The Big Island art community—and the international art community at large—faces a monumental loss with the Feb. 20 death of artist and educator Wayne Miyamoto, who suffered a heart attack in Mexico.

Miyamoto, 62, was chairman of the University of Hawaii-Hilo's art department, where he taught printmaking since 1982.

The artist is credited with launching two biennial juried shows, the Pacific State Print Exhibition and the Pacific Rim International Print Exhibition, which brought national and international artists to Hilo.

“;He developed the current strong art program here and established the visiting artists program,”; said David Miller, chair of the humanities division of UH-Hilo's College of Arts and Sciences. “;He was a person whose influence extended not only to UH-Hilo, but out to the community as well.”;

“;Wayne always tried to work with community groups, like Volcano Art Center or East Hawaii Cultural Center,”; said Pam Barton, a Volcano fiber artist who knew Miyamoto for some 40 years. “;If UH had a guest artist, he'd let them share in the knowledge. He brought artists out to Volcano, which is somewhat separated from Hilo by distance. ... But that was his life, what he really believed in: bringing art to the community.”;

The Honolulu-born artist was respected internationally as well as for his own artwork, which was primarily printmaking, though he also painted.

He was in Mexico last week on a Fulbright travel grant after he was selected to be a senior specialist on a project for New Zealand's School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury.

Miyamoto earned his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Hawaii-Manoa in 1974. He is survived by wife Lukela Ruddle and three sons.