LIHUE — On Kauai, there aren’t many opportunities for local artists to showcase their art in a big exhibition. But the Kauai Society of Artists annual ART Kauai exhibition is the place to be for artists to get their name
LIHUE — On Kauai, there aren’t many opportunities for local artists to showcase their art in a big exhibition. But the Kauai Society of Artists annual ART Kauai exhibition is the place to be for artists to get their name to the public.
The 32nd annual exhibition is regarded as the premier fine art exhibition of the year, said Rose Anne Jones, chair for ART Kauai, as it’s the only juried exhibition on the island.
“We bring a juror, usually from another island or from the mainland. That person comes in, and they don’t know the artist. They’re just looking at the artwork,” Jones said. “They have in their mind that they want to build a show that’s representative of the islands or of a theme, and then they choose pieces for the show.”
This year’s juror will be Patricia Correia, owner and executive director of “Projects Contemporary Fine Art” in Topanga Canyon, California.
“Patricia will be looking at the work and judging it on merit. It’s not impartial, that’s the point,” Jones said. “It’s about looking at the artwork itself. The artists aren’t guaranteed they’re going to get in the show. Our other shows are open shows, but this is our only juror show.”
Correia focuses on the sale of fine art and advises a spectrum of artists — from emerging to mid-career to museum-collected. She is a consultant for private and public art collections and art sales for private collectors, museums and other institutions with significant art collections, according to a press release.
On average, around 65-70 artists participate in the exhibition each year.
More so than just having a juror select their art work for a show, along with a $2,000 cash prize, there is also an opportunity for some artists to have their work purchased and selected by an acquisition committee from the state.
When an acquisition committee buys an artist’s artwork, that means it will be hung up in office and state buildings.
“It’s a great honor when an artist gets their work chosen and purchased by the state,” Jones said. “It’s something they can all put on their resume. This is the only show that we have that the acquisition committee comes to on Kauai. It’s a really popular show for artists to enter because of this.”
Since 1983, the Kauai Society of Artists, a non-profit, has provided educational and exhibition opportunities for artists living in Kauai. Art Kauai 2017 is partially supported by member and program fees, donations and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.
The opening reception is 5 to 8 tonight with live music at the KSA Gallery at Kukui Grove Center.
The exhibition will take place Saturday through Oct. 28 from noon-6 p.m. throughout the week except for Friday, when the exhibition runs from noon-9 p.m.
Jones credited the Kukui Grove Center for providing exhibition space.
