A&E Wrap-Up: 2-17-17
Kona Oceanfront Gallery hosts Vanleeuwen
Kona Oceanfront Gallery will host a special show with the Big Island’s own Lynn Vanleeuwen for a weekend exhibition of her latest releases.
Vanleeuwen will be appearing at Kona Oceanfront Gallery from 5 to 9 p.m. this evening unveiling her latest creations, talking story and giving painting demonstrations.
From her childhood coloring book days and mixing colors with crayons, VanLeeuwen has progressed to being an established professional artist on the Big Island. Born in Massachusetts, and after spending time in Tonga with the Peace Corps, she found her way to Hawaii in 2004. Here, she is inspired by the island’s natural beauty and the essence of her subjects are caught in a moment and portrayed in an expressionist style with a bold yet harmonious color palette and a texture that brings it to life on the canvas.
Vanleeuwen first started her artistic career as a watercolor artist, one of the most unforgiving mediums, but is now an established oil painter. Her latest oil on canvas originals are created applying bold expressive palette knife applications.
Mark Hanna, owner of Kona Oceanfront Gallery, describes Vanleeuwen paintings as resembling a tropical Monet-like style that draws you in and invites you to look closer and longer.
Several of Vanleeuwen’s originals will be on display through Sunday. Tonight’s event will feature wine, cheese, soft drinks and free parking.
Kona Oceanfront Gallery is located at 75-5770 Alii Drive at Waterfront Row in Kailua-Kona.
Info: 334-0037.
Larry Dupio Blues Band offers free concert
Larry Dupio Blues Band will offer a free concert Saturday at the Queens’ Marketplace Coronation Pavilion.
Part of Queens’ Marketplace’s Monthly Mini-Concert Series, the band takes the stage from 6 to 8 p.m.
Info: www.queensmarketplace.net.
Ecstatic Dance Sunday in Honokaa
Sea DandeLion Cafe and DJ Rajasick present Ecstatic Dance from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Honokaa People’s Theatre.
Held the third Sunday of each month, Ecstatic Dance is a place to dance “from the inside out” and connect with like-minded people of all ages in a safe and non-judgmental space. Attendees age 13 and older are welcome. A $7 donation is suggested.
February’s dance proceeds will be donated to Ke Kai Ola, The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal care facility in Kona.
In its most basic definition, Ecastic Dance it is free-form movement/dance inspired by music, allowing our bodies to move freely without judgment or concern for the grace or beauty of the dance. No dance experience or partner is necessary.
Info: SeaDandeLionHI@gmail.com.
Kokua Kailua scheduled Sunday
Kokua Kailua is scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday in Kailua Village. During the event, Alii Drive becomes a pedestrian-only walkway where district merchants, artists and artisans exhibit and sell unique merchandise, gift items, original art and crafts.
Kokua Kailua has been held monthly since 2009. The program is designed to rally support for merchants and restaurants and to remind residents to shop, dine and buy local.
At 4 p.m., Hulihee Palace hosts its free Hawaiian entertainment on the seaside lawn honoring Hawaii’s royalty.
Info: www.historickailuavillage.com.
Ballroom dance club meets
The Kona Ballroom Dance Club will meet from 6-9 p.m. Sunday at the Kona Elks Lodge off Pawai Place in Kailua-Kona.
A free foxtrot lesson will be offered. The event is free to dance club members and $5 for nonmembers.
Info: raziaskz@gmail.com.
Kahilu Theatre continues Steinway Series
Kahilu Theatre presents Miki Aoki in the next installment of the Kahilu Steinway Series at 6 p.m. on Feb. 24 in Waimea.
Aoki is recognized for her diverse abilities as a pianist and collaborative artist. As a guest solo artist, she has performed with the National Symphony, London Soloist Chamber Orchestra, Hamburg Camerata and Washington Sinfonietta. Aoki combines her career performing solo recitals and chamber music, with working alongside young string players.
