Category: Arts and Activities

Stepping into the Piero Resta: Illuminatus exhibition at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Schaefer International Gallery, I had no idea what to expect. I’d seen images of his colorful artwork and had some knowledge of his eccentric life on Maui, but did not anticipate being so moved by this beautiful tribute to a very fascinating and talented man. Resta’s art pieces were displayed in deliberate sections throughout the gallery, with each area embodying a different time in his creative life. Beginning with his youth and weaving around the walls to his final days on Maui, this installation was so well-thought-out and clearly pieced together with genuine love for the artist, I found myself with tears in my eyes by the end.

“This retrospective exhibition honors Maui artist Piero Resta (1940-2015) whose life was infused with passion as a celestial navigator between natural and mythological worlds,” the story begins. With a prolific mix of drawings, paintings, and sculptural works, Resta’s legacy lives on in his visual storytelling.

Born in Voghera in Northern Italy, Resta studied at the Institute of Leonardo Da Vinci in Rome. The inspiration for much of his artwork grew from these early days surrounded by Roman culture, architecture, sculpture and fresco paintings. In 1963, he moved to New York’s Chelsea District and became a fashion photographer. During this time, he was fully immersed in the creative culture of 1960’s New York. Resta was involved in experimental filmmaking, became a part of the poetry scene along with Allen Ginsberg, and worked with artists at Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory.

He moved to Bolinas, California in the 1970s and started a theater company, integrating live performances and gatherings with poetry, music, visual arts and film. There he lived as a nomad and explored hallucinatory indulgences, finding freedom and self-discovery in his youth.

Moving to Maui in 1978, Resta continued to live as an adventurer, starting off in a jungle hale in Huelo, then moving around the islands on a catamaran, and later relocating to Paia where he created his own art scene with Piero’s Garden Cafe, which included a studio and gallery space. His artwork shifted from drawing to painting during this period, with a style that fused symbolism with imaginative narratives. Figurative works were inspired by his many friends, models, and muses.

In 1991, he moved to Kaupo on the slopes of East Maui. Resta became immersed in Hawaiian culture and was further influenced by the island’s natural world. He created an artists’ sanctuary here, “Villa Tamarinda,” where he produced several pieces and collaborations themed around the cosmos and mythology. His style evolved to include more three-dimensional works in wood, stone, bronze, fountains, and architecture. Paintings became more abstract and tactile, merging spiritual transcendence with celestial imagery.

Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, the central piece of the exhibit is Resta’s wall-sized acrylic on canvas, “Epica.”

With mediums from wood to bronze, and mixed infusions of natural elements such as sand, the artist’s versatility was ever evolving.

Piero Resta was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. In his final years, he continued the creative journey with contemplative works that expressed his pathway towards healing through acceptance of the coming transformation, rebirth, and the afterlife. His art took on a new energy with a harmony of light and darkness and a focus on the portals and doorways of the cosmos. Embracing mortality, awareness, and a graceful ability to be in the moment exemplified the life of a true artistic visionary.

The exhibit closes with a poignant homage…

Piero Resta took his last physical breath on September 8, 2015. Just before this happened, he said:

“my last breath will be an ocean.”

The Piero Resta: Illuminatus exhibition at the MACC’s Schaefer International Gallery runs through July 16th, 2017 from 10am-5pm Tuesdays through Sundays. For more information, visit the MACC website.

Make the effort (put your make-up on, comb your hair, drive to the MACC) to see Akihiko Izukura’s installation at the Schaefer International Gallery before March 19th, 2017. Akihiko Izukura, a Japanese master of dyeing and weaving silk, is from Kyoto, Japan.

The material he works with is silk, but the exhibition is so much more. Words are not adequate to describe his installation. A large part of his work includes the element of time. Consider that the silk worms are fed and cared for, which takes lots of effort and hours. Izukura has nurtured a consciousness of sustainability and has done extensive research on materials for sun dyeing. Sun dyeing takes months and years for the colors to take. His new process is combined with what his ancestors developed over 2,000 years ago. Recognizing time as one of the important elements of his work slows your breathing down. It took years of preparation to bring this show to Maui, so I savored every moment of experiencing the exhibit.

Opening the door and walking into the gallery, the viewer is greeted by a large cocoon and is invited to take off their shoes and walk through. The ambient electronic music playing inside was created by San Francisco-based composer Christopher Willits. Within the cocoon are large hanging orbs. One is made by the silk worms. Izukura placed them on the ball and instead of making cocoons they just created the silk on the ball itself. Installation artists like Izukura see the viewer as part of the piece. Walking into his artwork, taking in the music as your eyes focus on the orbs and the surrounding silk weavings, you as a viewer complete the installation.

The exhibit also showcases Izukura’s silk weaving with colorful textiles and fashions available for purchase at the gallery.

