LIHU‘E — Art pieces were limited to just 16 by 16 by 16 inches, but together they filled the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery Friday night during the opening reception for the KSA Small Works, Big Show which runs through
LIHU‘E — Art pieces were limited to just 16 by 16 by 16 inches, but together they filled the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery Friday night during the opening reception for the KSA Small Works, Big Show which runs through Jan. 4.
Chairman of the exhibit Robert Lober said that, as in previous years, the show was limited to small works which affords KSA members an opportunity to provide affordable art to the community. His goal was to surpass the 160 pieces from more than 50 artists submitted for the 2011 event.
He said one of the new facets this year was turning to local judges, saving KSA the expense of flying in off-island judges and passing the savings along to members as additional cash prizes.
Pierre Bourett was taking advantage of the transitional swells and was not available to accept the KSA Honor Award for his “Who’s buyin the beers?” piece. The award was accepted by one of his friends, along with $300.
Leslie Hagen was another member who was unable to make the opening reception at which her “Men’s Club” drew a lot of comments as viewers stopped to study the cigar box filled with ceramic figures peering out. Hagen’s piece won the $200 KSA Award of Merit.
Lonnie Sykos used a unique dying process to create his gourd hula implements featuring designs unique to Ni‘ihau. His “Horizon” earned the KSA Judges Award and $100 in cash.
Carol Ann Davis, award-winning photographer from Portraits of Hawai‘i, said she was trained as a painter. Drawing from an image from a cellular phone, she came up with “Buster Brown greets a customer” featuring a canine belonging to one of her students.
The unique piece, which drew comments along with her red dog on a red background, earned one of two Banana Patch Awards. Lober said Banana Patch owner and judge Joanna Carolan was excited by the piece during the judging process.
Ayumi Ditamore earned the second Banana Patch Award for her “Oribe teapot I.”
Liedeke Bulder’s unique rendering of orchids earned her $59 in framing or materials from The Art Shop for her “Untitled I” piece, and Keith Tammerine’s “The Monk” took some studying to unveil the raku piece.
Phillip Morgan’s artistic photo rendering of endangered Hawaiian stilts earned the Solomon Family Award for his “Ae‘o II.”
The KSA Small Works, Big Show is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the KSA exhibition space at Kukui Grove Center. Friday night hours are from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. There is no admission charge.
Kaua‘i Society of Artists is a nonprofit visual arts organization which has provided exhibition and education opportunities to Kaua‘i artists, residents and visitors for more than 25 years.
Visit www.art-ksa.com for more information.
