Kohala Plein Air Painters on display
The Firehouse Gallery and Kohala Plein Air Painters invite the public to a Plein Air Paint Out from 9 a.m. to noon today at the gallery in Waimea.
Plein Air painters will have their easels set up and pencils, paint brushes or pastels in action and welcome questions and conversations about the joys and challenges of painting outdoors. This intrepid group paints every Friday on the north leeward side of the island from the spectacular coast to the forests of Hawi to the rolling hills of Waimea ranches.
“The three biggest challenges are wind, wind and wind,” jokes oil painter Peter Jefferson who leads the group. “You never know what you are going to get, how the clouds will move across the horizon, where the cows are going to be grazing, when there will be a sudden downpour. To me, it’s thrilling! The big views are magnificent!”
Plein Air or open air painting began in France in the 1800s when tube paints became available. Artists could escape the confines of the studio, where they had to grind and mix paints, to paint in the beauty of the outdoors.
The Paint Out is part of “Tropical Palette, ” a group exhibition by the Kohala Plein Air Artists which runs through January. The Firehouse Gallery will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the Paint Out. The regular schedule is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
The Waimea Arts Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the arts, the encouragement of artists, and providing a forum for art-related community events.
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Music series continues
Ohrlando’s Live From Home will present its 30th livestream performance at 5 p.m. Sunday.
For the holidays, the duo will provide a collection of European Christmas compositions by Buxtehude, Bach, Telemann, Cavalli, Lübeck, Praetorius, Schütz, Adam and more.
Performing will be Roland Maurer on oboe, English-horn and bassoon, and Ursula Hesse on keyboard. The event will be streamed online at https://bit.ly/3zib7u3. The ensemble asks that those who view the concert contribute to The Food Basket at www.hawaiifoodbasket.org. A limited number of in-person seats will be available for vacinated individuals only. For reservations and directions, contact roland.maurer@gmx.ch or call (808) 315-7666.
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Woodshow winners announced
The 29th annual Hawaii’s Woodshow in Honolulu ended last week with Big Island wood artists bringing home several top awards.
The Hawaii Forest Industry Association-sponsored show highlights both the variety of woods grown in Hawaii as well as the talents of the makers who craft them into works of art. This year, 86 pieces were at the show including a student section showcasing a variety of functional furniture pieces, sculptures and wood turning all made from woods grown in the state and very often harvested by the makers themselves.
A panel of three jurors, Sharon Doughtie, Bundit Kanisthakhon and Tanya Rubenstein, selected from the entries as stand out examples of the work being done with Hawaiian woods.
Tai Lake took the Award of Excellence in the masters division and People’s Choice Award for his “Forest Meditations” side table. Mats Fogelvik received the first place furniture award for his “Hula Nahele” koa side table. Paul Schurch, a master woodworker recently relocated to Ninole, took Best of Show for his wall piece “Koa Weave.” The Award of Merit went to Michael Patrick Smith and Kelly Dunn brought home First Place in the Accessories division. Rob Woodward, a wood turner from Puuanahulu, received honorable mentions as did woodworkers Winter Anderson and Tom Loomis.