Akihiko Izukura: The Way of Natural Textiles
 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Schaefer International Gallery
 runs from January 15th through March 19
th. The gallery is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-5pm as well as before and during intermission for Castle Theater shows. Admission is free.

On Saturday, March 4th during “Observe & Play Family Day,” a live performance by musician Christopher Willits will take place from 10am-12pm.

For more information about the exhibit and the artist, visit the MACC website and Akihiko Izukura’s site.

On August 25, 1916, the “Organic Act” establishing the National Park Service was signed. This new federal bureau was given the responsibility of protecting our country’s national parks and monuments. 2016 marks the 100 year celebration of this act honoring the importance of conserving the scenic beauty, wildlife, and historical significance of our parks system.

To commemorate the occasion, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) is presenting the Hawaii National Parks 2016 Centennial Juried Exhibition in the Schaefer International Gallery. The show runs from August 30th through November 6th, 2016 and features a selection of works submitted by artists across the country. The gallery exhibit showcases artwork that reflects the deep appreciation we have for our parks and monuments in Hawaii…the wonders of nature and the cultural meaning they hold as well as the memories we create on our travels.

Several pieces in the show evoke the imagery and power of Hawaii’s volcanoes. Lee Plevney’s “Lava Tubes – Breathing Holes for the Earth’s Soul” is a triptych of white stoneware vessels symbolizing the energy of Maui’s Haleakala. The artist’s process includes shaping the ridges of thrown stoneware, envisioning the forms of cooling lava. “I live each day within the shadow of Haleakala,” she says, “The lava tubes I create signify that I, and my ohana, remain connected to the soul of this island. We walk the hills and valleys of Haleakala. We did one hundred years ago and will one hundred years from now.”

William Worcester has been visiting our national parks for many years and says, “They truly are America’s best idea.” His blown, carved and sandblasted glass piece is titled “Geologists Dream.” Along with being a talented glassworks artist, Worcester is trained as an Oceanographer. A fascination with earth science fueled his creative process. “This piece inspired by Volcanoes National Park conveys the feeling of an active volcanic island,” he explains. It was created with layers of molten glass and glass powders, a sandblasted surface and vent, and a lava-like stream of dyed hemp with red twine in the center.

Wilma Nakamura’s mixed media “Gesture Tinged With Awe” is a collection of 100 postcards reflecting the power of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Using imagery of Pele’s tears (volcanic glass lava drops) along with ink drawings and handwritten memories, she describes her experience as a child viewing the eruption of Kilauea Iki. “Pele is part of my DNA,” says Nakamura, “Inhaling her dust, tuning my ears to the sonic roar, squinting my eyes to take in the orange white hot lava, taming my fear of being in close proximity to her and accepting that the ground under my feet often moved…This piece is grounded in memory. Five weeks in November 1959 at the Park.”

Sacred land is given reverence through creative expression. Jacob Medina’s “Pu‘uhonua O Honaunau” is an acrylic, enamel and birch panel piece named for the national park on the island of Hawaii’s Kona Coast. In ancient times, Pu‘uhonua O Honaunau was a place of refuge, a sanctuary of peace and forgiveness. It is a protected site today, and visitors travel to the park to feel Hawaii’s mana. “I chose Pu‘uhonua O Honoaunau for its unique blend of natural and cultural resources where the idyllic Hawaiian landscape is made sacred by human influence,” Medina says, “The power of this site inspired me to use bold line work and exaggerated colors that highlight the significance of this historic place.”

A disturbing time in U.S. history is chronicled through artwork focusing on the Honouliuli Internment Camp. From 1943 to 1946, Honouliuli held over 300 Japanese-American internees along with close to 4,000 prisoners of war. Surrounded by barbed wire fencing, the 160 acre site was located in an isolated deep gulch near Waipahu on Oahu. Japanese-American internees nicknamed it Jigoku-Dani, or “Hell Valley.” This was the largest and longest-operating of several internment camps in the state of Hawaii, and the only site built specifically for prolonged detention. Honouliuli Internment Camp became a national monument in 2015.

Delro Rosco’s “Freedom for the Captives” mixed media painting draws inspiration from the monument. The artist’s imagery includes muted colors and rough textures pierced by barbed wire. Rosco describes the work’s creation, “Being aware of the hurt from the injustices that were caused by the internment of Japanese-American citizens during WWII, my hope was to capture a sense of place, the pain of imprisonment, brokenness, and a desire for healing, hope and freedom from bondages for all those affected by this dark part of our history.”

