Iron man (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Collaboration Artists Exhibition)

MEDIA RELEASE

Artwork completed during the first Hawaii artists’ collaborative hosted Oct. 20-22 will be shown as the Hawaii Collaboration Artists’ Exhibition through Nov. 17 at two locations in the heart of Holualoa Village –The Cliff Johns Gallery and The Holualoa Gallery.

The art will be offered at a “no reserve” auction during a special event Nov. 19 at Holualoa Inn; all proceeds will benefit future artists’ collaboratives in Hawaii.

Tai Laki, designer and fine furniture maker, and Holualoa artist Cliff Johns organized the event.

“The three-day invitation-only artist collaborative was an unbelievable success with amazing energy and creative stimulus pulling artists together to share ideas, inspiration and skills. We worked together, creating numerous pieces of art – with two or more artists working in collaboration on each piece,” Lake said.

The inaugural theme, “Hoo hui a hoopaa, Olelo no eau”, sums up the spirit of the event, translating as “Bringing together all skillful artists and the talented/wise to gather as a people and stand together.”

Not surprisingly most – but not all – of the finished work (more than 50 pieces in total) is mixed media, ranging from highly functional to outrageously whimsical decorative art.

“Our goal with the collaborative is to encourage artists to venture outside their usual medium, working in alternative art forms to expand their vision and skills,” Lake said.

Polishing the drum. (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Collaboration Artists Exhibition)

Johns said another goal of the event is to connect the broader island community through art and perhaps bringing a future component to the mix that would include local school teachers.

The idea is to start small and grow slowly over subsequent years.

“This year, participating artists represented every district on Hawaii Island, as well as a diverse range of media from wood turning, jewelry making, glass blowing, hand-painted fabric, ceramics, painting and more,” Lake said.

The collaborative is fashioned after established events in Canada and New Zealand, and in its initial year was limited to just 20 artists. In addition to the Hawaii Island participants, the debut event included guest artists from California and Canada. Eventually, the Hawaii Artist Collaborative will welcome artists from throughout the Hawaii Islands and countries worldwide.

For more information on the art exhibit and auction special event, call Johns at 322-6611.

For art auction reservations, email hawaiicollab@gmail.com.

Working on the sail. (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Collaboration Artists Exhibition)

Participating artists:

Amber Aguirre, Kailua-Kona
Amy Flanders, Laupahoehoe
Ben Hiroka, Kailua-Kona
Cliff Johns, Kailua-Kona
David Reisland, Captain Cook
Ellen Crocker, Keai
Ethan Froney, Kamuela
Gary Eoff, Kailua-Kona
John Mydock, Pahoa
Jonah Lake, Holualoa
Kala Willis, Kealakekua
Kalima Brookes, Holualoa
Kate Jacobson, Holualoa
Kathleen Akaka, Holuala
Mark Kimball, Holualoa
Mats Fogelvik, Ocean View
Matthew Lovein, Holualoa
Michael Cullen, Petaluma, CA
Miranda Jones, Saskatoon, Canada
Peter Underwood, Kealakekua
Quinn Miller, Kalaoa
Richard “Spike” Blaine, Ocean View
Sunny Pau’ole, Kailua-Kona
Tai Lake, Holualoa
Tiffany Shafto, Paauilo
Will Jacobson, Holualoa

(Video courtesy of Matt Lovein)