In 2011, the first year of Maui Open Studios, Carolyn Quan, the event’s founder and producer, watched as some 700 people lined up, waiting to enter Maui Tropical Plantation for the opening celebration and preview exhibition.

"After over a year of conceiving and fine-tuning the idea, organizing the artists, taking care of details and then hoping for the best, the dream seemed to all come true," said Quan, a San Francisco Bay Area fine art collage artist who formerly lived on Oahu and Maui and owned galleries there. "The room was jam-packed, and I realized it was going to be a big success. For me, seeing so many happy and excited people made all the hard work worthwhile."

Following that were three weekends of art-focused "road trips" that took participants to venues all around Maui to meet the participating artists, view their work, watch demonstrations and purchase pieces. Buoyed by the enthusiastic response, Quan thought expanding the event to Oahu to further promote production and appreciation of the visual arts would be a natural step.

At the 2012 Maui Open Studios, she met Sherree McKellar, a Kailua oil painter who was then the education coordinator for the Windward Artists Guild, a nonprofit group of Windward Oahu artists that was established in 1960. When Quan mentioned her plan to launch Oahu Open Studios, McKellar offered her help.

"I reconnected with Sherree last year and we started creating a buzz in the art community about Open Studios coming to Oahu," Quan said. "We contacted members of the Windward Artists Guild and then outreached to the rest of the community. Word spread from there. Social media helped and, thankfully, I had already developed a lot of strong relationships in Oahu’s art industry when I lived there."

Thirty-six artists will be spotlighted in the inaugural Oahu Open Studios. In the mix are emerging artists, mid-career artists and established artists. For example, painter Mark Kadota’s career spans 40 years, while at the other end of the spectrum is landscape and nature photographer Daniel Rea, who will be showing his work to the public for the first time. Honolulu Waldorf School’s Art Club is also participating, and although some members are school faculty, most of them are high school students who are just beginning to delve into art.

Quan views Oahu Open Studios as an excellent opportunity for the public to interact with both well-known artists and others who have not yet placed their pieces in galleries, juried shows or high-end venues.

"This by no means indicates that they’re not talented or don’t produce quality work," she said. "Timing, politics and other things beyond the artists’ control can affect whether or not they get that big break. Oahu Open Studios is a non-juried event that levels the playing field for exposure. All artists working in any visual medium are welcome; there is no judgment of their work, their level of skill or their status as an artist."

She points out that art is subjective, and everyone will enjoy Oahu Open Studios whether they are renowned art critics, longtime collectors or people who appreciate art but know very little about it.

"What is deemed ‘great art’ to you may not be so to someone else, but all that really matters if you want to purchase a piece of art is if you love it, if it calls out to you," Quan said. "People have often been introduced to their next favorite artist at open studio events."

Painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, fiber art, stained glass, tile murals — a wide range of meda will be represented at Oahu Open Studios. Artists will show their creations at dozens of venues, including their homes, studios and garages; co-op galleries; and corporate spaces donated by patrons. The Honolulu Waldorf School’s Art Club will be exhibiting their work at the school’s Makai Campus in Aina Haina.

Attendees will customize visits based on what catches their eye in the event’s guidebook, in the online artist directories, or at the opening celebration and preview exhibition. Displayed for sale will be original pieces, limited editions and giclees. Some artists might also be offering merchandise such as bags, caps, mugs, notecards, calendars, pillows, magnets, bookmarks and T-shirts. Prices will run the gamut, from a few dollars to six figures.

According to Quan, it’s exhilarating for visitors to explore the possibilities and make new discoveries by meeting and chatting with a variety of artists.

"Open studios are valuable educational experiences because they enable people to ask questions, ‘talk story’ with the artists and learn about different techniques and creative processes," she said. "On Oahu, visitors will drive along back roads on the North Shore; go to artists’ homes in Waialua, Waianae, Kaneohe and Mililani; and see other parts of the island that they wouldn’t have had they stuck to the usual tourist itinerary."

Peeking into the lives of artists will help viewers gain a deeper appreciation for and understanding about the finished creations. "Art is much more than just a beautiful object on a wall or shelf," Quan said. "It gives us hope, inspires us, sparks our imagination and, perhaps most importantly, makes us think and feel, whether it be happiness, sadness, awe, wonder, curiosity or excitement. The value of art is in the eyes of the beholder. A piece doesn’t have to be expensive to speak to you or touch your soul."

IF YOU GO …
Oahu Open Studios

» Opening: Thursday, includes a reception and preview exhibition from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Kakaako Conference Room at Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd., second floor.

Meet many of the artists, peruse a few examples of their work, enjoy live music and pick up a copy of the event’s guidebook, which is also available on the website and at the sites listed in the accompanying sidebar. Design your own self-guided tours based on the artists and work that most interest you.

» Event info: Runs for two consecutive weekends at various venues. See the guidebook’s maps and/or online artist directories for directions. Signs will also be posted on streets.

» Dec. 6 and 7: Leeward area

» Dec. 13 and 14: Central, North Shore and Windward areas

» Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

» Admission: Free

» Phone: 415-450-1307

» Email: oahuopenstudios@gmail.com

» Website: www.oahuopenstudios.com

Notes: For purchases, please bring cash and checks because not all artists will be accepting credit cards. 

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.