HCF Supports 2010 Artist in Residence Program

Hui No‘eau is pleased to announce its Summer 2010 Artist in Residence program, made possible by a recent grant through Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Laila Twigg-Smith Art Fund.

In a jointly developed month-long program, Oakland, CA-based Favianna Rodriguez and Jersey City, NJ-based Orlando Reyes will present “The Politics of Paper/ Many Stories, Many Voices,” a case study about how artists can collaborate with non-arts community groups to develop messages around social justice. Program elements include building relationships with fellow HI-based nonprofit organizations to identify a socially relevant topic that will inspire hands-on visual arts workshops, panel discussions, professional development for Hawaii-based artists and classroom teachers, and a culminating 6-week public exhibition.

About the Artists:
Named by UTNE Magazine as a “leading visionary artist” in the United States, artist /author/entrepreneur Favianna Rodriguez is renown for her vibrant posters dealing with social issues as well as her leadership in establishing innovative institutions that promote equality and engage new audiences in the arts. As President and co-fonder of design firm Tumis, Rodriguez travels extensively to consult with organizations interested in using visual communications and new technologies to promote community building and social change. In 2003, Rodriguez co-founded the Taller Tupac Amaru printing studio to foster resurgence in the screen-printing medium. She is co-founder of the EastSide Arts Alliance (ESAA), a cultural institution dedicated to training young artists in the tradition of arts activism. Rodriguez has lectured widely on the use of art in political engagement and the work of artists who, like herself, are bridging the community and museum, the local and international. She has worked closely with artists in Mexico, Europe, and Japan and has exhibited at Museo del Barrio (New York); de Young Museum (San Francisco); Mexican Fine Arts Center (Chicago); Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco); and internationally at the House of Love & Dissent (Rome), Parco Museum (Tokyo), as well as in England, Belgium, and Mexico. Her artwork also appears in The Design of Dissent (Rockport Publishers, 2006), Peace Signs: The Anti-War Movement Illustrated (Edition Olms, 2004), and The Triumph of Our Communities: Four Decades of Mexican Art (Bilingual Review Press, 2005).

Founding Director of the critically acclaimed Jersey City-based 58 Gallery, painter, curator and arts entrepreneur Orlando Reyes has produced solo shows and private commissions in fine art metropolises, including Copenhagen, Brussels, Paris, and Florence. A centerpiece in the New Jersey/New York contemporary art scene, the 58 Gallery has hosted over 200 artists in more than 200 shows with the primary focus of filling the gap created by the elitism of the New York art market, prioritizing creativity and innovation. An early exposure to large-scale public painting via graffiti led Reyes to pursue two apprenticeships under established fine art painters in 1983, offering such techniques as Flemish oil painting and the color theory of Matisse. In 1988, Reyes took his art to a public realm as he helped launch a series of socially engaged, street-based art campaigns around controversial issues such as AIDS, art censorship, and the corporate irresponsibility. As he became more immersed with the mastery of painting, Reyes left the U.S. and headed to Jamaica to pursue an artist in residence in the study of impressionism, landscape painting, and light manipulation. His love for and mastery of color and pigment eventually led him into an abstract and non-linear approach, culminating in the complete abandonment of brushes. Reyes’ present day painting approach incorporates the use of eyedroppers as a way of pursuing an organic, pigment-centered style. His cultural, urban, and nomadic roots resonate throughout his art. Reyes’ work continues to be exhibited in galleries, museums and in public, both nationally and internationally.

Visit us online at www.huinoeau.com soon for developing program information & details. In the meantime, mark your calendars with the following program dates:

Teen Intensive Workshop with Favianna Rodriguez
Monday, July 12 – Thursday, July 15 (10 am – 2 pm)

Portfolio Review Sessions with Favianna Rodriguez
Friday, July 16 (10 am – 2 pm)

Free slide lecture and panel discussion with Favianna Rodriguez & community collaborators (TBD)
Friday, July 16 (6 pm – 8 pm)

Adult Intensive Workshop with Favianna Rodriguez
Monday, July 19 – Wednesday, July 21 (9 am – 1 pm)

“Teach the Teachers” with Favianna Rodriguez
Thursday, July 22 (10 am – 4 pm)

Teen Intensive Workshop with Orlando Reyes
Monday, July 19 – Thursday, July 22 (10 am – 2 pm)

Portfolio Review Sessions with Orlando Reyes
Friday, July 23 (10 am – 2 pm)

Free slide lecture and panel discussion with Orlando Reyes & community collaborators (TBD)
Friday, July 23 (6 pm – 8 pm)

Adult Intensive Workshop with Orlando Reyes
Monday, July 26 – Wednesday, July 28 (9 am – 1 pm)

“Teach the Teachers” with Orlando Reyes
Thursday, July 29 (10 am – 4 pm)

The Politics of Paper/ Many Stories, Many Voices Exhibition
Featuring work by the artists and their students
Friday, August 6 – Thursday, September 16

The Hui wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and Laila Twigg-Smith Art Fund for supporting this exciting program. We look forward to seeing you this summer as we partake of this extraordinary experience!

Hui Partners with Kalama Intermediate in Preparation of 25th Anniversary

Tuesday, March 9th will mark a very special day for 50 7th grade Kalama students, volunteers and members of the Hui No‘eau youth outreach team as the last coat of paint is applied to a set of murals that have been 2 months in the making.

In recognition of Kalama Intermediate’s 25th anniversary, Principal John Costales and Classroom Teacher Marilyn Morikawa approached the Hui to brainstorm on ways to celebrate the cultural diversity and history of the school. A project entitled “We All Belong,” was developed over the course of several months of planning between Kalama and Hui No‘eau Children’s Program Coordinator Kelly McHugh. Over the course of 15 in-school visits, 2 classes of students became responsible for the planning, development and implementation of 2 large-scale murals on the grounds of the school, led by Morikawa and Hui teaching artist Nathalie Nunez.

“Marilyn has been such a supportive partner,” says Nunez, “we were both able to lend our individual strengths to the project and, together, found ways to incorporate a piece of every students’ individuality and creativity in the final pieces.” When asked about working on the grounds she says, “We have crowds of students who are in recess watching everything we are up to, many want to help that are not presently part of the program. There are lots of kids who want to sign up for art classes after seeing what they are capable of doing.”

The project was made possible by individual donations through the Hui’s “Raise the Paddle” auction at both the 2009 and 2010 Art Affair benefits, as well as the gracious support of Jim Sanders of Jim Sanders Reality, Inc. “We feel very fortunate to be able to work at this scale in our community,” says Hui Executive Director Caroline Killhour, “By continuing to raise these vital outreach funds, we are able to offer scholarships, supplies and the guidance of high-caliber artists that help enable access to the visual arts to every interested child across Maui.”

"What an incredible collaboration to help celebrate our 25th anniversary!” remarks Morikawa, “ the Hui team's expertise and enthusiasm has driven this project from idea to synthesis to production- my students and I have learned so much. Thank you, Nathalie and Hui No‘eau, for your contribution to Kalama Intermediate School."

The murals will be unveiled during the school’s "25 Years – We All Belong" Celebration, scheduled for the morning May 8th, ad will also include a blessing, entertainment and presentation of the Kalama Anniversary Quilt.

Art Affair: The Bourbon Street Ball

On the evening of Saturday, February 27, Hui No`eau celebrated our 18th annual Art Affair to the theme of “The Bourbon Street Ball.” The potential tsunami earlier in the day did not dampen spirits at the Kaluanui estate; over two hundred attendees created a wave of enthusiasm for the arts, raising vital funds in support of the Hui.

Dressed in their most festive jazz and Mardi Gras attire, artists and community supporters enjoyed delicious Cajun cuisine by Bev Gannon’s Celebrations Catering, live Dixieland Jazz by Raw Silk featuring Kelly Covington and Fulton Tashombe, live and silent auction of fine art and service packages led by expert auctioneer Kip Toner, youth dance performance by Maui Academy of Performing Arts dancers and our established Raise the Paddle auction- this year, in support of Hui youth programs.

John W. Hoxie, Jr. was awarded the Board of Directors Recognition Award for his longstanding commitment to and support of the arts center throughout his 7-year volunteer tenure. Maui artist George Allan was awarded the Hui Angel Award in appreciation of his many years of inspiration, volunteerism and dedication to the Hui. Inger Tully, Hui Board Member and Curator of Exhibitions of The Contemporary Museum in Honolulu, offered a heartwarming appeal to event attendees to Raise their Paddles, resulting in a hugely successful $75,000 auction that will benefit youth programs in 2010.

“Meeting our Raise the Paddle goal was both an exciting and very emotional experience,” says Kelly McHugh, Children’s Program Coordinator, “We’ve worked so hard over the past year building & strengthening programs that enable access to high-quality arts education to youth from all Maui neighborhoods- from day trips to the Hui to customized classes for children with special needs to partnering with public schools on getting our artists into their classrooms- it’s incredibly rewarding to know that our work has made a difference and that our supporters are so ready & willing to help in this way.”

In the spirit of the theme “The Bourbon Street Ball,” the Hui will be donating a portion of the event’s proceeds to New Orleans-based nonprofit “Young Aspirations / Young Artists” whose mission is to empower creative young people to become successful adults via the arts.

“We have been so fortunate to sustain and even build our support system during what has been a very challenging year for the nonprofit arts sector here on Maui,” says Hui Executive Director Caroline Killhour, “one can only imagine the added difficulty of trying to raise funds for the arts in New Orleans. We are honored to support a fellow arts education organization in this way and enormously thankful to all of the volunteers and supporters that helped to make this year’s Art Affair such a success.”

Mahalo to all of you who came together to create such a memorable evening. Learn more at www.artaffairmaui.com

Photos by Anna Kim

Make Way for Art Affair!

With only two weeks until our biggest event of the year, the Hui is simply buzzing with artistic energy, anticipation and excitement as we prepare for Art Affair 2010: The Bourbon Street Ball!

This valued and festive tradition brings together a strong community of artists, educators, collectors, and more to help raise funds for the art and outreach programs of Hui No`eau - Maui's premiere visual arts education center.

Featuring live Dixieland Jazz by Raw Silk, featuring Kelly Covington and Fulton Tashombe, delectable Cajun dinner and treats by Bev Gannon's Celebrations Catering, live auction of the best in fine art Maui has to offer led by the acclaimed Kip Toner, a silent auction that includes getaways, entertainment and more, this year's Art Affair promises to be an event to talk about for years to come. John W. Hoxie, Jr. will be presented with the Board of Directors Recognition Award for his unrelenting support of Hui No‘eau. George Allan will be presented with the Hui Angel Award for his many years of inspiration. Additionally, the New Orleans-based nonprofit Young Aspirations/ Young Artists (YA/YA) will receive a portion of the event's proceeds in the spirit of this year's theme.

“We're thrilled by the Hui's decision to support YA/YA in this way!” says YA/YA Executive Director Baty Landis, “This contribution will enable 40 New Orleans public school students access to the arts, 6 developing artists a fulfilling collaboration experience, and 4 classroom teachers tools to successfully integrate the visual arts into their regular curriculum through our Urban Heroes program.”

Seating is limited for this extravagant event, held at the historic Kaluanui estate in beautiful Upcountry Maui. Call the Hui today at 572-6560 or visit us at www.huinoeau.com to purchase your tickets!

Visit the event website

Tots R Us

Earlier this week, we were thrilled to welcome TOTS R US to the Hui's Explore & Discover program. Led by Kristy Copperfield & Whitney Brown, the group worked with teaching artist and Hui registrar Lana Coryell to build their very own mailboxes, toured the Annual Juried Exhibition and learned about Kaluanui plants and trees with the help of our new Plant Guide. See for yourself!
The Explore & Discover program offers a wide range of free to low-cost options for schools and groups to participate in high quality visual arts learning through relevant, engaging, FUN experiences. Click here to download a copy of our outreach brochure.

