The gift of art
It’s holiday time again, and on the local art scene, galleries and museums have adopted various traditions to make the most of the lucrative season.
The Honolulu Academy of Arts’ "World Art Bazaar," which includes crafts, clothing, jewelry and art from around the globe, is practically an institution (see accompanying box for schedule). The University of Hawaii’s art department often presents a ceramics and glass sale. Hawaii Glass Artists produce gorgeous gift pieces; this year their annual statewide exhibit is showing alongside the gifts at the ARTS at Marks Garage.
Kapiolani Community College’s Koa Gallery and Cedar Street Galleries present small-scale shows that enable them to offer fine art at affordable prices. Cedar Street deals exclusively with works from the most reputable artists in the state, and its "Matchbox Plus VI — A Show of Miniatures" is no exception.
Koa mixes it up for "Mixed Media Miniature 2010 XIV": Emerging artists share wall space with iconic ones, and there are even some mainland artists in the lineup. This year the gallery sent out 400 invitations and ended up selecting works by 135 artists.
The long list of contributors reads like a who’s who: Ka-Ning Fong, Lori Uyehara, David Kuraoka, Alan Leitner, Snowden Hodges, Ron Kent, Esther Nowell, Russell Sunabe, Debbie Young, George Woollard, Jinja Kim — the names go on and on. There are even treasures from Toshiko Takaezu and Isami Doi.
"There are gemlike pieces in this year’s show," says gallery Director David Behlke. "Alan Leitner’s paintings are amazing. This guy just keeps evolving. Warren Stenberg, who usually does 2-D, brought a surprising, delightful 3-D sculpture. (Painter) George Woollard did a wood and lacquer piece."
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
Behlke says a number of artists offer up creations outside their usual repertoire because the small canvas opens them up to trying new ideas.
And prices open up visitors to the idea of gifting art. Behlke tries to keep most works at $200 and below, though a few pieces here and there are much pricier. Takaezu’s ceramic, for instance, is $1,500, and a piece by Doi is priced at $900.
"This show gives a good cross section of the art community," Behlke says. "It’s a fun slice of Honolulu and beyond."
GOING ART SHOPPING?
Here’s a list of museum and gallery sales to get you going:
» The Contemporary Museum Shop (2411 Makiki Heights Drive, 526-1322): A holiday celebration will include artist demonstrations and 10 percent off all purchases. The shop has brought in new jewelry for the season.
» "Matchbox Plus VI" (Cedar Street Galleries, 817 Cedar St., 589-1580): Runs through today, though unsold work will still be available for purchase. Gallery hours today are 1 to 4 p.m.; regular hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
» Peggy Chun Gallery closing sale (1161 Nuuanu Ave., 545-4810): Gallery closes Dec. 10. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.
» University of Hawaii art department: Annual glass, ceramics and sculpture sale by students and faculty, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, UH art building glass and ceramics courtyard; call Rick Mills at 956-5258 or e-mail rmills8189@aol.com.
» Pegge Hopper Gallery (1164 Nuuanu Ave., 524-1160): Hopper’s prints will be 25 percent off through Dec. 14. Plus, Hopper’s recent trip to Mexico has generated Mexican-inspired gift items. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays and until 3 p.m. Saturdays.
» "World Art Bazaar" (Academy Art Center, 1111 Victoria St., 532-8700): Through Dec. 14. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Also, the Academy Shop at the Honolulu Academy of Arts is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays (except Dec. 19, when hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
» "Mixed Media Miniature 2010 XIV" (Koa Gallery, Kapiolani Community College, 734-9374): Through Dec. 17. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
» Chinatown Boardroom (1160 Nuuanu Ave., 585-7200): Selected prints and gift items 20 percent off through Dec. 25. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays.
» "It’s Really Nice!" (Louis Pohl Gallery, 1111 Nuuanu Ave., 521-1812): Fine-art and fine-craft group show, through Dec. 28. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays.
» Hawaii Glass Artists Statewide Exhibition and gift sale (The ARTS at Marks Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Ave., 521-2903): See exhibited works by established, noteworthy and emerging artists; gifts are handmade by glass artists. Continues through Jan. 8, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays.