There’s a stunning—albeit somewhat subtly displayed—art exhibition currently at Wailuku Coffee Company (my official fueling station), featuring a rotating exhibition of works by James Lafferty. His provocative art is Americana re-imagined, as if H.P. Lovecraft took a tornado to Oz (after all, Lafferty’s Maui-born but Kansas City-raised), becoming the Tin Man bestowed with a bleeding heart while trading a quill from his quiver for a tattoo gun.
However, dear readers, after interviewing Lafferty, I was bestowed with so much juicy, candid insight to his art’s impetus that I’ve been struggling with how exactly to best share it with you. That said, you’ll have to stay tuned to next week’s edition. Meanwhile, you’d do well to check out Lafferty’s show for yourself, while sipping a latte or enjoying the cafe’s “Music Farm” jam sessions on Sundays (oft featuring the talented Kaulana Kanekoa, Shawn Michael, Chava Godinez and Marcus Springs).
In other Market Street art news, after 11 innovative and interesting years, Gallerie Ha is closing its doors. Artist and gallery owner Pat Masumoto—while in the heat of preparing for her 11th anniversary celebrations—says she received a notice from her landlord that “though (she’d) been a great tenant, he wanted the space back.”
Tension naturally thickened, and culminated one sad day when she opened her gallery’s blooming back doors—expecting to find tall, healthy grass around the courtyard’s pond—but instead only found “dry, dusty, dirt!”
A belly laugh connoisseur, Pat’s MO is to always look at the lighter side of things.
“Soon it struck me that ‘the grass is greener on the other side,’ and my explosions of laughter turned into feelings of liberation. So despite much ado, Masumoto forged on with her plans to celebrate her anniversary at August’s Wailuku First Friday—“employing her favorite jazz band” SLAM featuring David Choy and Clay Mortensen, plus spoken word poets—in a showcase she calls “a thank you gift” for Wailuku.
Though Masumoto says she feels liberated and is eager for new adventures (find out more about her next move at slowarts.com), her presence in Wailuku will sorely be missed. She’s the embodiment of emancipation, quirky and unabashedly herself—qualities we could all do to embrace.
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And just as Masumoto’s artistic endeavors will continue, art itself continues to be as tenacious as the life that creates it. So in the spirit of this issue’s Book of Lists, here’s a rundown of art happenings on-isle in the coming days and weeks.
Jungle to Jungle’s “Exhibit A: The Art of Science” – Sat, Aug. 20. Cool science meets art at this fundraiser for the Jungle to Jungle (JtoJ), an Amazonian education project focused on local students. Cartographer Bryant Neal will lecture on old maps in the context of the jungles explored by JtoJ and Dr. Gary Greenberg displays his art of 3D microscopy (of his own invention!). Plus, Jerry Isdale of the Maui Makers is creating exclusive egg art a robot. 7-10pm. Paia Tattoo Parlor, 120 Hana Hwy.; paiatatooparlor.com
Art-BQ – Every Sun. Fine artist extraordinaire Guy Junker hosts a cool barbeque with free food and a showcase of his latest work. Check it out! Free. 6:30pm. Guy Junker Art Studio, 106 Kupuohi St. B-1, Lahaina; 661-0923; guyjunker.com
Meet the Artist: Nancy Terrebonne – Mondays, Aug. 22 and 29. Nancy Terrebonne creates paintings with Sumi ink on crumbled masa paper, a technique she says “challenges me to use my imagination and make the most of what at first glance might seem to be mistakes.” Meet Terrebonne—and observe how her process of creating these abstract, batik-eqsue paintings, on Monday evenings. Free. 3-8pm. Maui Hands, Hyatt Regency Maui, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Kaanapali; 667-7997; info@mauihands.com
Third Annual Maui Photo Festival – Wed, Aug. 24 through Sun, Aug. 28. The Maui Photo Festival is unlike any other. Avid professional photographers convene in some of the world’s most photogenic locations, with boatloads of outrigger canoe paddlers, beautiful Hawaiian models and hula dancers, fire dancers, helicopters and sea turtles. Presenters include photographer and magazine editor Lewis Carlyle, The Knot photo director Rebecca Crumley, Canon Explorers of Light Jim DiVitale and Eddie Tapp, fashion photographer Lou Freeman, award-winning portrait photographer Judy Host, former aerial combat photographers Stacy Pearsall and Andy Dunaway, This Week in Photo host Frederick Van Johnson, Epson Stylus Pro Jack Reznicki, photo software developer Jim Tierney, and Maui photographers Randy Jay Braun, Randy Hufford, Mike Sidney and Michael Sweet. $595 for the five-day festival ($495 kama’aina, $395 students/teachers). One-and two-day passes also available. Plus, evening sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Aug. 25-27) are free and open to the public. Hyatt Regency Maui, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Kaanapali; 663-1339; mauiphotofestival.com; @mauiphotofest on Twitter.
Hui No’eau’s “Visualizing Green” – Exhibition runs Sat, Aug 27 through Sat, Nov 12. Receiving day on Fri, Aug. 19 (8:30am-4:30pm). Opening reception on Fri, Aug 26 (5-7pm). Juried by sculptor Stephen Freedman, this themed showcase invites artists to investigate and creatively interpret the ways that the omnipresent hues of “green” appears in our world. Artwork must be original and artists 16-years-old and up are welcome to submit up to four pieces in any medium. Installations and collaborative projects are welcome. Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center, 2841 Baldwin Ave., Makawao; 572-6560 ext 26; huinoeau.com
Maui Crafts Guild’s September Featured Artist: Monica Morakis – Exhibition runs Fri, Sept 9 through Thu, Sept. 22. Opening reception on Fri, Sept. 9 (6-9pm). Monica Morakis, inspired by the beauty of Maui, has titled her show “Wonder-full World.” She creates mosaics from hand-cut pieces of glass and says, “I love to incorporate recycled glass, beads, tiles and wires to make eclectic pictures willed with movement and personality.” Meet Morakis at the exhibition’s opening reception, enjoy homemade cookies and tunes by Upcountry Celtic. Free. Maui Crafts Guild, 69 Hana Hwy., Paia; 579-9697; mauicraftsguild.com
Stage: The Garden of BE – Sept. 22, 24, 25 & 30 and Oct. 1 & 2. An original musical fantasy for the benefit of Maui OnStage, written and produced by Mauian Tess Cartwright. With a mission to “bring more joy to mankind,” this show’s sets and costumes incorporate all manner of reclaimed plastic materials. Plus, the Community Work Day Program teams up to host a recycled art show, and Maui artists are invited to look at discarded plastics with an eye to create art depicting Earth’s flora and fauna (real or imagined). 68 N. Market St.,m Wialuku; mewe-creations.com / mauionstage.com
Dinner with Dougherty – Thu, Sept. 22. Get an exclusive preview of a newly completed sculpture, guided by the Hui’s acclaimed 2011 Artist in Residence, Patrick Dougherty. Plus, pupus, cocktails and a catered meal by Chefs Ralph Giles and Daniel Southmayd. Only 50 seats available. $150. 6-9pm. Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center, 2841 Baldwin Ave., Makawao; 572-6560 ext 26; huinoeau.com
Classes at the Hui No’eau – Ongoing. From Plein Air pastels to wire-wrapped jewlery, to outdoor portraiture—plus classes for keiki—the Hui’s got so much to offer. Call or go online for to learn more. Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center, 2841 Baldwin Ave., Makawao; 572-6560 ext 26; huinoeau.com
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