Announcing the Kaluanui Experience

Over the past year, Executive Director Caroline Killhour and a team of staff and supporters have been hard at work developing the Kaluanui Experience— a new program sharing the history and botany of the Hui's unique property with Maui's visitors and residents.

The program consists of a new historical exhibition room, a guidebook to three new walking tours of the Kaluanui property with detailed information about the expansive range of plants and trees throughout the estate, and workshops linked to the Hui's Green Art Series, such as Natural Hawaiian Dyes and Dyeing which uses live samples from our vast collection of estate plants and trees to create original dyes and live color.

Developed by Kari McCarthy and Darrell Orwig, the historical exhibition room provides Hui guests with the opportunity to discover the rich history of the estate. Located in a former bedroom downstairs, the room has been recently transformed to artfully display Ethel Baldwin's collection of hollowware silver as well as many historical photos, sketchbooks, and journals. "After watching this room develop over the past few months, it is exciting to finally unveil it and share it with everyone," said Killhour.

These activities represent just the beginning of the Kaluanui Experience with plans in the works to publish additional booklets and create rotating exhibitions for the historical space. As the Hui's offerings continue to grow, we welcome you to visit and explore these fantastic new opportunities!

Maui Woodworkers Guild presents Alfred Sharp at Hui No‘eau

Mark you calendars for March 19, 2010 slideshow & March 20, 2010 workshop with Alf Sharp at Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center. Presented by the Maui Woodworkers Guild.

Recipient of the 2008 Cartouche Award from the Society of American Period Furnituremakers, Alf is a master of high and low relief carving, inlay, marquetry, and French polishing. He is a prolific and masterful craftsman of 18th-century reproductions and has also made many of his own contemporary pieces.

Alf Sharp has over thirty years experience in the studio furniture field, with completed commissions for a number of historical homes, museums, and many private and corporate clients. He serves on the Boards of several related arts institutions and is well respected inside the ranks of the furniture-making community, as well as among designers, curators, and collectors nationwide.

Sharp encourages a greater rapprochement between the realms of traditional and contemporary furniture makers. He says, "A number of us have worked hard in the last decade to remind the contemporary furniture world just how much they owe to traditional design and technique, and I believe we've been very successful in growing appreciation and acceptance for traditional makers and their values. I'd like to make a plea for a similar recognition of how much truly outstanding work has been done by the last two or three generations of furniture makers. I'm thoroughly convinced that we are presently living through as fertile a period for furniture design and craftsmanship as was the 18th century."

"One of the things I have loved about this activity, and what kept it alive for me, is that there is no end to what you can learn, and no upper limit to the skills you can develop. In theory, you could continue to progress in your skills through several lifetimes."

Material fee and reservations are required for the March 20 workshop. Contact Ricardo Vasquez 269-2745 or ricardovasquez@mac.com for info.

Hui No‘eau Annual Juried Exhibition: Raising the Bar for Maui Arts

On Friday, January 8 nearly 200 individuals gathered at Hui No`eau Visual Arts Center to celebrate the opening of its Annual Juried Exhibition. Generously sponsored by Jack & Carolyn Schaefer Gray, Robert & Fran Davidson and Louis & Jolene Cole , this prestigious multi-media arts competition offered an opportunity to view the current work of Hui members aged 16+ as well as participate in topics upon which contemporary minds are engaged. Each year, 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. With only 50 pieces selected from 288 entries, the 2010 Annual Juried Exhibition continues to represent a highly competitive and valued program in our visual arts community.

This year the Hui was fortunate to welcome distinguished jurors Inger Tully, Curator of Exhibitions at The Contemporary Museum in Honolulu and Theresa Papanikolas, Curator of European and American Art at Honolulu Academy of Arts. "This year's submissions offered a snapshot of a lively art community and revealed trends as well as outstanding individuals," remarked Tully, "(During the jurying process,) many of the works made us think, laugh, or wonder, and all raised questions: How was this done, exactly? What was the inspiration? Who is this artist and what is their background? Or simply: What was the artist thinking!?"

