Local Color
Sunday, April 1, 2001
It's never too late to become an artist. Strong emotions color
winning painting
at HWS showMapuana Schneider, the first woman hotel general manager in Waikiki and now the matriarch of the family business Fine Wine Imports, always admired art but never knew she had it in her. She began taking watercolor lessons when she was nearing 60, and no one is more surprised than her by what she has accomplished.
Mapuana, who goes by her first name only on her paintings, won Best in Show at the Hawaii Watercolor Society 38th Annual Members Exhibit at Pauahi Tower through April 21 (hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays). The painting is one in a series called "Nainoa's Journey," a tribute to her 11-year-old grandson, who has been ill.
"I was feeling so depressed when he was going in and out of the hospital that I decided to paint for him. I thought I'd take him on a journey (through paintings,)" Mapuana says.
Nainoa is delighted by the red-hued abstract landscape and sees himself speeding through it in his imaginary race car. "The best was when he went up with me to receive the award. He was so proud," Mapuana says. She also won an Honorable Mention for another in the series.
There are other multiple award winners: Joan Allen, Winsor Newton Award, C2F Award and Hawaiian Graphics Award; Anne Irons, Cedar Street Galleries Award and Honorable Mention; Roger Whitlock, Hon Chew Hee Award for Wet Into Wet and Aloha Petroleum Award for Realism.Other award winners are: Daniela Rocco Minerbi, Persis Collection Award; Jackie Black, Bobbie Segler Award for Luminosity; Sharon McGee, Studio G. Award; Satoko Dung, CJAS Merchandise Award; Lynne Smith, Sunshine Arts & Gifts Award; Donette-Gene Wilson, Honorable Mention.
The watercolor society welcomes beginner artists and "nonartists." To request an application, write to P.O. Box 22404, 96823-2404. The society holds workshops and demonstrations throughout the year for its members to learn about watercolors.
Speaking of it's never too late ... today is the last day to see the Joel-Peter Witkin exhibit at The Contemporary Museum. If you find the black-and-white photographs of disfigured and dead models objectionable, at least visit the "talk back" wall near the back door. It's become an attraction in its own right. On a recent visit, more people were crowded in front of the wall than in the galleries. They were busy reading, chuckling and writing their own comments on paper to be tacked onto the wall, which has no room left for would-be art critics.
Viewer comments -- in Japanese, French and English --- range from the serious to the irreverent. As one commentator puts it, the comments are as interesting as the controversial exhibit.
While some may find the photo exhibit depressing and obscene, there's nothing objectionable in the drawings exhibited at the TCM's Cafe. "I think people will find there's very little not to like," says chief curator Jay Jensens.
The drawings (below) are by Don Dugal, Howard Farrant, Nadine Ferraro, Linda Fong, David Graves, Sanit Khewhok, Jinja Kim, Darrell Orwig, Holger Schramm, Pia Stern, Yida Wang, George Woollard.
[DRAWINGS BY THE DOZEN]
The Contemporary Museum Cafe's drawing exhibit is small but offers variety with works by 12 Hawaii artists.Using graphite, charcoal, pastel, ink and watercolor, the artists give a glimpse into the world of the real and the imagined.
The exhibit runs through June 3. Cafe hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Although the cafe closes at 2:30 p.m. for lunch, visitors generally are welcome to linger until the museum closes at 4 p.m. Call 523-3362.
Works on display at the Contemporary Museum of Art, below, are David Graves' "Untitled Kinship Study," Pia Stern's "Entropy," Sanit Khewhok's "Four Corners" and Linda Fong's "Nocturne."
David Graves' "Untitled Kinship Study."
Pia Stern's "Entropy."
Sanit Khewhok's "Four Corners."
Linda Fong's "Nocturne."
Gardening Calendar
Suzanne Tswei's art column runs Sundays in Today.
You can write her at the Star-Bulletin,
500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI, 96813
or email stswei@starbulletin.com
