Creative roots run deep

It wasn't necessarily the cooperative spirit of the holiday season that first got the Chang family of Kaneohe involved in the local arts and crafts sale at Windward Community College.

'A Christmas Fantasy' » Closing day: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today » Where: Gallery Iolani, Windward Community College, 45-720 Keaahala Road » Call: 236-9155

Rather, it was artistic inclination and a sense of gratitude to a design teacher at WCC that led mother Audrey, and subsequently her daughters, Desi, 33, and Bethanie, 30, to lend a hand in the yearly sale.

"I like to have a place to show and sell art," said Audrey, "but this is a chance to see other artists and see the community come out and join in and see what we have."

Like Audrey, artists who have work for sale during "A Christmas Fantasy" pitch in by voluntarily wrapping gifts and helping customers. Audrey is a co-chairwoman of the sale; she got involved when design professor Toni Martin arranged the first sale six years ago.

"Toni was not only a teacher, but my mentor," said Audrey, a textile artist and one of 33 participating in the show.

In addition to Audrey's contributions of hand-painted ornaments, knitted scarves and a silk sculpture, other items for sale include jewelry, ceramics, paintings and etched glass. Daughter Bethanie contributed jewelry, and Desi, hand-knitted scarves and baby blankets.

"I usually knit and give it to other people as gifts," said Desi, "so this was another opportunity."

The artistic streak among the Chang women comes courtesy of Audrey's father, Charles Lau, who died in 1999. "We got the craftiness from Dad," said Audrey. "He liked to make things, and took a wire tooling class at night school."

The Changs consider themselves lifelong learners, with Bethanie and Audrey often signing up for classes, years after graduating from their respective universities: Southern Oregon University for Bethanie, University of Hawaii at Manoa for Audrey and University of Hawaii at Hilo for Desi.

The family attends concerts, church at Pali View Baptist Church and often travels together, so it makes sense that they would also take community classes together. One semester Audrey, her husband, Clifford, and Bethanie signed up for a course called Playing in Clay for Adults.

"The classes are a creative outlet," said Bethanie. She and Desi were encouraged at a young age to explore their interests in fine arts.

"We went to the art academy for classes," said Bethanie. "It was summer fun and after-school activities for two or three years."

Participating in "A Christmas Fantasy" is one way of continuing their creative tradition.

"I like to see what everyone else has made," said Bethanie. "You get some new ideas and also buy some stuff."