LIHU‘E — Sally French said her piece, “Bellzo and His Boo,” needed something to look at.
Working with Kaua‘i Society of Artists, French was helping set up for the 35th Annual ART Kaua‘i exhibit that opens Friday at the KSA gallery in the Kukui Grove Center.
“We always end up with a lot of different pieces (elements),” said Licia McDonald, another of the KSA artists who was recently featured during the recent Women’s Rights exhibition celebrating women’s suffrage. “This is about space…finding a piece for Sally French’s “Bellzo and Boo” to look at…and in the end, it all works out. It always has.”
The experimentation of placement saw a donkey jockey for position with Natasha Young’s “Rooster Dragon,” and then getting moved by a warrior from Derek Glaskin’s “COVID 19 2020.”
“COVID-19 is undeniably changing the structure of our lives, businesses, and mental health as we practice social distancing, curfews, and stay-at-home orders,” states the KSA website. “This unprecedented time is something we are doing our best to look at in a positive light.”
This means there will be no opening reception, Sept. 25 because of the COVID-19 rules in place. It also means that face masks are required to be worn by guests stopping by to view the exhibit that features more than 80 pieces from KSA participating artists. Face masks are also required when at the shopping center.
There are also no plans for any virtual presentations of ART Kaua‘i that will be juried by Professor Maile Andrade of the Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. However, there is no admission to view the collection, many of which are inspired by the ongoing pandemic.
2020 ART Kaua‘i runs through Oct. 30. Viewing hours are from noon to 7 p.m., Fridays, and noon to 4 p.m., daily.
The Kaua‘i Society of Artists was organized in 1975 by a group of painters who wanted to promote interest in the visual arts. KSA now sponsors four shows a year — ART Kaua‘i, the Small Works Show, the Spring Show, and the “Washed Up,” a marine debris art show.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
