. Mahalo nui loa to our sponsors:  Jack & Carolyn Schaefer Gray, Robert & Fran Davidson and Doug & Jill Schatz.

Hui Welcomes Lauren C. Faulkner as 2013 Hui No’eau Annual Juried Exhibition Juror

Lauren Faulkner

Next Friday, December 28 marks the receiving day for the 2013 Hui No’eau Annual Juried Exhibition - easily the most competitive showing of the Hui’s 8 annual exhibition opportunities, which are free and open to the public year-round. Generously sponsored by Jack & Carolyn Schafer Gray, Robert & Fran Davidson and Doug & Jill Schatz, this prestigious mufti-media arts competition offers an opportunity to view the current work of Hui members as well as participate in topics upon which contemporary minds are engaged.

By presenting new work in the Hui’s public gallery space, artists are offered the opportunity to share insights about their processes and inspire students. They help both beginning and established collectors develop sound collecting strategies that reflect their personal interests, evolving aesthetic sensibilities, and create means of integrating new work into their existing environments. Nationally renowned guest jurors represent respected curators and artists from Maui, Hawai‘i and beyond, offering a different perspective for a unique and fresh show every year.

This year the Hui is proud to welcome Lauren C. Faulkner, Owner / Art Consultant at the Fine Art Associates on Oahu to its distinguished roster of Hui No’eau Annual Juried Exhibition jurors. Raised on Oahu, Faulkner earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from the University of Hawai’i in 1986. She worked briefly with design consultants Linn Sol Interiors before quickly learning that her passion lied in working “directly and entirely with art” and began a career with The Fine Art Associates. 30 years later she is the owner and principal consultant, working with a broad range of clients to place artwork in their homes, businesses, hotels and more- working directly with both emerging and established artists from studio visit to conception of new work to placement. Her education, experience, relationships and keen eye for the unique make her a fresh and exciting new face to Hui No’eau – one that both our artists and collectors will gain from tremendously.

Hui: What draws you to this line of work?

Faulkner: It makes me feel good. I love it. I have a passion for it. I wake up every day and get excited about it. The idea of getting to create something new every day with and for my clients and having these great tools – the huge team of artists and consultants that I get to work with – is just terrific.

Hui: What developments have you noticed in the arts market, specifically in terms of your clientele, over the years?

Faulkner: It has been incredibly interesting to see developers and hotel owners becoming so much more open to new ideas over the years. A few years ago I had a client that specifically asked me not to show them anything “abstract.” So of course, I slowly worked it into my presentations, offering details about the process, the artist, the inspiration, until they inevitably changed their preference and wanted to see everything abstract. By educating people and explaining that their emotional responses are valid - that they don’t have to be specifically educated in art and art philosophy to have an opinion about the work to feel safe with it – they begin to become a part of the story. They begin to open up to these new ideas that Hawai‘i’s great wealth of artists are telling.

Hui: How does your work benefit the larger community?

Faulkner: I do this work for our island’s children. When I grew up here, I had ceramics, printmaking and painting in school. Public schools no longer have art as a core element of their curriculum. It’s important to me to see art getting out into public places so that children can be exposed to the wide range of benefits available to them simply by experiencing it as a viewer. I also advance this work as a volunteer with the Art in Public Places program through the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture & the Arts.

Hui: My understanding is that you meet a client first, get a thorough understanding of their wants and needs, and then customize a collection to meet those needs. The challenge of creating a collection by and for the public at a community arts center is somewhat different, how will you approach your jurying task next week? What are your goals?

Faulkner: I’m not coming in with any preconceived notions about what this exhibition should look like; I really can’t prepare myself for something like this. I want to remain open until I see the body of work and then I will like to see a cohesive show. I will look for work that is beautifully crafted and tells an unusual story – work that is unique in some way and that fits the space well. There really aren’t enough good venues for artists to show their work on Maui. It seems like the history and standing of the Hui afford it a great opportunity for risk-taking and for highlighting new artists and ideas. There are so many truly talented, skillful artists in Hawaii right now. This a great opportunity to educate our communities about where our arts movement is and where it’s headed.

