Fridays (November 5, 12, 19 & 26), 4-7:30pm, Maui Hands, Lahaina, Free
Meet artist Christine Halton, this month at Maui Hands in Lahaina. Halton’s intricate work combines fine-line wood burning and rich oil paints. Learn more about her inspiration — from the artist herself — during these special talk-story sessions. 808-667-9898; mauihands.com
MY TWO CENTS
I don’t often make blog posts like these — there are so many worthy artists on isle, it’s hard to keep up — but the above image (which accompanied the press release) of Halton’s caught me at the right moment, and I found it captivating. I appreciate it in a salable sense in that the subject and palette are accessible, and it’s quite (without belittling it) pretty. Yet, a subtly melancholy tone is struck with the touch of whither to the more prominent flowers and curl and crunch to the leaves (never mind Brugmansia have a psychoactive agent). Too, I like how the painting reads like a book, with the source of light staring at left, drawing you into a shadowed deep as you move right; like a story with a bittersweet ending, or a question without an answer.
But what I also appreciate about this work is that it’s neither garishly Mai Tai Hawaii, yet not entirely out of place either. Either extreme frustrates me. While this piece doesn’t have “Maui, Hawaii” emblazoned all over it, it still speaks to a sense of the isle (perhaps, too, have growing up in Kula, these trumpet flowers are commonplace). I wish I saw more examples of local art, like this.
Oh, and I suppose I must disclaim I’ve long been a fan of wood-burned art. The texture adds such appeal.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TRUMPET FLOWERS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia
Comments
comments