The movement of the ocean, the surges of inspiration that steer a person’s creative pursuits — “Currents” is the name of an exhibit featuring 15 Kaua‘i artists at the Academy Art Center at Linekona on O‘ahu. The exhibition opens this
The movement of the ocean, the surges of inspiration that steer a person’s creative pursuits — “Currents” is the name of an exhibit featuring 15 Kaua‘i artists at the Academy Art Center at Linekona on O‘ahu.
The exhibition opens this evening, and will be displayed through Sept. 28 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Academy officials often host group shows, but unlike many, this one features more than a dozen artists from the same Neighbor Island.
More than 100 works will be displayed at Linekona, ranging from pen-and-ink drawings, “cartoon” art, glass, metal, found-item art, a DVD presentation, quilting, beads, fiber, fabric, pastel and painting.
Of these 15 artists, many have been involved since the idea started 10 years ago.
Three are “new” — John Katsuumi Altomare, Carol Kouchi Yotsuda and Patricia Yu. Others are A. Kimberlin Blackburn, Carol Bennett, Sharon Britt, Doug Britt, Kathy McClelland Cowan, John Davison, Evelyn de Buhr, Christine Fayé, Sally French, Karen Gally, Laurel Hoskins Quarton and Wayne Zebzda.
This Tuesday, some from the “Kaua‘i Contingent” traveled to O‘ahu to unpack the barge and set things up.
“The final selection of artworks is very diverse. For example, John Altomare’s work is radically different from Evelyn De Buhr’s,” Blackburn said.
“There’s a whole thing going on recently with what can be termed ‘cartoon’ art that seems to be affected by Japanese anime. It’s something that’s very popular and contemporary right now, and not something we’ve seen in the past — whereas Chris Fayé is doing very traditional pen-and-ink drawings,” Blackburn said.
“Patricia Yu is doing a very contemporary installation, where Carol Yostuda is doing a more traditional. We’re offering a range of artworks,” she continued.
Some stats from the organizers
Nearly all of the artists have work in the collection of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA).
Some have received commissions from the SFCA’s Arts in Public Places campaign.
Many are active advocates or teach art on Kaua‘i, and some have published illustrations or had their works featured in books.
All have shown extensively on Kaua‘i, in solo and group shows, including the Kauai Society of Artists juried “Art Kauai” show held every fall.
On “Currents”
“It’s not technically a theme,” said Blackburn, who serves as a coordinator of the show. “When the group got together to try and name the show, we were conscious of the space between us and Honolulu. We were really aware of the fact that we have to pack up our works in a container and ship them across the ocean,” she explained.
“We definitely feel there is a water space between us and them.
“We were thinking of the literal meaning of ocean currents and how they take our items there, and a more esoteric meaning.” The first show (in 1999 at Linekona) was named in memory of late Kaua‘i painter Reuben Tam, who wrote a poem about being “Islanded.” Members of the Kauai Society of Artists contributed to the first show. The next goaround, in 2001, they chose a group of artists to look indepth at their work.
“The judges, Carol Doran- Khewhok and Sanit Khewhok, noted that the work in this show has a strong narrative quality throughout,” said Fayé. “And, actually, the first time the participants in the show see all the work will be in Honolulu, so we’re all looking forward to the experience,” Fayé said.
Carol Doran-Khewhok is the curator of the Academy Art Center, and received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in painting and printmaking from Philadelphia College of Art. She gained a master’s degree at the University of Hawai‘i in Asian studies, then spent a year in Singapore as a Fulbright Scholar.
Sanit Khewhok is collections manager for The Contemporary Museum, and is a well-known island artist and curator for the Hawai‘i Pacific University Gallery. Before moving to Hawai‘i, he was the curator of modern art at the National Gallery in Bangkok.
A few artists’ notes
• “This new work explores the sensual characteristics of form and the reflective texture of glass, suggesting a narrative representative of nature, the environment and man’s imprint on it,” says Kathy McClelland Cowan.
“The concrete, copper and gold mosaic sculpture, ‘Grand Pod,’ represents something precious coming from life.
• “The paintings are a series of tall, narrow canvases inspired by the valleys of Na Pali, while the sculptures reflect a more whimsical view of nature and the world,” said John Davison, who has six paintings and two sculptures included in the exhibit.
• “It is definitely a group effort, but it couldn’t happen without Kimberlin Blackburn.
She has the vision, the organizational skills and the oversight, and is able to put it all in sequence and produce the show,” praised Evelyn de Buhr. “Somebody in the group earlier on said that getting artists to get together and follow directions was like herding cats, and I think that’s a really apt metaphor.”
• “‘Currents 2004’ is an exciting opportunity to share my artwork with a broader audience, but it also the only time the public will see my illustrations from this new book as a cohesive unit,” said Christine Fayé, who will show her illustrations from the newest “Kaua‘i Tales” book by Frederick B. Wichman. She did the first book’s illustrations in 1982.
• “It’s crazy, I know,” smiled Yotsuda as she showed sketches of her ceiling-to-floor hanging piece that will combine pods capped with long hemp hair and a chain of soft lights strung through tubes covered with handmade paper.
She said she was working on her installment piece for more than four months by crafting and drying handmade paper, constructing wooden armatures and other pieces, and was recently inspired by the fiber work of a Japanese artist who hosted studio sessions here recently.
• A. Kimberlin Blackburn worked on her biggest beaded sculpture (36 inches wide) to date, “In the Valley,” for six months. “I want my sculpture to honor the farm life.
Too many people have little or no firsthand knowledge of where their food comes from and what I’ve come to think of as the sacred relationship between food and human kind. I married a farmer, Jimmy Nishida.
His farm, produce, flowers and fruits have wonderfully impacted my life. I am now an advocate for whole foods. Jimmy’s teacher also taught me a new perspective on the sacred joys of cooking.”
• “Currents 2004” will continue through Tuesday, Sept. 28, and is open free to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The museum is closed Monday.
Check out www.honolulu academy.org for information on other exhibits.
