Japanese food art

26 08 2010

For special occasions, a fine meal may be in order. One of those times was last evening to celebrate my wedding anniversary with DH (darling husband). The fine meal was the kaiseki prix fixe menu at the Japanese restaurant Miyako in The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel at Sans Souci Beach at the foot of Diamond Head.

Sashimi. Everything on the plate in this beautiful presentation is edible.

The artistry in the presentation of all seven courses served one at a time over two hours was a treat—a reminder to incorporate good design in everything we do 😉 —as were the flavors from the food. It reminded us of TV’s Iron Chef. The difference was that we ate everything and sipped sake to softly played music while enjoying the view of Waikiki and the spectacular sunset.

Anniversary couple

Copyright 2010 Rebekah Luke

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Seven island artists paint and show works at Ho‘omaluhia

3 08 2010

Our “If it’s Thursday, it must be Ho‘omaluhia!” public exhibit of paintings opens today at Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden visitor center and extends to August 30, 2010. The show displays the works of local artists Alex Weinstein, K.Y. Lum, Naomi Weinstein, Noreen Naughton, Richard Guy, Val Saban, and yours truly Rebekah Luke. The collection looks great!

Photo of me by Noreen Naughton

Every Thursday for the past 10 years, more or less, our group has painted in the peaceful landscape that is Ho‘omaluhia, located at Luluku, at the base of the majestic Ko‘olau mountains in windward Oahu. We come from different backgrounds and for different reasons to enjoy the garden and each other’s friendship.

This the first exhibit of paintings for four of our group. All but one of the 42 works in oil and acrylic may be purchased, with prices ranging from $75 to $2,800. Most prices are reasonable and realistic for original art, so it’s a good opportunity to start or add to your collection. Interested buyers should contact the artists directly (lay away plan of installments considered), as no sales transactions are permitted on the city property.

How we met (excerpt from catalog)

In the 1990s, art professor Noreen Naughton frequented Europe with summer abroad courses. K.Y. Lum, a psychiatrist, and his wife took the “Drawing in Italy” tour, visiting Rome and Tuscany to take in Renaissance art in hill towns and obscure churches. When they went a second time to Italy, Naomi and Alex Weinstein joined Noreen’s group. Alex, an architect, is a good sketcher, and Naomi, a retired educator, was a ceramist.

They all went with Noreen again to paint in France, “Following the Path of the Impressionists” from Amsterdam to Paris.

K. Y. Lum

Naomi Weinstein

Alex Weinstein

Richard Guy

When they returned to Hawai‘i they continued to paint with Noreen in the landscape. Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden became a favorite venue. K.Y. and the Weinsteins are the only ones from Noreen’s original group who continue to paint together on Thursdays.

The others: Val Saban, former international trader and industrialist, lives in the same building as K.Y., and the two swim together.

Rebekah Luke (that’s me) who studied painting with the late Gloria Foss, and K.Y. are first cousins. Richard Guy, retired chief justice of Washington state and a local arbitrator and mediator, joined the group after being introduced by Naomi who is in the same book club as his wife.

Val Saban

Noreen Naughton

If you go (and we hope you will)

The park entrance is located at the end of Luluku Road in Kaneohe, Oahu. The art will be on view every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through August 30, 2010.  Exception: The park is closed on Aug. 6 and 27.

Thursday is the theme. You can meet the artists at a punch-and-cookies reception on Thursday, August 5, from noon to 2 p.m. Most of us will be there on the other Thursdays in August in the mornings only.

Allow time to enjoy the rest of Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden’s plants, trails, picnic areas, lake, camp sites, and overall Hawaiian tropical scenery.

Thanks for visiting!

Copyright 2010 Rebekah Luke

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Categories : About me, Fine Art, Friends & Family, Hawaiian, Travel

A wedding, a memorial & a nod to John McClatchy

25 07 2010

The energies for this month require us to be strong. Yesterday, I had the honor and pleasure of performing the marriage ceremony for a delightful couple who I met six days ago. They chose a very small, quiet wedding with members of their blended family attending. In all there were twelve of us at Kualoa on a gorgeous morning.  Yes, I am an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church and licensed by the State of Hawaii to marry couples. The two tenets of the ULC are: freedom of religion, and do the right thing.

Later, I drove over to Punahou School to rehearse some songs and hula that the Punahou Alumni Glee Club will be performing at the Celebration of Life for Hattie Eldredge Phillips, 62, our kumu (director and teacher) who passed over on July 13. It will be a large funeral in the school gym with visitation starting at 9 a.m. The live video of the memorial service will begin at 12 noon, and you may go to this link to view it. Hattie was beloved by all and leaves a legacy of developing the Hawaiian culture across the curriculum, along with her late brother David Eldredge, at our alma mater. You may revisit my blog about her: type in Guardians of Tradition in the search box in the righthand sidebar below.

And sadly, my hanai sister’s husband John McClatchy of Idaho passed on July 22 after aggressive cancer. He had opted out of surgery. A very nice article by Sabina Dana Plasse of the Idaho Mountain Express tells about his life and popularity in Idaho. To read, click here. He and Kathy were married in Honolulu. He came here just a few times to visit over the years. He wondered why DH and I never went to visit them in Idaho. I wonder why, too.

