CRAFT
COURTESY HAL LUM
Koa Trestle Table designed by Tai Lake took first place in Hawaii's Woodshow last year.
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Woodworkers to display the forest’s bounty, transformed
The largest annual furniture and woodworking show in the state is getting a new home this year. After setting up shop in previous years at locations such as Ala Moana Center and Aloha Tower Marketplace, the 15th Annual Statewide Juried Furniture & Woodworking Show moves to the Academy Art Center at Linekona School.
Hawaii's Woodshow 2007
» On view: Sept. 8-16
» Place: Academy Art Center at Linekona School, Honolulu Academy of Arts, 1111 Victoria St.
» Admission: Free
» Information: hawaii-forest.org
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Hosted by the Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Hawaii's Woodshow is the largest venue for amateur and professional woodworking artists throughout the state to exhibit their work. More than 5,000 people view the show during its typical two-week run, which costs about $24,000 to produce.
The show will be open to the public for two weeks after an invitation-only party next Friday, in which awards will be handed out in the categories of furniture, wood turning, sculpture, musical instrument, open and student. The show is also a chance to show the public a variety of native woods, in addition to more popular ones, such as koa. "It's an opportunity to appreciate the lesser-known woods," said Chris Bruns, a participant in the furniture category.
"HFIA encourages other local woods besides koa," said furniture maker Alan Wilkinson, a previous award winner who will display pieces this year. "Koa is still being used as a veneer, but you're seeing the emergence of mango, plus woods that are hardly ever used. ... Ohia can be used quite attractively."
Artists must include materials from the pool of native or locally grown woods available, excluding rare and endangered species. Approved woods include macadamia, primavera, mango, Norfolk pine, eucalyptus, pheasant wood, tamarind, ohia, ironwood and coconut.
More than 100 pieces are entered in this year's show, and winners are decided by both educational and working professionals in fields such as interior design or architecture. A visiting judge from the mainland, who will also give a workshop on new woodworking techniques in the field, rounds out the panel of judges each year. This year David Marks, host of the DIY Channel's "Wood Works," will lead seminars on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu.
"You see work from all the outer islands. I really enjoy it," said Wilkinson, who is participating as an invited artist this year. The furniture maker will display a cabinet designed for a longtime client.
The show is not only an opportunity to exhibit special projects, but also serves as a display of a woodworker's technique; many of the pieces in the show are available for sale.