For more information, call the center at 885-5884 or visit hawaiiwoodguild.com.
SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY
The Hawaii Wood Guild’s 26th annual exhibit opened with a public reception Saturday at Isaacs Art Center in Waimea. Celebrating 26 years of showcasing the woodworking talents found across the Big Island, this free exhibit is open to the public.
Entries range from small hollow vessels to large pieces of furniture — functional to whimsical — with everything in between. The exhibit, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, ends on Feb. 25. All the entries are available for purchase and 25 percent of the proceeds from works sold go to the student scholarship fund for Hawaii Preparatory Academy.
The guild is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization for woodworkers and wood enthusiasts on the Big Island. Its mission is to promote awareness and appreciation for Hawaii’s talented woodworkers and the trees and woods with which they create. Since their livelihoods rely on Hawaii’s forests, it is their goal to bring awareness to good forest stewardship through an alliance with the Hawaii Forest Industry Association.
Following a thorough critiquing process, judges selected the following award-winners:
c Best of Show: Marcus Castaing for “Guardians of the Heart”
c Joinery: first, David Reisland, “Koi Pond”; honorable mention, Mats Fogelvik, “Pedestal Table”
c Sculpture: first, Greg Pontius, “The Gift of Wood”; honorable mention, David Young, “Wa’a”
c Woodturning: first, Kelly Dunn, “Folded Vessel”; honorable mention, John Mydock/Elmer Adams, “Lava Lotus”
c Open: first, David Gomes, “Kuahiwi”; honorable mention, Scott Hare, “Twister.”
Awards were sponsored by Woodcraft of Honolulu, The Hawaii Forest Industry Association and Aloha Woods in Kona. The wood artists who enter also have a chance to vote for their favorite piece. The “Artists’ Choice” is awarded to a woodworker whose creativity and quality of work has received the most adoration from peers. This year, the honor went to Doug Keown for “Blues.”
Additionally, all visitors have the opportunity to vote for their favorite work of wood art with votes tallied at the close of the show.
For more information, call the center at 885-5884 or visit hawaiiwoodguild.com.