POIPU — Craig Freeman will be coming to The Shops at Kukuiula on Sept. 1, said Helaine Perel, the real general manager of the Poipu Shopping Village. The Kauai-based painter, who will open the Palms Gallery in September, used the
POIPU — Craig Freeman will be coming to The Shops at Kukuiula on Sept. 1, said Helaine Perel, the real general manager of the Poipu Shopping Village.
The Kauai-based painter, who will open the Palms Gallery in September, used the revived Kukuiula Art Walk to meet some of the local art afficionadoes and patrons on Saturday night.
“He’s been working on the space, and even has his gallery sign up already,” Perel said. “He might open even before Sept. 1.”
Freeman, the founder of the Northwest College of Art and Design in Poulsbo, Wash., used the opportunity to set up easels displaying a variety of his art style and showcase a working piece as people strolled through the shopping area.
Stacie Chiba, the Kukuiula real estate manager, said the Kukuiula Art Walk will continue to feature six art galleries from 6 to 9 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month.
Kimberly McDonough, a recent Island School graduate, teamed up with classmate Griffin Lord to also offer an experience in sound at the event. McDonough performed on an electric violin, while Lord worked to complete an art piece.
“This started here, and now, it’s completed here where it started,” said Lord, who will be leaving for college in the coming weeks. “And the best part, I’m getting paid for it.”
Further down the shopping area, Steve Duby teamed with Kurt Smart to offer a jazz atmosphere outside of Halelea Gallery, where local artist Robin McCoy was featured.
“This was crazy when it opened,” Chiba said. “All of the parking spaces were filled.”
Sandy Poenhelt of The Right Slice, a vendor at the weekly Kauai Culinary Market, was enjoying the event as a spectator rather than a vendor.
“I thought there would be more food offerings,” said the pie maker, who vends at the Hanapepe Art Night. “Art nights are pretty popular. The Hanapepe one every Friday has a problem with no parking.”
Chiba said the revival of the Kukuiula Art Walk is only a preview of things to come as The Shops at Kukuiula also celebrates its Flavors of Kukuiula in conjunction with the shopping center’s anniversary on Friday.
“The blessing will take place from 4:30 p.m. with the Flavors starting from 5 to 7 p.m.,” Chiba said. “The Greenstone Project should be set up and be ready to go right after the blessing. It’s also a holiday so people can come down and enjoy themselves.”
Visit www.kukuiula.com/community/the-shops-at-kukuiula for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