Aoki started playing the piano at age 4 and moved to London at age 9 where she joined the Purcell School of Music. She holds degrees from Indiana University and Yale University. In 2007, she obtained a distinction in the Konzertexamen degree at Hochschule fur Musik und Theater Hamburg. She is currently appointed as the senior lecturer at Graz University for Music and the Performing Arts in Austria.
The program for the Feb. 24 concert will include works by John Dowland, George Frideric Handel, Edward Elgar, Paul McCartney, Milhaud Caramel, Erik Satie, Francis Poulenc, Frederic Chopin and Fazil Say.
The Kahilu Steinway Series is a series of performances showcasing Kahilu Theatre’s Model D Steinway Concert Grand piano at accessible ticket prices.
Doors open at 5 p.m. for the performance on Friday, January 24 at 6pm, and there will be snacks and beverages available for sale at the Kahilu Theatre bar. In the Kahilu Galleries, the exhibit Solo Exhibits 2017 will be on display featuring works by Eli Baxter, Margaret Shields, and Jean René Leblanc.
Tickets range in price from $8 to $28 and are available for purchase online at www.kahilutheatre.org, by calling 885-6868, or theater’s box office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays.
Info: www.kahilutheatre.org.
Grammy Award-winning world music artist comes to Waimea
Dobet Gnahore, a Grammy Award-winning world music artist, takes the Kahilu Theatre stage on Feb. 25.
This singer, dancer, and percussionist has garnered a reputation as one of the most vibrant performers in the world music genre today. Hailed by critics as Africa’s leading star on the rise, her extraordinary talents position her to set the course for the genre.
As a child, Gnahore was trained in the music and dance traditions of the “Bete“ tradition by her father, a well-known performer in West Africa. On stage, her voice, dancing, charisma, and huge presence bring audiences to their feet around the world. Dobet sings in a range of African languages including Bete, Fon, Baoule, Lingala, Malinke, Mina or Bambara, thereby reproducing the Pan-African tradition of the Ki Yi Mbock group. As a result of dedicated training in the disciplines of theater and dance, she has cultivated a magnificent stage presence that electrifies audiences around the world.
“One thing that strikes me when watching Ms. Gnahore’s performances is the strength of her stage presence – physically, emotionally, and musically,” said Danny Waddell, Kahilu Theatre marketing manager. “When the lights go down and she walks onto the stage, her light shines very brightly. I think she is going to light up the Kahilu Theatre stage on the 25th.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. performance. Tickets range in price from $20 to $68 and are available for purchase online at www.kahilutheatre.org, by calling 885-6868, or at the theater box office at 67-1186 Lindsey Road from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays.
Info: www.kahilutheatre.org.
Workshops & classes
Spielman to teach watercolor workshop
Annabell Spielman will teach a four-day watercolor workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting March 6. The workshop will focus on painting obake anthuriums and Phalaenopsis orchids.
Spielman is an experienced painter with degrees from University of Texas in Austin. She has lived in Hawaii for more than 40 years and during that time has been an active member of the art communities on the Big Island, Kauai and Maui exhibiting in groups and one woman shows. Buyers from Hawaii, as well as the mainland and Europe, have added her paintings to their collection. She paints in acrylic and oils, as well as watercolors, and likes introducing students to the joys of painting.
This year, the class will be at Kona Arts Center’s new location as of March 1 in Keauhou Shopping Center. Cost is $200 and the class size is limited. Reservations must be made with Marilyn Koschella at 326-7176 or via email to konaartscenter@gmail.com.
Announcements
Kalani Pe‘a’s debut album wins Grammy
Hilo-native singer/songwriter and Hawaiian cultural practitioner/educator Kalani Pe’a won the Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots music album during the 59th annual awards show held Sunday, Feb. 12, in Los Angeles.
Pea’s win marks the first time a Hawaiian artist has won in this category since the Best Hawaiian Music Album award was discontinued in 2011. The Best Regional Roots Music Album award honors recordings in regionally based traditional American music, including Hawaiian, Native American, polka, zydeco and Cajun music genres.
