The Firehouse Gallery in Waimea will feature a show by local artists of art and fine crafts with a cherry blossom theme during February. The show is in conjunction with the Waimea Arts Council sponsorship of the 20th annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival on Feb. 2.
The Firehouse Gallery in Waimea will feature a show by local artists of art and fine crafts with a cherry blossom theme during February. The show is in conjunction with the Waimea Arts Council sponsorship of the 20th annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival on Feb. 2.
The gallery will have a reception and will be open during the festival and the show offers more than 70 works of art, including the original painting selected to represent the 20th annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival. “Cherry Blossom Snows,” a painting by internationally exhibited Hawaii Island artist Aelbert Aehegma, will grace the cover of the souvenir program and also be featured on the commemorative event poster.
This impressionistic style 18-by-24-inch painting depicts all the elements that combine to make Waimea’s cherry blossom trees unique. In the early spring of each year, usually after a major snowfall on Mauna Kea, the trees around town start to show signs of life with small pink buds that soon open to bring bright reddish-pink blossoms.
Aehegma comes from Kailua-Kona and is a Waimea Arts Council member. His background includes both national and international exhibits. He holds a three-part master of arts degree in program renaissance: art administration, art in education and multimedia art.
The original “Cherry Blossom Snows” painting, along with prints and limited edition event posters, will be available for purchase at the gallery beginning Thursday. Aehegma and other artists will be demonstrating their work next to the Firehouse Gallery and in the senior center during the Feb. 2 festival. Aehegma will also be available to sign the limited edition 2013 event posters on the same day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Firehouse Gallery, a program of the Waimea Arts Council, is located at the crossroads of Mamalahoa Highway and Lindsey Road in Waimea. The gallery is usually open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Parking is available behind the gallery.
For more information, call the Waimea Arts Council at 887-1052.