Big Island artists earn accolades

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Four Big Island artists earned accolades at this year’s Hawaii Craftsmen All-State Juried Exhibition.

Four Big Island artists earned accolades at this year’s Hawaii Craftsmen All-State Juried Exhibition.

Honokaa resident Rachel Baker received the $500 George Ellis Award for her large fused glass “Honu and Coral.” Ceramic artist and Hilo resident Ingrid Fregeau received the $500 Carol Malcom Koga Emerging Artist Award for her bust, “Pacifica.”

Pahoa’s John Mydock earned the Merit Award in wood arts for his vessel “Shape Shifter” made of Norfolk pine he turned on his wood lathe. Emily Dubois, another Lower Puna resident, received an honorable mention award for her fiber work titled “Bamboo Drape.”

In addition, Volcano Village glass artist Michael Mortara was recognized for his work and contributions to the Hawaii art community at large. One of his pieces in the exhibit, “Lidded Umeki,” was purchased by the Honolulu Museum of Art for its permanent collection.

The Hawaii Craftsmen All-State Juried Exhibition at the Honolulu Museum of Art ends today at 4:30 p.m. For this year’s event, 11 artists were selected to enter 13 artworks in the Honolulu show.

Other Big Island artists exhibited were Volcano residents and clay artists Zeke Israel and Randal Sutton; paper artist Charlene Asato of Mountain View; glass blower Evan Jenkins; wood worker Gregory Paul; and fiber/clay artist Patti Pease Johnson.

The next Hawaii Craftsmen offers Aha Hana Lima (Gathering of the Crafts), a series of intensive three-day workshops, lectures, and dialog covering clay, metal, wood, fiber, or glass media, starts in March. The Big Island will host woodworker Michael Cullen from California who creates furniture and sculpture during the event, which starts March 31. Other media workshops will be hosted on Oahu.

Info: Call 521-3282 or visit www.hawaiicraftsmen.org.