The "No. 4"

 Design Copyright Roland Lee 2012

Design Copyright Roland Lee 2012

Design Copyright Roland Lee 2012

I've emerged from my cave to begin posting some of my latest art designs and work. Recently, I've been motivated to do some woodblock carving and printing. Inspired and facinated by the work of the Japanese Ukiyo-e greats such as Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kunishige, Yoshitoshi, etc... I've sat down, got my carving tools out, drew a design, and began cutting. After doing a few prints on inkjet paper, I wasn't happy with the result. So with a roll of rice paper, I cut them to size and the results were better than expected. I could go on and on but the results are the above entitled the "No. 4"

Inspired by Japan: Hawaii Potter's Guild

Esther Shimazu, "Cleaning My Head I and II"

My family and I left our car at Jiffy Lube for a jiffy lube and we decided to walk around the corner to get a burger for lunch. Before arriving at the burger joint we noticed that there was an event taking place at the Japanese Cultural Center which we decided to check out. There in the distance was my high school English teacher Pat Takeshita who articulated that we were at a ceramics show sponsored by the Toshiko Takaezu Foundation. The work speaks for itself with a very high level of talent from the Hawaii Potter's Guild. I hope that you enjoy these photos as much as we enjoyed the show!

Shelle Avecilla, "Smoke Stacks"

Judy Okimoto, "Angelina Flying"

Domenica Sattler, "Light:Happiness"

Yoko Haar, "Drifting"

Patti Gallagher-Jones, "Lost at Sea Fish"

 Pat Takeshita, "Copper Earth Willow"

Queenie Kwock, "Dimpled Shadows"

 Esther Shimazu, "Cleaning My Head I and II"

 Aaron Padilla, "Red Swril"

 Esther Norwell, "Lion Dogs"

Maile Yawata, "Boy Soldier"

All Tied Up

 

As a sailor of the high seas in old ships, Mike Lawnsby has been to corners of the Earth that most of us would only be able to view in shows like Planet Earth. One evening over a shots of espresso, he told all about sailing to the Midway Atolls Wildlife Refuge and the natural beauty of this protected bird sanctuary. As an amateur photographer, he captured stunning and breathtaking shots of the landscape, the seascape, and the wildlife. In describing his two month expedition it led into a conversation about his knot tying knowledge which is a requirement for sailing the types of old fashioned ships that he did. 

Pulling out a green glass flask with raised lettering at the bottom which read, "POISON" he showed me a complex weave decorating and protecting the narrow body of the bottle. Inspecting it with my fingertips, my first impression was that some kind of adhesive must have been holding the weave together for it to adhere so tightly to the slick surface of the glass. Mike explained that the decorative quality is repetitive knot tying and the tightness of the entire weave is pulled by hand and leveraged by an awl like instrument one knot at a time. He was very generous with his knowledge by giving me a Turk Head knot tying lesson on the spot.

Pulling out a needle case that he crafted from bamboo and a wine cork, Mike used raw materials to make cool functional art that had a pulse. Of course he highlighted the art of tying tight knots on this piece and it's decorative quality. He burnt the image of the ship that he had sailed onto the bamboo as modern day scrimshaw on wood instead of on bone.

Thanks Mike for the lesson and for the opportunity to hear about your experiences!

The Childbirth Discussion

Natural Childbirth

When my wife was pregnant, we had spirited discussions about natural childbirth versus non-natural methods such as inducing labor and cesarean sections (c-sections) . The irony of it all was that we were hurled in the middle of a debate that wasn't ours. Although we were talking about the same thing, about which childbearing method is the safest for her and for the infant, we couldn't seem to see eye to eye. In the end we had a natural birth and the experience was wonderful but traumatizing for me. I was inspired by all of this to create two pieces to depict the debate.

NCB 1

 

C-Section Light

The beads nailed to the piece on c-section represents of the discomforts of medical intervention. This piece also functions as a light. It hangs in our living room as a conversation piece.

C-Section Lights off

Wood turner Michael Lee

 

Michael Lee is a down-to-earth surfer at heart, family man, fine craftsman/wood turner, and gallery owner, who has a symbiotic relationship with wood. Casually dressed in an aloha shirt, shorts, and slippers at his annual Christmas sale, we had a conversation where he showed me his calloused fingertips from sanding his work. He has traditionalist values and he will not waiver to accept anything less than perfect. In a separate conversation, he said that he treats each bowl like it is his last creation. It is this kind of fortitude and focus that is reflected in the intensity and quality of the end product. His patient personality, calm demeanor, and positive attitude are traits that is reflected in his work. His work is a part of the permanent collection in the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum; the Hawaii State Art Museum, the Contemporary Museum of Arts, he Hawaii Academy of Arts, etc. . .

 

One may think that it would be unaffordable to own something made by Mike Lee especially with the name and the reputation that he has created for himself. By representing himself at a artist-owned co-op gallery at the Gallery at Ward Centre, an average person can own one of his wonderful wood carvings/wood bowls. While there, you will find the work of other fine artists such as Doug Young, Debbie Young, Roger Whitlock, Jackie Mild-Lau etc. . . On any given day, you can meet any of them and ask them questions about their artwork. 

Click here to see more of Mike Lee's work.

                                                                 

Their annual holiday reception is coming up on December 11th from 12p.m. til 4p.m.  Check it out!

Wabi-Sabi

1

Wabi-sabi is a feeling of simplicity, so here's a haiku to describe my work.

Inanimate rock

Holds life and becomes alive

Subdued, submissive

2

 

 

3