"If you always wanted to take the Paradise Studio Tour and just didn't make it, or didn't see all the studios when you did take the tour, this exhibit is the perfect opportunity to see all the artists in one place," said Wailoa Center administrator Codie King. For additional information, call 933-0416.
The collective concept originated nearly three years ago with potters Karen Hagen, Patti Datlof and Margaret Lynch. They felt there had to be a better way to give the public an opportunity to view art and artisans in a setting other than a gallery. So why not have the public visit their studios?
They set up a governing board, with the addition of Patti Pease Johnson, Hopper Sheldon and Deborah Donaldson, with assistance from Iris Gil Viacrusis and Susan Blankenbecler. The board members volunteer their time, energy and creativity all year long to assure that each studio tour is better than the year before.
"With a three-fold mission, the Paradise Studio Tour Artist Collective strives to contribute to the community by providing local artists the opportunity to share their art with the public; by members offering mentoring and classes to students and the community, and by insuring the future of art in our community by contributing 10 percent of all sales, after the first $100 in sales for each artist, to three rotating high school art departments," said a board spokeswoman.
The first year (2007) the artists were able to donate $639 to Keaau High School; last year, they donated more than $1,000 to the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences in Pahoa, and this year the donation recipient will be Pahoa High School.
The Paradise Studio Tour is held the first weekend in December. At last month's edition, there were 15 studios and 39 artists represented. The studio hosts open their studios in Hawaiian Paradise Park and also invite guest artists from Waimea to Volcano and all over Puna.
"The art represented in this group of talented Big Island residents covers everything from blown glass to stained glass to fused glass, from art quilts to bed coverings to plant-dyed fabrics and garments; a variety of jewelry styles and techniques from lamp work beads to gemstones to jewelry made from antique components; a variety of pottery and stoneware and lava pots and mosaics, as well as silk paintings, oil and acrylic paintings and watercolors covering a range of subjects and styles including Hawaiian plants, animals, local scenes and surfboards," said King. "Handmade soaps and art dolls and hand-painted baby onesies, as well as carved gourds and couture clothing promise something for everyone's taste in art and beauty."
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