Congratulations, ARTcamp grads!

We've had so much fun this holiday season creating gifts, memories and new friendships with the latest class of ARTcamp graduates. From jolly gingerbread houses and little holiday dudes to block print wrapping paper and recycled card ornaments, our fabulous teaching artists made Hui Holidays 2009 a year to remember full of holiday cheer! Our most sincere thanks to Maggie Sutrov and Julie Matheis. We hope to see you all this spring for Camp Kaluanui, beginning March 15.

A few of our little jewelry making elves: Joshua, Jaxon, Hunter, Rachel, Maia, Lacey, Lauren and Kaia.

The Artists' Garden

Each December hundreds of artists, volunteers, students, and shoppers gather at Hui No'eau to celebrate Hui Holidays, a gallery exhibition showcasing handmade gifts at highly affordable prices to help benefit community arts education on Maui. This year's theme "The Artists' Garden" has helped transform Kaluanui's onetime living room and dining room spaces into a whimsical boutique brimming with original pieces by the best Maui's local art scene has to offer. Complete with snowy tree branches, vintage bird cages and holiday cheer, the space offers a peaceful alternative to the hustle and bustle of shops and strip malls. Pick up your friends, take a drive Upcountry, grab a snack from the Kaluanui Cafe and feast your eyes on the latest in prints, paintings, jewelry, ceramics, photography, crafts, textiles and more that our Hui artists have been working on all year long. New pieces are added every day until closing day on December 23rd. Happy hunting!

Meet a few of our featured artists, now on view in The Artists' Garden:

Keri Meyer

Question: How long have you been creating jewelry? How did you get started?
I have been making jewelry since I was around 8 years old, but metalsmithing/ silversmithing for about 12 years. I started out beading and making designs that way. When in first grade, I remember the school secretary wearing this thick sterling silver bracelet, I knew then I wanted to make jewelry. I beaded until I was around 20 or so, then had a desire to create pieces completely my own. About 6 years later, found a spot called The Crucible in Berkeley, CA now housed in Oakland, CA. and took a beginning silversmithing class.

Question: Is there a particular artist or teacher that helped change the way you look at art?
Eventually I wanted to take some classes that had smaller teacher to student ration and met Adam Clark at Scintillant studio out of San Francisco, CA. He taught me to not be afraid of my ideas, just go for it. I learned a lot as I created designs and then went to implement those ideas. Adam helped me look outside of my box and continue to be creative. After moving to Maui, I worked in the Hui Jewelry Studio, my move was actually contingent on whether or not there was a studio to continue to learn. JB Rea has been a wealth of knowledge, skill and encouragement!

Question: If you were a jungle animal, what would you be & why?
Mmmm...A jungle parrot, love their color and their apparent freedom to go where they want to when they want to!

Marcy Lynn

Question: How long have you been creating art? How did you get started?

I have been creating art since high school. I had some great art classes and teachers, and just found it such a fun and creative process. One of my teachers kept a piece to use for a show and I have been creating ever since.

Question: Tell me about the last time you laughed so hard you cried.

The last time I laughed so hard . . . sharing a story with my best friend a couple months ago when she was here visiting. We have great laughs!

Question: Finish this sentence: "Art means never having to..." go without beauty.

Jaisy Hanlon

Question: Why do you create art? How did you get started?

I suppose I create art because I just can't help myself! I like to take elements of reality (plants, animals, etc.) and fabricate a new environment where forms shift and the mind can wander. It is good mental exercise and a reminder to always stop and take a look around at the scenery! I have been drawing and constructing things since as long as I can remember. I think that my parents recognized immediately that they could always distract me with art supplies so they encouraged me to try lots of different things - painting, basket weaving, cake decorating classes - I loved them all! School was exciting only for the prospect of the art projects, so the teachers would give me little side projects - illustrating a lesson plan or helping to decorate the window - it made the boring stuff bearable.

Question: What major influences have helped make you the artist you are today?

My family was always my biggest support network. When I graduated with my Master's Degree in metalsmithing, my mother told me that she knew since I was five that I would make jewelry someday. She had never mentioned it before, and it was at that moment that I realized the dreams that parents have for their children can be very powerful because they can see who we really are and nurture that throughout our lives. As far as artistic influences go, there were of course a few teachers along the way who encouraged me to take it a step further, to keep going when I couldn't "see it" anymore, etc. They know who they are because I have made sure to give them the credit they deserve for being such awesome teachers and human beings. Currently I have had the great fortune of working with a very talented family of artists (Jan and Kathy Kaspryzcki) who have given me more inspiration and encouragement than they could ever know. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Question: What was your favorite children's book & why?

I had two favorite children's books. The first was a book called "a rainbow of my own" by don freeman. The second was "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. I loved any story about children wandering off into their own imaginations. Also, they both obviously had great illustrations. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was another major favorite, but there weren't any illustrations so I had to take off a few marks for that one - although sometimes you don't need the illustrations if the story is that fantastic, which I thought it was.....

Lori Koprowski

Question: How long have you been creating art? How did you get started?

I started painting as a kid, began oil painting in 6th grade in the Magnet school system and then continued on through the Magnet High School. I earned my BFA from Louisiana State University, so basically I have always created.

Question: Where else do you show your work?

Traveling has definitely influenced me. From painting and exhibiting in Louisiana to Los Angeles, Southeast Asia, and Australia. I lived in Fiji for three years, where I created my current series of the iconic female with long black hair and pointy breast known as my "Femme Series". Here on Maui I'm part of the Four Seasons "Artists of Hawaii"

Question: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 items would you wish for? Coffee, sunscreen, and an I phone!