The exhibition is on view now through February 18^th, Monday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm. Admission to Hui No'eau is free. View a sneak peak of the artwork HERE.

Hear what the artists have to say:

I'm so excited to be a part of this show! Ever since I was introduced to the Hui a few years ago, I've admired the many different exhibitions I've seen here. This is the first time I've been one of the artists in the Hui gallery, and I am honored to have my work hanging amongst all these pieces created by such talented folks! Making and appreciating art has always been an integral part of my life, and I'm thankful that I continue to grow and improve as an artist. We are lucky to have a place like the Hui here in our community, where classes and evolving exhibitions and studios are so easily accessible. The visual arts enrich our lives, and complement the beautiful and amazing island we live on. -Katie Browne

Since I artistically "grew up" at the Hui and am currently an independent potter here, it is an incredible honor to have my work accepted into the show. I have learned from many incredible Hui ceramics instructors. The "Finding Your Voice in Clay" class determined that my voice is, in fact, schizophrenic, and other classes impressed upon me the dreadful importance of diligent attention to detail. Also, I benefitted from the generous guidance of the independent potters. George, Stacey, and many others stopping their own work to teach me subtleties and techniques rather than let me bang my head against the wall. Finally, the synergistic sharing of methodology, support, and, most of all, friendship with other Hui potters has allowed my creativity to explode. -Mary Ann Leigh

First of all I want to say thank you for the venue to show this work. I appreciate the Hui and its on going support of the artists. For this show, I am so appreciative for the interest in three-dimensional work and the interest in non-traditional jewelry. I feel supported by this institute and love that it's a bridge to the larger Maui and Hawaii community. It's important for a community to support the visual arts this way to hear all of the individual voices that make up the community. Maui is wonderful but sometimes the community is not aware of all the variety of important art being created here. There is a world outside of the visitor industry that is often overlooked. I find it important to look for and listen to all of the members, even those who are still finding their voice. -Anita Laviola

It is quite an honor and also a responsibility to keep testing the limits of my own creativity and ability to communicate an idea or concept through the mediums of acrylic or watercolor. The Hui is our finest resource in the arts and as a social force. Moving to Hawaii in 1994 I was immediately made aware of the existence and educational benefits of the Hui. As part of the faculty at the Alternative Learning Center High School we include the Hui in our curriculum to give our students awareness and experience of the arts through watercolor, studio crafts and art history with such great instructors as Pamela Hayes. Our students look forward to the Hui each week and treasure their productions. The whole community is invited to participate in this mini University of the Arts and the wide support it enjoys is a reflection of a space which has an exquisite form and a continuously evolving and developing function: to allow all to experience the arts. I am grateful to be part of an exhibit to show some of the works of the Hui No`eau membership. Aloha, Sharon Dahl

It is certainly an honor to have been accepted into this exhibition at Hui No`eau Visual Arts Center. I know that less than 18% of the work submitted for the jury selection made it into this show. I am very excited and feel most privileged to be able to share my glass fusion artwork in this place so richly steeped in Maui history and creative abundance. It is especially inspiring to know that the art selected may be inclusive of work from students to masters of the arts. This type of exposure for all levels of artists is important, especially in today's challenging economic climate. The community support of the visual arts, and every art form, is so much more critical in recent years. Our citizens hunger for artistic stimulation in light of the public school funding limitations. We are very fortunate to have this "Hui" to facilitate the visual arts on Maui to help feed our creative appetites. With much appreciation, Audrey Ventimiglia

I am honored and delighted to be accepted in the Hui show. I really appreciate all that the Hui does for our community and this show is an example of how the Hui gives support back to its' supporters. From the time I first moved to the island, I have loved being involved in the large variety of classes that the Hui provides and the whole experience of being able to take them in such a magical location. Thanks again. Warmest aloha Virginia Pierce

It has been said, "Arts are the glue that hold a community together." I am honored to be included with this group of artists in this amazing community. "Every child is an artist. The challenge is to remain an artist after you grow up," Pablo Picasso shared. He also stated, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." I believe our lives are enriched by art especially art created in your own community. -Ricardo Vasquez

