Art isn't just auditory for legendary drummer Mick Fleetwood. Best-known for his lifelong contributions to rock, the Kula resident is also a visual artist who creates fine art photography.
Fleetwood, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 for his founding work in Fleetwood Mac, will unveil an exhibition of his photography during a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Celebrities Gallery in Wailea. The recent work documents his explorations of the natural world; Fleetwood will be on hand to answer questions and talk with guests.
"Photographing close-up subjects is extremely challenging," Fleetwood said in a release. "The closer you get to your subject, the shallower the depth of field. . . So if you're photographing the inside of a rose, for example, your depth of field will measure in fractions of an inch, so for the most part you must use as much depth of field as your camera will allow. . . . When doing close-up work, you must plan ahead. As you gain in magnification, precise camera positioning becomes critical."
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Mick Fleetwood’s “Heart of a Rose”
Many of Fleetwood's nature- and environment-based images have been taken with his Nikon camera; the photo effects are executed using backgrounds and natural lighting.
In the early days of Fleetwood Mac, the drummer would snap pictures of bandmates while they were on the road in England. Fleetwood soon discovered that the camera came as second-nature.
"Photography, just like music, is a powerful tool of expression and communication," Fleetwood says in his art bio. "Both mediums open the door to boundless individual interpretations.
Through the years, the hobby transformed into a serious artistic exploration. Fleetwood's work in 2007 was included in American Photo magazine's "Photography Rocks" traveling exhibition, along with images by musician like Bryan Adams, Lenny Kravitz, Lou Reed and Graham Nash.
"Often there is a magic moment for me that can sometimes take hours, even days, to reveal itself," Fleetwood says. "But when it does, it's spectacular. Capturing that moment in time is one of the aspects of photography that I will forever find fascinating."
Celebrities Gallery is located in the Shops of Wailea. For details, visit celebrityfineart.com.
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Aspiring artists, art professionals and art lovers are invited to watch a portrait demonstration and survey an exhibition of student work during the grand opening of Atelier Maui at 1 p.m. Saturday at 222 Laniloa Way, Haiku. Refreshments will be served. RSVP by phone or email, 633-4873, ateliermaui@gmail.com.
Atelier Maui, a classically based fine art studio that offers apprenticeships and residency programs, was founded earlier this year by internationally known artist and illustrator Semyon Bilmes. Extensively trained in his native Russia, the artist has more than 20 years of teaching experience, in which he combines methods from the formal Russian Academy of Art with those of 19th-century French ateliers.
Maui students have the option of studying drawing and painting from a model five days a week. Class time is also allocated for still-life, classical cast and plein-air studies. See ateliermaui.com.
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Oil painter Sarah Howard will demonstrate her work from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays this month at Maui Hands gallery in Lahaina. The Maui artist paints island scenes, including vibrant florals, old plantation homes and tropical beach scenes. Maui Hands is located at 612 Front St. For details, mauihands.com.