Hui No‘eau is also honored to once again welcome the Acquisition Award Selection Committee of the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (HSFCA) for a formal exhibition visit. Part of the State’s Art in Public Places Program, which serves to strengthen the State Foundation’s capability to "stimulate, guide and promote culture and the arts, history and the humanities" through the field of the visual arts, the Committee makes recommendations to the HSFCA regarding the purchase of works of art. Selected artwork is rotated throughout Hawai‘i state buildings to ensure the widest possible audiences have access to view these works thereby preserving works of art expressive of the character of the Hawaiian Islands. Paired with Faulkner's experience and inter-island client relationships, these opportunities ensure a broad reach for all exhibiting artists.

The 2013 Hui No’eau Annual Juried Exhibition is free and open to the public January 5th through February 18th, from 10 am – 4 pm. Admission is free.

Links:

• Artist Feedback: 2012 Annual Juried Exhibition 
• Meet the Juror: A Conversation with 2012 Juror Allyn Bromley
• Hui Announces Acquisition Award Selection Committee Visit by the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts for '12 Annual Juried Exhibition
• Hui No‘eau Annual Juried Exhibition: Raising the Bar for Maui Arts

Painting by Julie Houck

Meet Andre Morissette, Designer of "The Dress" at Hui Holidays!

Morissette's work in-progress. Genius alert!

Just 1 more week remains to enjoy Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center’s annual HUI HOLIDAYS tradition. Enjoy free admission to our nearly 100-year old Kaluanui Estate, built in 1917 for Harry & Ethel Baldwin, original inhabitants and founders of the community arts center, boasting the remains of Maui’s oldest sugar mill, 70+ species of plants and trees (pick up your plant guide at the front desk to learn more!), The Kaluanui History Room, 6 professionally equipped core arts classrooms (buzzing with creativity, students and open studio users each day), the new “What Makes Maui MAUI” mural installation by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program’s own Shira Walinsky, the “On the Wild Side” Stickwork sculpture by world-renowned artist  Patrick Dougherty, and – of course – Hui Holidays: our annual artisan’s boutique featuring the finest arts and handmade items set at accessible prices by Maui artists.

Back by popular demand, the Hui proudly welcomed designer/ choreographer Andre Morissette to create this year’s holiday “window” installations alongside Maui artist Nancy Skrimstad and a crew of Hui angels. Located in the former dining room space of the Kaluanui Estate, Morissette’s paper dress installation has wow’ed hundreds of Hui visitors, both old and new, inspiring a demand for further details about this fierce and fabulous innovator:

HUI: Tell us a little bit about your design background - were you formally trained?

MORISSETTE: I am formerly a dancer who started to do design work costuming dance shows, musicals and plays. I do not have formal training in design but my training in dance and choreography are a big part of my design work.
 
HUI: Why do you design? How long have you been doing this kind of work?

MORISSETTE: Because it is creative work and I just like to let my imagination run wild! In 2001, I was introduced to paper as a medium when I had the opportunity to work on a project in collaboration with Linda McGehee, visual arts teacher at Seabury Hall  involving her soft sculpture students and my dance students. The result was “Paper Trail” a dance piece loosely based on paper and its various uses through history. The project incorporated wearable forms made out of butcher paper created by the art students and showcased by the dancers in the fashion runway section of the dance. Most of the props in the dance were also made out of butcher paper. In 2007, I decided to reset the dance adding more wearable forms that I designed and constructed myself. That’s when I started to play with paper. When Caroline Killhour (the Hui’s executive director) asked me last year to create two installations for the Christmas House at the Hui, I decided to bring the concept of paper dress to the next level. 

HUI: Last year was your first dress installation for the Hui - Why did you design another for this year's Hui Holidays?

MORISSETTE: Last year’s installation was a big success. I was going to explore another medium this year but the use of butcher paper to create art work was very appealing to Caroline, so we decided to repeat the concept and push it further.

HUI: Where do you find your artistic inspiration?

MORISSETTE: The inspiration comes from the challenge. I set the challenge and then figure out how I can make this happen. This challenge was to create a dress that would be totally different from the previous one. Last year dress was stately. This year I wanted to do a dress that floats in space. Most of my creative process is problem solving. How am I going to suspend the dress? What do I have to do for the dress to hold it’s shape? How am I going to wrap the paper on the form and give it the shape I want. After a while the work speaks to you and you just go with it.

HUI: Tell us about some of the reactions you have been hearing/ seeing to your dress - any funny or surprising ones?

MORISSETTE: At first people are amazed by the impressive scale of the dress. It takes up a whole room. On opening night the dress was glowing from the inside which you cannot really see during the day. Then they are captivated by the details, the intricacy of the folds, the texture of the paper, the rope details on the bodice, the hat. One woman was so excited about the dress that she wanted to have her wedding dress made out of paper and ask me if I would design her dress.

