Volcano Art Center is proud to present Return of ‘Alalā: Restoring The Voice Of Hawai`i’s Native Forests, a statewide multimedia art competition featuring Hawai`i’s endemic ‘Alalā. The exhibit will be on display at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park through October 9th, 2016. Proceeds from the exhibition support the Hawai`i Endangered Bird Conservation Program and celebrate the reintroduction of the Alalā into Hawaii’s forests this November. The exhibit is open to the public and free of charge although park entrance fees apply.
“Volcano Art Center wishes to express a sincere thank you to the participating artists who submitted work,” states Gallery Manager Emily C. Weiss. “The juried show is a terrific representation of this unique species, in many different media, by over 40 different artists. Special mahalo to the jurors: Paul Banko, Ph.D., Clifford Hague and Michelle Schwengel-Regala who had the difficult task of choosing 43 artworks from the over 80 entries submitted to include in the exhibit. The Best of Show award was granted to Reyn Ojiri for his oil painting titled ‘Alalā No. 2. Two first place awards were also presented in the professional category. First place in the 2-D category went to John D. Dawson for his watercolor titled Into The Forest Again, and the first place award in 3-D was awarded to Elizabeth Miller for her ‘Alala Caws and Coaxes Her World Awake, a hand-tooled aluminum and india ink wall sculpture. Three awards were also granted in the hobbyist division. First place to Maria Macias, second place to Lisa Komarczyk and third place to Alice Hostica. These works plus the other 36 pieces juried into the exhibition can be viewed at Volcano Art Center Gallery daily from 9am -5pm until October 9th.
“The community support and public outreach included in this exhibition exceeded expectations”, states Weiss. VAC has decided to expand the exhibit to the Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. The artwork not selected by the jury will be on display Mon. – Fri., 9am -5pm at Volcano Art Center’s Administrative offices at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd. also through Oct. 9th.
All artworks are for sale with proceeds supporting Hawai`i’s endangered birds. “VAC is proud to support this conservation effort. We welcome the public to view the exhibit in person or online to find out more ways to help support the ‘Alalā”, states Weiss.
For more information, please contact Emily C. Weiss at (808) 967-7565.
