Wailoa Center and the Big Island Woodturners invites the public to meet the artists of the 22nd Annual Big Island Woodturners Exhibit at a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 6. Wailoa Center is located at 200 Piopio Street, in the Wailoa River Recreation Area, makai of the State Building in Hilo. Light refreshments will be served and a free raffle drawing awarding small turnings will take place at the reception. Individuals participating in the raffle must be present to win.
The exhibit itself will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 6-27, Mondays through Saturdays. Admission is free.
Featured in the Fountain Gallery will be the woodturnings of last year’s People Choice Award winners, John Mydock and Big Island Woodturners President Les Pedersen who will be display their recent collaborations and other turnings.
Members of the West Hawaii Woodturners Club will be among the participants in the show that will feature more than 100 pieces. Most of the turnings are being created especially for the exhibit.
The 22st annual show is sponsored in part by Woodcraft Hawaii, HPM Hilo, Ace Hardware, Kamuela Hardwoods and the Hawaii Island Art Alliance.
On Saturdays, the following woodturning demonstrations will be given throughout the month:
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 7: Special guest woodturner Derek Bencomo is an artist from Maui. Bencomo will be giving a PowerPoint presentation of his work along with a demonstration and critique of selected turnings by members. Bencomo says “My work expresses my harmony with nature and life in Hawaii, successfully reflected in the movement and visual rhythm I find in the wind, water and mountains. Never figurative, my work balances mass and abstract lines, capturing a sense of motion with motion while the sculptural aspects mirror the figure of the wood.”
10 a.m. to noon March 16: Aaron Hammer will demonstrate turning beads and coves into gifts. He will be discussing lathe safety, project ideas, wood preparation. He will also be turning a bowl and bottle stoppers.
Noon to 2 p.m. March 16 : Les Pedersen will be demonstrating how to approach turning a natural edge bowl.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 21: Mark Stebbins will be demonstrating woodturning 101 and how to handle bowl repairs.
In 1997, the Big Island Woodturners Club became the first chapter of the American Association of Woodturners in the state of Hawaii.
A volunteer-driven organization, more than 70 members now turn out for meetings every other month at various wood turner studios in East Hawaii. Interested? Membership in the club is simple: Just attend the meetings. There are no dues to pay, the only requirement is participation. For more information, visit www.bigislandwoodturners.org.
Wailoa Center is a Division of State Parks, Department of Land and Natural Resources. It is free and open to the public 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For additional information please call 933-0416 or email wailoa@yahoo.com.
You may also visit wailoacenter.com.