Volcano Art Center will present an opening reception for “Ever Changing Island” from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at its gallery inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Volcano Art Center will present an opening reception for “Ever Changing Island” from 5
Volcano Art Center will present an opening reception for “Ever Changing Island” from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at its gallery inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The exhibition features glass art from artists Hugh Jenkins and Stephanie Ross juxtaposed against watercolors on prepared silk from artist Clytie Mead.
The detailed and divergent creations of both Honokaa-based art studios combine to express the beauty found within the life cycle of Hawaii Island’s native flora. The show will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Sept. 8.
Mead will conduct a silk-painting demonstration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 16 at the gallery, sharing her technique, materials and the inspiration behind her work.
Painting with watercolor on silk is Mead’s primary focus. She brings a lifetime of experience as well as her own Western point of view to each piece, which can take as long as 30 hours to complete. Mead paints with conventional watercolors on Chinese silks, specially treated to resist blurring or running.
“Ever since I first came to Hawaii, I’ve been inspired by the lovely natural surroundings,” Mead said. “I have wanted to express my deep appreciation for the beauty of the many native Hawaiian plant species, and to bring them to the attention of people who may never have had a chance to see these rare and sometimes endangered plants.”
Jenkins and Ross are the husband-and-wife team behind Honokaa’s Big Island Glass Gallery. Jenkins was introduced to glass blowing in 1969 at The Foundry in Honolulu. He carried his passion with him to the Punahou School in 1972 where he was an art teacher until 1998. His glasswork has evolved through several functional and sculptural phases, usually including highly polished optical surfaces.
Ross was introduced to glass in 1995 and has worked in collaboration with her husband since 1996. She excels at design and color, while Jenkins often takes the reins on finishing the form. Their recent creations evolved as a direct response to their Hawaii Island life, depicting impressions of the volcanoes, forest, ocean and varying climate and light.
Exhibit admission is free, though park entrance fees apply and donations are accepted. For more information, visit volcanoartcenter.org or contact the VAC Gallery at 967-7565 or gallery@volcanoartcenter.org.
