LIHU‘E — Monika Mira earned two awards Saturday when the Kaua‘i Society of Artists in sponsorship with the Surfrider Foundation of Kaua‘i opened its second edition of its Washed Up Marine Debris Art Show at the Kukui Grove Center gallery.
Mira earned the Outstanding Achievement Award for her “Sea (NET)tle: Ghost Net,” and one of three honorable mention awards for her “Striped Slipperfish” that was already claimed by a buyer on the opening day.
“This is a real heavy piece,” said Rose Anne Jones of the “Ghost Net” work. Jones is co-chair of the show with artist Abigail Boroughs.
Jones spoke during a virtual tour of the show when announcements of the winners were made. “They came in ahead of the entry day so they could set it up. She (Mira) also had to order the cabling through the internet because the hardware stores here don’t have the cable that can support the weight.”
Mira’s “Striped Slipperfish,” using a washed-up rubber zori as its base, was embellished with bits of ocean plastic and other debris.
“This show was on, off, and on again because of the novel coronavirus,” she said. “It was originally scheduled, and taken off the calendar after COVID-19 arrived here in Hawai‘i. Following the efforts at ‘flattening the curve’ and the relaxing of rules, we were encouraged to put on the show again, with consideration for the social-distancing guidelines.”
The traditional opening reception was canceled in consideration of crowds and social distancing, and in its stead Jones and Boroughs hosted a virtual walk-through on opening day — two days ahead of today’s World Oceans Day. The awards were sponsored by the “North Shore Kaua‘i Angels.”
“We’ll be here from 10 a.m. on World Oceans Day,” Jones said. “And Barbara Wiedner — she created the Kealia Rainbow from bits of ocean plastic — of Surfrider, and Mira are scheduled to be gallery-sitting early. The gallery and show will be available for viewing until 6 p.m.”
The special show hours on World Oceans Day leaves people time to stop by Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery (still closed due to COVID-19), where the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuaries are partnering with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources to offer free, ocean-education learning kits available outside Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery from noon until 2 p.m., or until supplies are exhausted.
William Stults’ “Mumbles,” an octopus, was named the first-place winner in the marine debris show that runs through June 26.
Wynde Thomas collected a variety of washed-up material to create “The New Normal” within the washed-up license-plate holder for second place, and Jeremiah K. Ryan earned third place for his “Body of Work,” a population of people created from wine-bottle corks and a variety of washed-up ocean plastics and other debris.
In addition to Mira’s “Striped Slipperfish,” Borough’s “Swimming with Plastic,” a hand-made book, and Andrew Gorton’s “Buoy Lamp,” received honorable mentions.
Washed Up continues daily through June 26, with normal viewing from noon to 4 p.m. daily.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
