A visit to the Big Island would not be complete with out a tour of its Art Galleries . Much of Friday was spent seeking out former artist friends and revisiting those galleries that have survived the strains of years of economic downturn . While the decline in tourism has had a huge impact on the entire economy, I am happy to report, that the art community is still very much alive. Granted, Big Island artists may be depending more on jewelry and (suitcase art, than museum size pieces), but most of the artists I known for the past ten years are still showing in galleries today, and quite a few new ones are now also on the scene.
Here's a few of the art places we have visited this week .
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| The Volcano Art Center Gallery |
This rustic cabin was once the original Volcano House Lodge, and has been preserved as a gallery displaying the art-ware of over 250 of Hawaii's finest artists and craftsmen.
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The Gallery of Great Things
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The Isaacs Art Center, is a combination of art museum and retail gallery is also in Waimea, across the street from the Gallery of Great Things. It is housed in a building that was once waimea's first public school. IThe Center is a part of Hawai'i Preparatory Academy and provides a venue for people to donate appreciated art and receive the benefits of a charitable donation. The mission of the Isaacs Art Center is to raise money for the benefit of HPA students while giving the community access to art and sculpture and providing students and parents living on the island a cultural learning experience. . It contains a large permanent collection of paintings, furniture, rare books, and Hawaiiana. A section of the art center operates as an art gallery, and a variety of fine Hawaiian art work is offered for sale. The funds generated by these sales are used to support the HPA Scholarship Fund.
The Lahaina Gallery in the Shops at Mauna Lani represent major regional and international painters. I was happy to see they were still carrying the remaining artwork of my late friend, Darrel Hill.
The Dolphin Gallery at the Kings Shops in Waikoloa has become well known for its unique collection of marine art, unique gifts, collectible glass and fine jewelry.
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| Lahaina Gallery interior |
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| Downtown Kona |
Closer to our Home base we visited the Kailua Village Artists. This is one of the oldest and longest surviving artist run galleries on the island. It features original art created exclusively by Big Island artists.We have purchased multiple pieces of fine art craft from this group on previous trips, but they have relocated since our last visit, and we had difficulty in locating them on this trip We finally found the gallery is in a small shopping mall set back from the main drag in downtown Kona. It was worth the search.
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| This colorful shop is the gallery of my friends Mary and Mat Lovin |
We saved the best for last by setting aside all of Friday afternoon for a visit to the Holualoa Artists enclave in the heart of the coffee growing region. This is one of my favorite places in the whole world and I was truly afraid that the death of one of its more famous artist,s and the stagnant economy, might have damaged the quaint charm of this artists colony.
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| Holualoa's original post office has been turned into an art gallery |
To my relief I found art studios and local coffee shops still occupy over two dozen historic buildings from Hawai‘i’s past.
and tourists were still filling the streets and the colorful shops with business. Way go go Holualoa.!
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