I think that it is extremely important to get your art viewed by the public--having said that I am humbled and honored to have my work chosen for this particular show. As a juried exhibition, the show becomes a reflection of the experience and artistic backgrounds of the jurors themselves. That is why having two wonderful Hawaii jurists from the Honolulu Academy of Art and the Contemporary Museum can in itself elevate the visual conversation for this show. I have not yet seen the work for this show but I am very much looking forward to this Friday's opening. Kudos for getting the support of these jurors for the Hui member show. -Terry Lopez, MFA, drawing and painting, CSUF

I feel very honored to get into the exhibit and I respect the opinions of the jurors. I like getting feed back from other members. The community needs to support the visual arts in this way because it gives people insight into new ways of looking at things. –Judy Bisgard

As an Artist I am privileged to have my work selected for this exhibition, and to show with the other artists that were chosen. I have been blessed being so close to the Hui and seeing first hand what Magic happens on this wonderful property. There are very few venues that Art can be shown in a proper way. The fact that any Maui resident & Hui Member has the opportunity to be chosen to exhibit in this setting is truly a gift. We are so lucky to have a community that supports the Arts and I am always in joyful thanks that Maui is my home and having the Hui as a place of inspiration, collaboration, and community keeps me growing as an Artist !! Cheers Tim Garcia

As an expressionist, I encourage artists to reveal (to themselves and to others) what they are discovering about truth and purpose. Exhibitions such as these give me a chance to share the progression of my own revelations over time, and to note what discoveries and changes other artists are making. Some are predictably inspiring, others surprising! -Pat Masumoto

Reverend Kipi Higa offers a blessing before exhibition sponsors Jack & Carolyn Schaefer Gray and Jolene & Louis Cole

Juror Inger Tully offers background information on a piece by Akira Iha.

Featured artist Katie Browne admires artwork by Hui Executive Director Caroline Killhour

Bailey Golden and Kaela Forsythe react enthusiastically to a piece by Michael Worcester

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!

What's Your Story?

Last week Hui No'eau participated in National Philanthropy Day at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, the aim being "to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy—and those people active in the philanthropic community—have made to our lives, our communities and our world."

 

Joined by 400+ colleagues in nonprofit management with missions focused on a wide variety of causes ranging from social justice and conservationism to cancer research and providing safe havens for abused children, this 2-day conference was an invigorating way to connect with what was largely a non-arts group of extraordinary individuals, with one important common characteristic: a passion for our work.

 

It's no secret that nonprofit workers are gravely underpaid throughout the entire sector, which calls for a staff that very personally relate to the organizational mission. Board members volunteer their time and energy (hence the term "nonprofit") to govern (what are largely) small businesses and protect the financial viability of their programs & services. Community members step up to the plate to contribute in any way they can. Many constituents donate time, products, services and, of course, money to see to it that these missions are carried out in their respective communities. While many of these people serve very different purposes, they are ultimately exhibiting a strong sense of philanthropy in support of a common cause.

 

As I networked with conference participants, trained with expert instructors and listened to the inspiring words of foundation panelists and exemplary nonprofit innovators, it occurred to me that the mission of Hui No'eau may not be as easily recognized as its Hui may think. Example: I have just listened to a health reform executive director describe his latest fundraising effort to install a Skype-like application in the hospital rooms of terminally ill patients unable to say goodbye to their loved ones living thousands of miles away when he takes a look at my name badge and says, "wow, the arts, huh? How's THAT going in this economy?" Despite the clear recognition that he and I were plainly doing work of a different scale, my response was, "Great, actually." It seems that many folks hear the term "arts education" and stop short at the word "art" when, in fact, what we are trying to accomplish is so much more. 