Kathy Yoshihara’s “We Cannot Bury the Past” is a combination of clay, glazes, and computer generated decals on fused glass. With a playful artistry, Yoshihara conveys a stark reminder of the unjust circumstances faced by both adults and children during the war. “Although this piece is from a child’s perspective, the effects were no less damaging,” she says, “The camps forever altered the Issei and Nisei’s perspectives and lives, which was passed down to future generations. We were taught to live a life of Gaman.” (Gaman: Enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity)

Rounding the walls of the gallery, we’re brought back to a celebration of the islands’ natural beauty with artwork focusing on plants, trees and wildlife in our parks. Marie Ritzman’s “Endangered or Extinct Hawaiian Forest Birds” is a ceramic sculpture with a clever construct. Ritzman explains, “Through the work of the National Parks, the endangered forest birds survive. See them depicted in this nest of porcelain clay, painted underglazes on porcelain eggs.” Some of the native birds featured include the ‘O‘o, the ‘I‘iwi, and the ‘Elepaio.

Shaun Fleming’s “Haleakala Rising” is a handcrafted Koa wood cabinet inspired by the slopes of Haleakala National Park where the native trees grow. Fleming describes a deeper connection to the source of her work, “The Koa wood from which this cabinet was constructed came from a very old dying tree. Our family salvaged it many years ago, hauling it out of the mountain, milling, drying, and finally fabricating it. It now has a new life. I feel blessed to have had this gift to work with as it sparks a fire in my heart.”

The Hawaii National Parks 2016 Centennial Juried Exhibition offers fascinating insights into the parks system. In addition to the artwork and informative placards throughout the gallery, a glass enclosure holds an official park ranger uniform along with descriptions of the birds and insects at Haleakala.

Open through November 6, 2016, this exhibit is a must-see collection of works reflecting the significance of Hawaii’s history and our natural world. To learn more about the gallery showing and our parks system, visit the MACC exhibit page and the National Park Service website.

---

Centered around Earth Day each year, Maui’s Art of Trash gallery exhibit showcases artwork made entirely from items that might otherwise be discarded. This innovative exhibition features some of the island’s most inventive artists working in a variety of mediums and continually finding new ways to transform trash into treasure.

The Opening Night celebration is always a fun event. This year, the Maui Mall came to life once again with music, dance, and a parade of outrageous trash art fashions. First, Robert Sargenti’s Junk Yard Band took the stage. A talented assemblage of local musicians rocked the crowd, playing instruments made by Sargenti out of repurposed materials.

Next was Ryan Anderson’s Marenje Maui drumming group, a vibrant ensemble of percussionists. They weaved their way around the center stage area in an energetic performance that had the audience smiling.

Master of Ceremonies Kristi Scott kept the excitement going as she introduced the evening’s trash fashion extravaganza. Scott’s colorful gown and fascinator (headpiece) designed by Jett Robidoux were made from a repurposed tarp and plastic bottles.

Students and community members participated in the Trashion Show, walking the runway in fabulous outfits made from recycled items.

Prizes were awarded to the artists and designers, then it was on to the gallery opening…

So many pieces stood out this year for their clever concepts and creative use of materials. Chris Mithen’s “Best Day Ever” brought a charming whimsy to the show, giving new life to an old stuffed animal and car door.

With hammered bottle caps as scales and aluminum cans cut to shape as fins, Megan Kashinski’s “Thirsty Fish” was an eye-catching reminder of how discarded rubbish and recyclables find their way into our oceans.

Timothy Gunter’s “Steroid Scooter” was an impressive life-size replica made of welded metal pipes and assorted items. Gunter won 3rd place in the juried show.

This functioning lamp called “Seattilite” was created by Angie Turner from repurposed metal and glass objects. It looked like a UFO with its mysterious light illuminating through the top.

Roxanne Braddix transformed a child’s toy into a mythical creature with her “Sea Horse” sculpture.

Diana Drake carved a nature scene into an old book, using her distinct artistic style to deliver the message in this piece, “Pray for the Earth.”

Robert Sargenti creates wonderfully unique instruments from unconventional materials. His “Vinyl Grooves” electric guitar made from stacked record albums was featured in the opening night band performance.

“Tommy” by Murphy was a human-size robot that actually moved in response to the viewer’s voice. This fantastic showstopper was the 1st place winner of Art of Trash 2016.

Art of Trash is sponsored by the environmental non-profit organizations SharingAloha and Mālama Maui Nui. To find out more about the annual exhibit and see images from previous years’ shows, visit Art of Trash on Facebook.

Mahalo to Zane Mathias for all of the photos published in this article.

Art Maui is an annual exhibit at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Schaefer International Gallery. This juried show features works by some of Maui’s most creative artists in a range of mediums, from painting to sculpting, glassblowing, jewelry making, wood carving, and more. Every year there are new surprises in store for gallery viewers. This year’s exhibition included a variety of pieces that showcased the unique talents of our island’s art community.

Michael Worcester’s “Carved Water” bowl captured the light with a delicate glasswork design that gave the illusion of a pool of water. Peeking into the center, you’d almost think you could dive right in.

