LIHUE — Caylin Spear likes spending time gallery sitting at the Kauai Art Tour exhibit set up in the Kauai Society of Artists gallery at the Kukui Grove Center. “This way, I get to meet people, they get to meet
LIHUE — Caylin Spear likes spending time gallery sitting at the Kauai Art Tour exhibit set up in the Kauai Society of Artists gallery at the Kukui Grove Center.
“This way, I get to meet people, they get to meet me, and I get to meet the other artists,” Spear said. “My legs aren’t that great so this way I get to sit.”
Spear is a participating artist in the Kauai Art Tour, which opened its exhibit of 39 participating artists on April 1 and will have the work on display throughout the month.
Sponsored in part by a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the first Kauai Art Tour is a free, self-guided, two-weekend event to individual artists’ and studios.
Representative pieces for participating artists are on a preview exhibit at the KSA gallery, where people are able to pick up guidebooks with maps to the participating studios as well as information about each participating artist.
“Open Studio events like the Kauai Art Tour are a wonderful way for the community to engage with its artists in a unique setting — where the magic happens,” said Donia Lilly, the founder and producer of the Kauai Art Tour. “I have participated in Open Studio events around the globe for the past 15 years and can personally attest to how fabulous they are for artists, visitors and the local community.”
A listing of the 39 artists as well as a short biography and a representative sample of their work is also in the free guidebook.
A survey earns eligibility for an opportunity to win a Shell gas card, or a set of five Art Cards.
“This is similar to the Women Artists of Kauai program,” Spear said. “It’s just bigger and not limited to just women artists. I was able to help set the exhibit and got to meet a lot of the participating artists and artisans. This is really great support for myself and helps me with my work.”
During the first of the two weekend tours, people will be able to visit artists’ studios on the south and west side of the island from Lihue to Waimea from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The second weekend will have participating artists opening their studios on the north and eastern side of the island, from Wailua to Haena, also from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Maps to the artists’ studios are available at www.kauaiarttour.com.
