The Contemporary Museum Art Spree

The event was about a family day filled with activities. The exhibit was about meditation and quiet time. There were mermaids, synchronized swimming, a cabaret, food, activities, and fun... oh yes, and art!

People and Events

It's been a while since I've updated this blog mainly because things have been hectic. The only art that I've have had time for is taking photos. Here are some fun pictures at a local carnival.

 

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"

What a Find!

I was gallivanting around on a lazy Saturday morning right after the sun had risen. I had noticed a garage sale sign so I decided to follow the direction of a hand drawn arrow on a piece of cardboard which led me to a junk filled backyard. There was an old typewriter, some vintage metal frames, a trunk filled with old letters and black and white postcards, a few ceramic bottles, some trinkets and jewelry, and a couple of used surfboards that looked dinged up. Good stuff but nothing that I would collect, I thought. Then I peered across the way to find this painting. The guy only wanted a $1! What a steal I said to myself, so I whipped out a dollar and secured my purchase!

Painted by Clare I. Tyler

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 film

 My favorite black and white film that I like shooting with is Ilford HP5 Plus. The results that I get with my 1966 canon ft are sharp low key photos.

The photograph above is of two elderly gentlemen that were sharing a conversation and a bottle of congnac.

Bell Peppers

Bagels

No Biodiesel 

Iolani Palace

The perspective of the photograph of Iolani Palace tells a story of how the monarchy fell when the Queen was held captive in her own palace in the early 1900's. The palace fades into the background and the foreground are of arrow tips of the front gate which is the way I had planned to take this photo. What I didn't plan for was very neutral contrasting and so the photo doesn't pop but nevertheless, it stands on it's own because it captures the essence of the subject matter. Perhaps if I had used a film with a lower ISO, then the results would be better contrast.

Jewelry Maker Renae Erickson

Jewelry makers are a special breed of individuals who have the fortitude and tenacity to bend the will of raw materials to fit their vision. The result of their works are ornate creations made for decorating a person which gives birth to an individual style. My friend Renae is a jewelry makers who uses fire, metal clamps, resin, hardware tools, presses, etc... to create perfectly simple yet complex and artfully quaint gems that highlight the people wearing them. She carefully considers the design of each piece to ensure that the jewelry complements the fashion for the owner. Her pieces are bold but not overly done. It has taken many years for her to hone her skills making her work unique and sharp. Here are some pictures of her jewelry designs below:

Filigree Rings

 

 Earrings

Cherry Blossoms in resin. Stud earrings 1/2" in diameter

Cherry Blossoms in resin. Stud earrings 1/2" in diameter

Damask in resin. Stud earrings 1/2" in diameter

Vintage Swarovski crystal on antiqued bras

Vintage Bakelite Art Deco centerpieces with rhinestone; Clear Swarovski crystals; Green faceted Onyx Briolette; antiqued brass

Swarovski briolettes; red Garnet; Brass

Brilliant works of art Renae! rdecojewelry@gmail.com

Blue Jeans on a Dryer

This is the watercolor that I painted of the pair of jeans. It's drying on my dryer. Below is a close up.

Chinatown Boardroom

 

 Enoki the Boardroom Bulldog

The Chinatown Boardroom is a neat little space that pairs artwork with surfing and surfboards. It may seem odd at first but the concept of putting an art gallery and a surf shop together does work well. Owners Eric and Jackie and their friendly Bulldog Enoki have splashed color in a small space that flow like the tides. Upon stumbling in, there are photos from local photographers, prints from local print makers and even a couple of signed pieces from Shepard Fairey the contemporary artist/designer. The prices are reasonable and the art depicts the culture of surfing. They have a wide range of gift items ranging from wallets with edgy designs to ceramics Buddah Butter holders. There is a modest selection of surfboards and fins for the surfing enthusiast and some jewelry too.  We met with writer Stuart Coleman from the Oahu Surfrider Foundation who was doing a signing for his books "Eddie Would Go" and "Fierce Heart" at the Chinatown Boardroom.  Yeah, what a treat!

Acrylic Print by Roan Bennett

We purchased the above waffle cone print by Roanah Bennett which will be a nice addition to the art in our kitchen. You can find different artwork nearly every month at the quaint space of the Chinatown Boardroom. They share the same philosophy as Apartment Art which is to live large and live rich in  small spaces by rotating art and being simple.

Slow Art Friday

Slow Art Friday

 

The ARTS at Marks Garage

The Arts at Marks Garage is a gem for Honolulu's Chinatown art scene. Located in the heart of downtown, it is the pulse for promoting upcoming and well known local artists. As a non-profit gallery, it has been the leading advocate for culture and the arts, and for the revitalization of Chinatown. The quality of the artwork in Honolulu has improved tremendously over the last decade and a major contributing factor is Marks Garage. They continue to focus on showing the work from Honolulu's local artists. Other galleries that have emerged have also supported this art movement.

Tomorrow evening is Slow Art Friday and Marks Garage is featuring local glass artists for it's exhibition. The public is invited for a fun art walk through downtown Honolulu where unique artwork can be purchased as one of a kind Christmas gifts.

Sculptures by Angelica Reyes