Crossing Boundaries

Leaders on the international textile arts scene, Tom Grotta and Rhonda Brown of browngrotta arts in Connecticut turned their discerning eyes to "Fiber Hawaii 2008."

The biennial juried exhibit, presented by Hawaii Craftsmen, features some 40 works, selected among 106 entries, that center on the theme "Crossing Boundaries."

"Many pieces were outstanding this year," said Rose Anne Jones, executive director of Hawaii Craftsmen. "The jurors were VERY selective, so it's a small show. I was surprised some works weren't selected, but that's why we bring top mainland jurors in -- to get a different viewpoint.

"I think it's a really wonderful show."

"FROM THE OUTSET, we were impressed with the concept of Crossing Boundaries, which asks artists to reconsider what it means to create art about fiber," Grotta and Brown wrote in their jurors' statement. "We saw a wide range of fiber materials reconfigured to create three-dimensional objects; and textile techniques were applied to everything from wood to cardboard to ceramic to plastic tubing. The entries were imaginative, colorful, and each artist took a unique approach."

Few can wear the juror's hat with as much stature as Grotta and Brown, a married couple who have promoted and documented textile arts for more than 20 years. Through browngrotta arts , the duo represent more than 80 textile artists across the globe and have produced 35 catalogs of contemporary textile art, a significant contribution to literature in the fiber art field.

"Fiber Hawaii 2008" continues through Oct. 18 at The ARTS at Marks Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Ave. Gallery hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays. Call 521-2903 or 521-3282.