Pau Hana

Gallerygoers take a ‘Woodworker’s Journey’ at Schaefer International

The "Woodworker's Journey: Concept to Creation" is being presented Jan. 7 through Feb. 23 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Schaefer International Gallery.

This invitational is developed in conjunction with the center's 25th anniversary celebration, and will feature a special group of 25 established artists from Hawaii and the Mainland with distinguished careers in working with wood.

The exhibit is curated by Schaefer International Gallery Director Neida Bangerter, who worked with consultants Peter Naramore (Maui), Tai Lake (Hawaii island) and Alan Wilkinson (Oahu). They are all experts in the field of furniture making, and are also participating in the exhibit.

The MACC will be hosting several free public events for this exhibit, including Wood Shops and Projects, a panel discussion featuring Dean Plover, Tai Lake, Paul Schurch and Koji Tanaka discussing topics of interest about the process, tools and techniques of fine art of woodworking from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Jan 6 in the Alexa Higashi Meeting Room; and Observe and Play Family Day, which will bring families together to experience MACC's world-class gallery, view the exhibit, and engage in hands-on-art-making from 10 a.m. to noon Feb.15.

Details are subject to change and additional events will be added with the opening of the exhibition.

Invited artists were asked to make one new piece for the exhibition. The work can be utilitarian or conceptual in design, decorative, carved, turned, an assemblage that defies function, refined conventional, or free-form fusion. The primary material must be wood, however additions of other materials are acceptable.

As part of the exhibition's theme of "Concept to Creation," participants have been asked to document their approach to and process of their work as it develops. This will show early ideas in the form of drawings, or photographs that serve to educate visitors on ways woodworkers conceptualize, visualize and fabricate their work.

American woodworking has grown through many centuries of developed style incorporating function, design and innovation as inspiration to generations of woodworkers.

Hawaii has a deep history and appreciation for natural woods and fine woodworking. Dating back to King Kamehameha's time, koa wood was highly valued and prized for use by ali'i, or royal class, and used to build canoes, weapons and musical instruments. Koa furniture was traditionally handed down through many generations and still holds the heirloom appeal for the contemporary collector.

As Western immigration to Hawaii brought people with skills in traditional woodworking and furniture making, a shared knowledge and new history began.

The furniture makers in this exhibition have influences of specific time periods and styles imbedded into their training and years of experience, to earn the title of master craftsmen and women. There was a concerted effort to invite women artists working with wood, who are leading the field in innovation.

Visitors will see inspirations of 17th century early American traditional techniques of function and practicality, clean lines of mid-century modern minimalism, and the natural aesthetic of Japanese joinery. The selection of woods includes deciduous hardwoods of oak, maple and walnut, coniferous evergreen soft woods of pine, cedar, redwood and spruce, and woods native to Hawaii such as such as koa, milo, kamani and kou.