David Fitch’s “Pe’ahi o Na Ali’i” handcrafted wood table was skillfully carved and featured a detailed fan-like pattern across the top surface.

This ceramic piece by Mary Ann Leigh titled “Sanctuary” was an intricately sculpted vessel with jagged outer shapes opening to reveal a view directly through the inside.

A number of paintings stood out for their visual appeal. Meryl Haywood’s “Tove Lo” was a captivating portrait with a softness of tone and brushstroke that gave an ethereal feel.

Annamarie Sheehan’s “Healing Waters” drew the viewer in with its intriguing color palette and style.

Laurence Muleh’s “‘Akohekohe, ‘Amakihi, Ohia Lehua” was a beautiful tribute to Hawaii’s native honeycreepers and the flowering trees they feed on.

Several pieces in the show focused on sugar cane, an industry that will soon be ending on Maui. The artwork was grouped together along one section of the gallery. Tom Sewell’s “Goodbye Sugar” multi-media installation was central to the display and featured a television screen with images of sugar harvesting and production.

Julie Houck’s “Three Views of Cane” triptych (top of photo) and Susan Conway Kean’s “Ready for the Last Load” (bottom of photo) oil paintings gave a nod to the end of an era for sugar cane on the island.

Artist Deybra Fair’s work was instantly recognizable for her distinct design aesthetic. Her “Rusted Seams” sculpture transformed rough materials into a softer silhouette.

Two fun, original pieces highlighted the diverse creativity of Maui’s many talented artists. Shaun Fleming’s “Just the Essentials” carved wood cabinet displayed meticulously inlaid renditions of items kept on hand in kitchen cupboards here on the islands.

This clay sculpture by Mark Olpindo was aptly titled “Milk + Cereal.” Scaled to actual size, the fruit ring cereal looked good enough to eat. The milk jug seemed to defy gravity as it hovered above the bowl.

The 2016 exhibit marked another excellent showing of artistic skill and imagination. To learn more about Art Maui and see images of all of the artwork, visit www.artmaui.com.

Thanks to free entry tickets from friends, Eddie and I had a date at the Maui Fair on Friday night.  The county fair always comes around this time of year, and it’s nice to go every once in a while.  I’m not much for spending a lot of money on rides or games, but I do like to see the student artwork and eat something dangerous.  We picked Friday night when one of our favorite musicians, Willie K, was playing.

Arriving at the fairgrounds around 6pm, we navigated through the parking situation and walked a little ways to the entrance.  First was the livestock and poultry exhibit.  It was interesting to see the critters up close…a giant bull and multi-colored pheasants, among others.  I did wish they had more space to roam rather than being confined to little cages.  We took a brisk stroll through and hit the exit, finding ourselves right in front of the funnel cake cart.

There we found the junk food of my dreams, deep fried Oreos.  They were hot and spectacular, lightly dusted with powdered sugar.  I’ve only ever seen these at the fair, so I couldn’t pass them up.  We split a basket and enjoyed every bite.

Hopped up on sweets, we moved on to the arts and crafts exhibit.  The student artwork was impressive…it’s always fun to see what creative ideas kids come up with.  From grade schoolers to teens, the artists show so much talent and whimsy.  We checked out the crafts tables and the variety of produce on display, then walked along the lovely “orchidland” to the photo salon.  Lots of interesting images lined the wall, and a beautiful display of live bonsai trees sat on the table across.

We headed over to the products and services tent and browsed through the goods, then decided it was time to get some dinner.  I thought about having more deep fry, but figured I’d better play it safe with a Greek salad.  Eddie went for it and got the BBQ pulled pork plate along with a bright blue frosty lemonade drink.  Living on the edge, he also grabbed a pronto pup (deep fried hot dog on a stick).

We washed it all down with a bottled water and agreed to go check out the ferris wheel.  The line was long, so I held our place while he went to get scrips.  It felt like the ride didn’t last more than a couple of minutes, but we had a good time and took some great pictures.  Walking off the platform, we could already hear Willie K jamming in the entertainment tent.  We made our way over and caught most of his set, finishing off the evening grooving to the music together.

All in all, it was a pretty sweet date.  We did spend a bit of money, but at least we saved $14 on the entry fee ($7 x 2).  Here’s a breakdown: $5 parking, $4 deep fried Oreos, $5 frosty lemonade, $7 Greek salad, $7 BBQ pulled pork plate, $4 pronto pup, $2 bottled water, $12 ferris wheel ($6 x 2).  Somehow we lost another $2 along the way…maybe we got the wrong change…$48 total spent.  I imagine that a family bringing kids could drop a lot of dough over the weekend.  Probably most kids wait for Saturday’s discounted ride pass Wristband Day.

To find out more about the annual fair, check out their website at http://www.mauifair.com