Copyright 2010 Rebekah Luke

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Categories : Friends & Family

View of the art market—what will tomorrow bring?

22 05 2010

Shall we pick this one . . .

... or that one up there?

No one bought much art today at the Native Hawaiian Arts Market, but there were plenty of art appreciators.  I am happy to show my work and talk about it with others. I met some very nice people, and some friends stopped by.

The artists are expecting a Sunday crowd tomorrow, the 23rd, at the Bishop Museum, on the last event day of Maoli Arts Month. (Please see two posts earlier for info.)

Miss Marvelous liked “Gas Pumps in Paradise,” an earlier work painted in 1993 of the 7-Eleven and gas station in Kaaawa the day Bula Logan led a sovereignty march along Kamehameha Highway.

The painting was part of my “Painting the Town” collection of all the public structures in Kaaawa: the post office, the fire station, the school, the bath house, the library (bookmobile), and two bridges.

I remember organizing with Pat, the then director of Swanzy Beach Park, an art show reception to open the new covered lanai for the park facility. I showed the paintings with environmental portrait photography of the people who worked in the buildings. The only advertising was a hand-painted roadside sign by the summer fun kids that read, “Everybody come.” And everybody did!  Times have changed.

Rather than keep “Gas Pumps in Paradise” as a leaner becoming shop worn in the studio, I’ve marked it down to $200.00, solid koa frame included. The amount is half the original price.

Miss Marvelous enjoys the art show with her mom

Copyright 2010 Rebekah Luke

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Categories : About me, Fine Art, Friends & Family, Hawaiian, Memoir

Good friends from now on

19 05 2010

Alice Brown, 7, takes care of Miss Marvelous, 1, on the baby’s birthday.

What a pair! What else can I say? “Thanks for sharing” to Miss Marvelous’s grandmother who captured this precious moment of two beloveds. This scene is linked to my earlier post, “Before and after the party.”

Photo copyright 2010 Sue Hylton

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Before and after the party

10 05 2010

Granddaughter’s birthday, Mother’s Day, visits from grandparents, aunties, and friends from across the ocean.

Hawaiian tradition calls for a celebration when a child turns one because, in olden times, many children did not survive the first year of life.  Thankfully, our family’s littlest one is healthy and thriving! Hauoli la hanau!

While the rest of the family opened the imu (underground oven) to take out the kalua (baked) pork, turkeys, and uala (sweet potatoes) for the luau celebrating her first birthday,

Opening the imu. It's hot!

Miss Marvelous and her Papa went for a morning walk along the beach.

Miss Marvelous and Papa

Let me! I'm one now!

Next day was Mother’s Day, and we took a relaxing drive to Mokuleia on the North Shore to see the polo matches. White team won 4-3.

Beach at Mokuleia

White team won 4-3

Copyright 2010 Rebekah Luke

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In Hawaii, May Day is Lei Day

1 05 2010

The art of lei making is showcased today with the annual lei contest at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki. May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii after all. The public can see different styles of lei in categories of colors and age groups of the lei makers.

Last year’s 2009 grand prize winner was a drape of many strands of plumeria buds cleverly snipped and strung kui style. So simple, but different, and what an elegant statement!

Plumeria comprises the 2009 grand prize winner

The blue ribbon in last year’s mixed category was this beauty:

I apologize, I did not record the names of the lei makers, but I’m betting they are entering their creations again today.

Once, in the 1970s when we both did work for Sunset‘s Hawaii office, I had the pleasure of accompanying horticulturist Horace Clay who identified the plant materials in each lei as the contestants brought in their entries early on May 1. They came in from all islands, and Horace had a great time telling anecdotes about the plants and where or how far someone had to go to gather the material. The lei makers were so happy and proud of their lei. They had stayed up into the wee hours of the morning making them. I thought all of them were magnificent.

My friends Kamakea and Kai who come from a long family line of Hawaiian lei makers made these blue marble lei in the next photo to look like jewelry. I saw them for sale at last Saturday’s hoolaulea at Hauula Elementary School. Hawaiians use all sorts of natural plant materials, not just flowers, to adorn themselves. What looks like carved round Oriental wood beads is actually the inside of a blue marble (Elaeocarpus grandis) fruit.

Blue marble lei — by Kamakea & Kai

The brilliant blue skin is peeled away, revealing a fuzzy hairy seed. Kamakea and Kai wire brush and wash away the fuzz—a time-consuming job. They further clean out the indentations of each sphere with a Dremel tool. They drill holes for stringing and finish the necklaces with two polished kukui nuts and ribbon. Before all of that, however, they gather a supply of blue marbles. It’s a lot like fishing: seed lei makers don’t tell where their favorite spot is!

If you have time today, head on down to Kapiolani Park to see this year’s beautiful lei. They could inspire you in your own art work, in lei or other medium. In the event the judging takes a while, be prepared to wait for the viewing to open. There are other related Lei Day activities in the park to see, such as crafts and food and Hawaiian music and hula dancing.

Copyright 2010 Rebekah Luke

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