Maui Arts & Cultural Center will present "Gaylen Hansen: Three Decades of Paintings" opening Saturday to June 26 in the Schaefer International Gallery.
Organized by Keith Wells, curator of the Museum of Art at Washington State University, this exhibit is a 30-year retrospective of a remarkable American artist's development. It traces the evolution of Hansen's narrative paintings, which encompass the landscape of the rural West. His paintings have been exhibited in New York, Berlin, Singapore, Beijing, Los Angeles, Seattle and other cities in the United States.
Populated by animals, insects, fish and a cowboy named Kernal Bentleg, Hansen's paintings are humorous and evoke dreams. The artist, 89, says that he chronicles what amuses and interests him most: fly fishing, rural lands that surround him, the animals that populate that land and his environmental concerns.
Article Photos
Gaylen Hansen’s “Ultramarine”
He has lived in Palouse, Wash., (in the rural eastern part of the state) since 1957 yet his work has been seen all over the world.
A trade book on this exhibit will be for sale in the gallery during the exhibition. It includes an introduction by Museum of Art Director Chris Bruce; text by Keith Wells; Hansen's own commentaries in conversation with Wells on more than 20 individual paintings; a tribute to Hansen by cartoonist and fellow artist Gary Larson; a chronology highlighting important events and persons in the artist's life and more than 100 color plates.
When asked about his first visit to Hawaii Gaylen responded, "It will be my first experience on a remote island. I generally don't paint when I travel but it could trigger some ideas for paintings over there. I usually work from memory; it's an open process."
An opening reception to meet the artist will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Schaefer International Gallery.
An old-fashioned slide lecture with the artist will be offered from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Alexa Higashi Meeting Room next to the gallery. It will be free and open to the public.
For details, visit www.mauiarts.org.
*****
Kingwell Island Art Gallery will be exhibiting Jim Kingwell's latest plein-air and studio paintings from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays throughout May. The artist will appear to sign limited-edition prints and posters and demonstrate his painting techniques.
In honor of Mothers Day, Upcountry Fine Arts in Makawao will host a mother-themed art exhibit and party from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Lahaina Arts Society will feature artist Karen Camara now through June 7 at its Banyan Tree Gallery. Celebrate this month's featured artist during an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Camara said of her "Island Colors" theme, "Color is the thing that grabs me when I am outside on location. It's the most exciting thing to paint and here in the islands, it's everywhere."
Village Galleries will present watercolor demonstrations from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and May 28 with Denby Freeland-Cole. More sessions will be added, so be sure to call for an update. Gallery is at 120 Dickenson St. in Lahaina. For details, call 669-1800.
All Art Maui members are invited to the annual members meeting beginning at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Haynes Meeting Room.
Join Maui artist Kim McDonald for a night of art, live music, wine and pupu from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday Images Fine Art Gallery. See some of her newest creations, filled with vibrant colors, whimsical subjects and a touch of fantasy. McDonald's oil paintings capture the exotic island spirit of the South Pacific and accentuate the ever-changing moods of island weather, lush foliage and the deep sensuality of the Polynesian people.
Maui Hands Gallery in Lahaina will host artist Anita Marci from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays in May. Marci's "Wavelength" series is a symbolic representation of the ocean waves, and in the bigger picture, the ebb and flow of life mirrored in the changing tides. These paintings incorporate two combinations of sand and shells, as well as crushed and whole shells. The gallery is located at 612 Front St. in Lahaina. For details, call 667-9898.
The Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center's latest creation gets cooking with the opening of "Exhibition Kitchen: The Art Show" from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. This show deals with creating pieces using items from a traditional kitchen both as material and as tools to create works. It will challenge artists to experiment with different materials and techniques. The show will run through July 9. For details, visit www.huinoeau.com.
Lahaina Galleries will host artist receptions at its locations across the island this week, beginning with Ronaldo Macedo from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at its 828 Front St. location. Then, meet Ben Kikuyama and Peter and Madeline Powell from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at its The Shops at Wailea location.
