Ask about glass and artist Kimberly Treloar gets fired up.
"I'm absolutely batty about glass," she said. "It's such a complicated medium - it's so techical. We're just now, in this century, understanding what glass can do, and we're pushing its boundaries every day."
Treloar's passion sparks her desire to cultivate an appreciation for the art form, a medium that's manipulated by heat and thrives in an environment that's shaping, moving, making, turning, twisting, illuminating and reflecting - all for aesthetic and functional purposes. That's why the artist recently opened Akimbo Studios and Gallery in Lahaina, a space that offers fine art, glass-art supplies and educational workshops and classes.
Article Photos
Visitors stroll through the fine art space during the grand opening of Akimbo Studios and Gallery in Lahaina last month. Akimbo Studios features the work of local and nonlocal artists, a teaching studio and glass art supplies.
James Adlhoch photo
Akimbo opened Oct. 10 to feature the work of 12 artists in acrylic, oil, glass and jewelry in a 1,000-square-foot gallery space. Its separate teaching studio creates an environment for residents and visitors to learn about glass art through various workshops, as well as a spot for hosting some of the best art glass instructors in the world, Treloar said.
As a glass artist and owner of Akimbo, Treloar emphasized the significance of the artist-owned and operated gallery.
"It's significant because an artist looks at art differently than someone who just runs a gallery," she said. "You get to promote the artist whose work really moves you. And you look at art differently, rather than just being the middle man."
Akimbo is a preferred partner of Bullseye Glass, the largest glass manufacturer in the world and a leader in glass art education. Treloar said she is excited that her location is the "Bullseye Kilnforming Resource Center of Hawaii," which offers a full line of Bullseye Glass, and CBS Dichroic Glass, kilns, hand tools and supplies for the glass artist," she said.
Treloar, who serves as editor of the Art Glass Association's newsletter, has taught glass art on a national level, at schools and as an artist in residence in Oregon. Her love for creating glass art is rivaled only by the fiery drive to continually learn about the shaping art form and pass that knowledge on to others.
"It's a medium that I'll never know everything about," she said. "We're learning more and more every day.
"I want to expose people to art, introduce them to world-class instructors, and provide opportunities to explore mediums that will suit their personal self-expression," Treloar added.
Akimbo Studios and Gallery, open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday or daily by appointment, is located at 118 Kupuohi St., C-1, Lahaina. For more information, visit www.akimbostudios.com or call 667-5393.
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Select upcoming classes at Akimbo include:
Open studio. Open studio, a time when participants can work with Treloar on any given project, is held weekly from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost is $50, with discounts available. Open studio includes use of studio, tools, scrap glass, molds, basic coldworking equipment and kiln firing of one piece of "reasonable size." Space is limited. Call for reservations.
Holiday ornament making. Participants of all levels are invited to join holiday ornament-making workshops from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday. Cost is $25, which includes supplies, instruction and more; discounts available. Students will learn the basics of glass cutting to create his or her own ornament. Space is limited. Call for reservations.
- Kehaulani Cerizo