On Saturday, Pe’a will perform at Ke Kula ‘o Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u’s Pulama Mauli Ola Hawaiian language event in Keaau. The all-day celebration is free and Pe‘a is scheduled to take the stage at noon.
Pe’a was among the final five nominated in the Regional Roots Album category and the lone finalist representing Hawaii heading into the awards show.
Pe’a’s debut album, “E Walea,” hit No. 1 on iTunes World Music Charts on Aug. 5. His album also hit No. 12 on Billboard World Music Charts. “E Walea” is a hybrid, with seven original Hawaiian-language compositions, a sprinkling of familiar Hawaiian favorites and covers of two 1970s pop hits — “You Are So Beautiful” and “Always and Forever” — sung in English and Hawaiian.
Info: www.kalanipeamusic.com.
ULTIMI 3 Tenors to headline benefit concert
Back by popular demand from the mainland, ULTIMI 3 Tenors will headline the 15th annual Hoku Concert Series in May.
The concert is presented in association with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, which will also be the beneficiary of the event, according to series founder Frank Meyer.
Info: www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org, 333-7378.
Deadline for ‘Under the Sea’ art contest approaching
Keiki artists have until Tuesday to submit their original, hand-drawn illustrations with an ocean theme for Shriners Hospitals for Children — Honolulu’s “Under the Sea” art contest. The deadline to submit artwork is Tuesday.
The overall winner’s artwork will be used as inspiration in the design of a new EOS Imaging System being acquired this year by the Honolulu hospital. It will be the first hospital in the Pacific to offer this level of care to children. The system is a Nobel Prize-winning technology that produces life-size, whole body images with up to 85 percent less radiation compared to conventional X-rays.
A panel of local celebrity judges will assist the hospital staff in determining the winners of each age category and the overall winner. The panel includes Rep. Kaniela Ing; Honolulu Museum of Art School Director Vince Hazen; Artist Patrick Ching; MidWeek Publisher Ron Nagasawa, Hawaii News Now’s Mahealani Richardson; KITV’s Priscilla Luong; KHON2’s Justin Cruz; Hawaii Association of Independent Schools Executive Director Robert Landau; Shriners Hospitals for Children – Honolulu’s CEO John White, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Honolulu Board Chair Ed Slavish, and Friends of Shriners Board of Directors member Mark Leo.
More than $2,000 in prizes are available for Hawaii’s students, teachers, and one local school. Prizes in each category will be given as follows:
– Overall winner will receive $250 and the artwork will be used as inspiration in the design of the EOS Imaging System. His/her school will receive $1,000 from Friends of Shriners. He/she will also receive one family annual membership (4 annual passes) to the Waikiki Aquarium, a snorkeling set courtesy of Oceanic Worldwide, and a free pizza courtesy of Papa John’s Hawaii.
– A winner in each of three age groups will each receive $100, a family package of 4 one-time admissions tickets to the Waikiki Aquarium, a snorkeling set courtesy of Oceanic Worldwide, and a free pizza courtesy of Papa John’s Hawaii.
– A People’s Choice winner in each age group will each receive $100 and a free pizza courtesy of Papa John’s Hawaii.
– Five teachers statewide will be chosen (two from Oahu, and one each from Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island) in a drawing from all teachers named in each entry to receive a $100 gift card for school supplies.
Entry forms and rules are available online at www.shrinershonolulu.org. Students must use the correct-sized paper (8.5 by 11 inches) and complete the official entry form for their entry to be considered. Entries must not be folded and can be mailed to Shriners Hospitals for Children — Honolulu, Attn: Under the Sea Art Contest, 1310 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96826 or dropped off to Shriners Hospitals for Children — Honolulu at 1310 Punahou St. in Honolulu.
Finalists will be notified in March, and Shriners Hospitals for Children — Honolulu will host an award ceremony on April 8 for the finalists where they will receive their prizes.
Shriners Hospitals for Children — Honolulu specializes in orthopaedic, neurodevelopmental and dental conditions and has a walk-in injury clinic for sports and playground injuries.”
