An exhibit of paintings, photographs and pottery by five artists, “From the Highway,” opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Wailoa Art Center in Hilo. The exhibit will continue through Feb. 21.
An exhibit of paintings, photographs and pottery by five artists, “From the Highway,” opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Wailoa Art Center in Hilo. The exhibit will continue through Feb. 21.
Although many of the photographs and paintings are of Hawaii’s scenery, plants and wildlife, others record the artists’ travels.
Laurie Hamano was born and raised in Hilo and now lives in Kailua, Oahu, with her husband Wayne and daughters, Lauren and Kelsey. She is the owner of a vocational rehabilitation firm and is a rehabilitation counselor by trade. She received her Sony camera two years ago and tried it out on a Mediterranean cruise in 2011. Her photographs from a “nubie-eyed” photographer will be featured.
Jennifer Jo Uilani Osborn was born and raised in Hilo.
“I have been taking pictures for 20 years now. I enjoy photographing nature and wildlife the most. Our island has a wide range of places and things to take pictures of: from the top of Mauna Kea to the black sand beaches of Punaluu. I was able to learn to develop and print black and white film in the early ’90s and have now branched off into enhancing my photos with Photoshop as I move forward in my artwork. I have been blessed to have a photo printed on a CD cover and have placed in several local and national completions, sharing my work with both locals and visitors alike.”
Born in Pepeekeo, Myles Sumida moved to Maui as a 2-year-old with his parents. Returning to Hilo in 1970, he attended Kalanianole School and became interested in woodworking in Mr. Muira’s woodshop class. His art teachers included Kay Yamamoto and Linus Chao, the latter at Hawaii Community College.
“I’ve always loved the outdoors. Worked in ag for over 20 years doing everything from picking pineapples in Lahaina to picking anthuriums in Mountain View. I got back into art by working in a local gallery in Hilo. Saw so much fine art that I started painting again. I left the gallery in 2007 to devote all my time to my art and woodworking. Most of my art deals with nature. These are often places of my childhood. The feeling of contentment and serenity of God is what I try to capture in my paintings.”
Richard Mortemore has been painting wildlife for over 50 years. His abiding interest in nature and the environment has prompted him to write and illustrate articles on wildlife for national publications and to publish a series of nature guides on Hawaiian wildlife. A retired teacher, he was director of the Keakealani Outdoor Center and the Panaewa Zoo. He has received a State of Hawaii Conservation Award for his work in environmental education for the children of Hawaii. In his paintings, the care he takes to place animals and birds in their natural habitat has brought his work to the attention of publications such as Wildlife Art News. A recent trip to Italy with his wife Avis resulted in a commission to do a logo for the Percorsi della Memoria foundation which means Paths of Memory. It promotes the knowledge of the Italian campaign of 1943-1945. Several of his paintings are from this Italian trip.
Tim Johnson has been involved in ceramic art since 2000. He lives on the windward side of the Big Island of Hawaii and is focusing on functional ceramic wares and sculpture. Many of his pieces focus on plants or primitive animal figures as his inspiration.
Wailoa Art & Cultural Center is a division of State Parks, Department of Land and Natural Resources. Admission is free and opened to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wednesday from 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m. The center is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays. For more information, call 933-0416, fax (808) 933-0417, or email wailoa@yahoo.com.