HUI: What’s next for Andre Morissette!?

MORISSETTE: I am designing costumes for the musical “Hello Dolly” produced by Seabury Hall Performing Arts and I am resetting my dance “Paper Trail” which incorporated paper costumes to be performed at Seabury Hall Dance Showcase in April 2013.

Visit Hui Holidays and Morisette’s DRESS, described by Darrell Orwig, our 2011 Retrospective Artist and 40+ year veteran of the Maui fine arts circle, as “such a fun piece that gives a visual bonus to the whole exhibition!” at Hui No’eau located at 2841 Baldwin Avenue in Makawao 7 days a week, now through Dec 24 from 10 am – 4 pm. Admission is free.

Photo by Aubrey Hord

Photo by Aubrey Hord

Photo by Aubrey Hord

Hui Holidays: Ceramics Takes Center Stage

Hui Senior Programs Manager Anne-Marie Forsythe enjoying the Hui Holidays Pottery Sale

View of the Hui's ceramics studio, powered by solar energy!

Hui teaching artist Bob Flint teaching a ceramics class

Since opening on November 19th, Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center’s annual “Hui Holidays” tradition has welcomed hundreds of new visitors to its public Kaluanui Estate campus. One of 8 annual exhibitions in the historic home, Hui Holidays features a wide and whimsical range of artwork and gifts set at accessible prices. Talented members of our local artists’ community have created unique work in jewelry, ceramics, prints, fiber, photography, glass and paintings, plus handmade ornaments and much more, with sales supporting the educational programs of this nonprofit visual arts center.

Ask the majority of the Hui’s new guests what prompted them through the Hui gates and you’ll find that they are largely ceramics enthusiasts, “we saw the pottery sale sign outside! Which way do we go?” It’s thrilling to see such enthusiasm for this age-old art form, offering a great way to engage folks in what has evolved to be one of the Hui’s most wildly popular programs.

One attribute that sets the ceramics program apart from the other core Hui arts programs is the consistent buzz of energy in the studio; ceramicists and firing techs trading technical tips, discussions comparing ceramics in different parts of the world, friends catching up on missed sessions, and the general goings-on of an arts subculture; a talented group of artists bound together by a common purpose- to unlock their creativity- to form their own community.

“The Hui ceramics program offers an environment of constant creativity and continual innovation through its numerous classes, workshops, and Open Studio Program, in the most well facilitated ceramics studio available for public use on Maui,” says Deb Zaleski, the Hui’s ceramics studio manager, “Our members share and exchange ideas and experiences in an open forum setting, and continue to experiment with a variety of forming, glazing and firing techniques, offering endless possibilities while encouraging inspiration and personal expression.”

Most people, when they hear the word ceramics, think dinnerware and tiles. While these traditional products have been and continue to be important, a new class of ceramics has emerged- sculptural, provocative, nonfunctional forms that inspire narrative and initiate dialogue. Earlier this year, the Hui presented a retrospective exhibition of ceramicist Jennifer Owen's work, an artist who’s “Hui History” began in 1982.  She recalls coming in for an interview with Rob Spenser (“I got so dressed up, I had no idea what I was in for!”) to talk about a teaching gig and left with a position that would have her heading the ceramics department for the next 23 years. She hand drew a sign for a pottery class and found it easy to sign people up for 5 – 8 week sessions. “It was a real ‘ohana, a home away from home for so many of us that were looking for studio space and new ideas” she recalls, “we slowly built structure into a formal ceramics program; we designed rules in cooperation with the Hui arts administrators, held monthly meetings and work days, built tables, paved the stable floors, and we taught everyone that wanted to learn.”

When asked how Owen felt about sharing her retrospective body of work with the Hui community this year, she responded, “I’m very excited about the people that are just becoming a part of this place. The Hui is the best community of artists on Maui where all those exchanges can happen. This is such an incredible environment. Coming here as an artist is also spending time in one of the most beautiful places on the island, and it's forever changing and evolving. For those that have not been here before: you’re in for a surprise!”

We hope you will join us in viewing our spectacular Hui Holidays pottery pieces- and much more. Open every day from 10 am – 4 pm until December 24, with gallery items evolving each week at 2841 Baldwin Avenue in Makawao.  Admission is free.