25% of proceeds from the exhibit support scholarships for students of HPA

Waimea, HI- January 21, 2012— The Hawai‘i Wood Guild’s 26^th Annual Exhibit opened with a public reception on January 21^st at Isaacs Art Center in Waimea (Kamuela), Hawaii. Celebrating 26 years of showcasing the amazing woodworking talents found across the Big Island, this free Exhibit is not to be missed. Entries range from small hollow vessels to large pieces of furniture—functional to whimsical—with everything in between. The exhibit, which is open Tues.—Sat. from 10 am to 5 pm, ends on February 25, 2012. All the entries are available for purchase and 25% of the proceeds from works sold go to the student scholarship fund for Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA).

The Hawaii Wood Guild is a nonprofit, volunteer driven, organization for woodworkers and wood enthusiasts on the Island of Hawaii. Their mission is to promote awareness and appreciation for Hawaii’s talented woodworkers and the trees and woods they use to create with. Since their livelihoods rely on Hawaii’s forests, it is their goal to bring awareness to good forest stewardship through an alliance with the Hawaii Forest Industry Association.

This year’s show was judged by Lauren Faulkner—partner of Fine Art Associates in Honolulu; Matthew Kilgore, AIA—CEO of Koa Architects; and Robert K. Masuda—retired Y, Government, and Community Leader. Following a thorough critiquing process the three selected the following award-winners:

• Best of Show—Marcus Castaing for Guardians of the Heart
• 1st Place for Joinery—David Reisland for Koi Pond
• 1^st Place for Sculpture—Greg Pontius for The Gift of Wood
• 1^st Place for Woodturning—Kelly Dunn for Folded Vessel
• 1^st Place for Open—David Gomes for Kuahiwi
• Honorable Mention for Joinery—Mats Fogelvik for Pedestal Table
• Honorable Mention for Sculpture—David Young for Wa‘a
• Honorable Mention for Woodturning—John Mydock/Elmer Adams for Lava Lotus
• Honorable Mention for Open—Scott Hare for Twister

Awards were sponsored by Woodcraft of Honolulu, The Hawaii Forest Industry Association, and Aloha Woods in Kona. The wood artists who enter also have a chance to vote for their favorite piece. The “Artists’ Choice” is awarded to one lucky woodworker who’s creativity and quality of work has received the most adoration for his/her peers. This year, the honor went to Doug Keown for Blues.

Additionally, all visitors have the opportunity to vote for their favorite work of wood art with votes tallied at the close of the show. The “Peoples’ Choice” award is highly coveted among the woodworking community so be sure to cast your vote when you visit the exhibit.

“With a combined 800 years of experience between the woodworkers exhibiting at our 26^th Annual Exhibit, it is clear there is a wealth of talent on this Island,” says Tiffany DeEtte Shafto, President of the Hawaii Wood Guild. “We find inspiration here and are grateful to the work with incredible native woods found nowhere else in the world. As a community, we are grateful to the Hawaii Forest Industry Association for the work they are doing to preserve Hawaii’s forests, to our clients for purchasing and supporting our work, and to our host—Isaacs Art Center—for allowing us to have our 26^th Annual Exhibit in this amazing place. Displayed against a backdrop of contemporary paintings by such legends as Herb Kane, Madge Tennent, Lloyd Sexton, and D. Howard Hitchcock, the works of wood art are in extraordinary company.”

To learn more about the Hawaii Wood Guild and its talented members, visit their website at www.HawaiiWoodGuild.com .

Hawaii's Wood Art Season

Did you know there is a wood art season in Hawaii?
Beginning Jan. 21, 2012 with the opening of the 26th Annual Hawaii Wood Guild Exhibit, Hawaii’s wood art season continues through April 15th!

Mark your calendars for the Hawaii Wood Guild Exhibit, Jan. 21 – Feb 25, 2012
followed by the Big Island Woodturners 14th Annual Exhibit, March 2 – 30, 2012 at the Wailoa Center in Hilo and wrapped up by the Twentieth Annual Hawaii’s Woodshow, April 1 – 15, 2012 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts Center at Linekona.

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