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One of my favorite places in Upcountry Maui is our community based non-profit Art Center. The Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center offers access to quality classes ,open studios, lectures, exhibitions and community art events.
Ceramics, photography, jewelry making, painting and printmaking are available to folks of the community and visitors alike.
I use the two smaller presses, but have yet to experience the large mechanical press.
I do enjoy taking classes and learning new techniques. However, to work during open studio experimenting with what I have learned, is a treasure.
The gallery space of the main house is so inviting. Large and open, the spacious room with high ceilings and great light creates a perfect environment for art shows. During Opening Night, artists congregate in front of eachother's pieces sharing techniques and inspiration. At the "10 X 10 Exhibition" tonight I asked another printmaker if she would be willing to teach me a technique that she has mastered.
The challenge of this particular exhibition was to create 2D and 3D works of art within a very specific and defined space of 10 inches by 10 inches. 65 pieces were selected out of 158 entries.
A nice additional feature is an interactive space in the back studio where the public will be invited to create their own small works on a 4 x 4 format to display in a rotating exhibition. For a small fee, participants will have access to small surfaces and tools to paint or draw their own creations. Hopefully all the 10X10 pieces in the main body of the show will inspire young and old alike to create something of their own in an even smaller format.
My selected piece for the show, showcases a day in the life of my ducks. I enjoy creating fanciful duck scenes. I watch my ducks and all their silly looks, poses and posturing as they go about being ducks in my yard. The two ducks featured in my piece are perched on a hill in all their island style finery.
My carving usually creates strong lines, so I like embellishing and softening my images with very light torn paper layered collages. The combination of these two techniques gives me lots of time for reflection and meditation while I work. This inner time is one of the most inviting and important aspects of the creative process. I love my quiet time, and it's fun to see light a hearted response to my creations.
I always look forward to playing in my own studio. Having this sanctuary just steps away from Hale Ho'okipa and my cottage makes me a very happy camper indeed.
Enjoy the Creative Process in whatever possible form it takes. It always adds a deeper level of richness to life.
With Aloha