 

About a month ago, one of our teen students' parents called my office to talk about a recent program we concluded with a group that helps at-risk high school students deemed unable to cope in a "regular" classroom environment get back on track, both academically and socially. She wanted to thank me first for offering scholarships to all of the participants and then for simply developing the series of workshops. As we began to chat about the group and all of the progress they made, she broke down into tears saying that the program completely reopened the lines of communication between she and her son, who have not been able to talk without arguing for a very long time. She mentioned that it took some time, but gradually her son came home wanting to describe the projects he was working on in the ceramics studio and eventually, thinking about ways to incorporate the work into his regular high school curriculum. Though it may not seem too far of a stretch for our general constituency of artists, this was clearly a breakthrough for this woman and I felt a sincere sense of gratitude for having touched her family's life in some small way.

While we may not be saving lives, I profoundly believe that we are making lives more fulfilling, and for many, offering life-changing experiences. Whether it's the Baldwin High School student I met at last weekend's Portfolio Day who had no intention of going to art school, but by the end of the say felt like he "actually (had) a future as an artist" and felt like he "finally figured it out," the students I met at this year's Annual Student Exhibition who were joined by family & friends to celebrate their very first exhibition, visibly thrilled to be shown alongside their teachers and mentors, or receiving a note on our Facebook page saying, "Hui No'eau gave me the confidence to be an artist. I did ceramics and photography and had one of my paintings exhibited when I was 18 years old. Since then I went to Art Center College of Design to study photography and got sucked into computer graphics. This lead me into the CGI business for feature and animated films. Some day I would love to come and speak at the Hui and tell others how inspiring it is and what it did for me," I believe it is these individual accounts that need to be shared to make our message clear.

As I finished telling the gentleman from the health reform organization these stories, he completely changed his perspective and said to me, rather surprised, "that is really remarkable. Why don't I know more about this?"

I will leave this response to you. How have the visual arts made an impact on your life? What's your story? We'd love to hear it. 

-Hui No'eau

Wailea Food & Wine Celebration

On Friday, November 20th nearly 200 artists, collectors, educators and supporters gathered at Hotel Wailea (formerly the Diamond Hawaii Resort & Spa) for the Hui's 3rd annual Wailea Food & Wine Celebration, a fundraiser for the arts center and its printmaking program.

Sponsored by Chambers & Chambers wine merchants, the event took place on the resort's Gazebo Lawn, offering breathtaking views during sunset followed by an elegant setting beneath the stars. The evening included fine cuisine by top chefs Chris Kulis of Capische, James Furnish of Five Palms, Eric Arbogast of Cuatro, Ralph Giles of Catering from Soup to Nuts and Cameron Lewark of Spago as well as delectable wines donated by Justin Vineyards & Winery, Shafer Vineyards and Testarossa Vineyards. Dessert was provided by the talented Maui Culinary Academy. Celebrated musician Melinda Caroll entertained the crowd while former Hui No'eau print studio director Paul Mullowney presented special edition prints by Brad Brown, Judy Pfaff and Max Gimblett at specially reduced event prices. Additionally, the Hui's annual Printmaking Studio Calendar was released, which features original prints by 13 prominent printmaking artists, all of whom donated their work for this praised tradition.

"We owe much of the event's success to Jim Powlan," says Executive Director Caroline Killhour of the Chambers & Chambers head, who sponsored the event, "Jim's been involved with Hui No'eau as a student, devoted open studio participant, exhibitor and successful artist. We sincerely thank him, as well as his wife, Barbara Fong, for their extraordinary support of the event, the Hui and of community arts education on Maui."

(Click image to enlarge)

(Eric Romanchak, Jill Spalding, Jim Haynes, Leona Holaday, Sandi Stoner, Melinda Carrol, Lee & John Hoxie, Sandy Rice, Wendy Peterson, Sarah Bredhoff, Carolyn Schaefer Gray, Tim Farrington, Lou Cole, Sara Farrington, Jolene Cole, Steve & Billie Moksnes, Jack Gray, Judy & Pete Siracusa, Mike & Jill Spalding, winners of the Max Gimblett Guggenheim Enso, John & Donnette Gene Wilson, Executive Director Caroline Killhour with Hui President Jennifer Brunner) Photographs by the extraordinary Anna Feingold