Impressive impressions

10 02 2022

Gallery ʻIolani on the campus of Windward Community College in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu, is the spacious venue dedicated to the current Windward Artists Guild exhibit. The entrance to the show space is from the lobby of Palikū Theatre.

“Impressions/Expressions” runs until March 4. I stopped by yesterday with a friend to take a look, and, wow, I am proud to be a member of this art group.

Many thanks to Antoinette Martin, the gallery director who designed the show, and to Lauren Faulkner, the awards juror.

More than 100 artworks from 38 people—both recognized professional artists and newcomers to the art community—are in the fine-art display.

An artists reception for the public is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, February 11. COVID vaccination protocols will be in effect.

Below are photos of pieces by me and my friends Dorothy Brennan and Bernadette Chan.

“Crater View” hand-dyed tissue-paper collage at right, by me.

Ceramic vases by Bernadette Chan

“The Committee” tissue-paper collage by Dorothy Brennan

 

I hope you will come to see the art show!

~Rebekah


Comments : Comments Off on Impressive impressions
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Categories : About me, Fine Art, Friends & Family, Travel, Uncategorized

Enjoy going out again

19 01 2022

Recently during the pandemic environment I braved going out with friends in public. Not to bars or anything like that, but rather to open-air eateries. They were such enjoyable occasions. I rationalized, by this time most smart people are fully vaccinated with their booster shots, and only smart people go to (name of restaurant). 😉

The Chinese Lunar New Year starts in February, and I’d welcome another get-together for dim sum. Here’s a photo of ”The Jin Dui Sisters” that surfaced in my memories album from two years ago. What do you say? I think it’s time.

Jin Dui Sisters: Lori, Cynthia, me, Laverne and Emma

Kung Hee Fat Choy!

~ Rebekah


Comments : Comments Off on Enjoy going out again

Categories : Friends & Family

Prepping for ʻOnipaʻa

16 01 2022

January 17, 2022, marks 129 years since the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Following a scheduled Peace March in Honolulu that will end at Queen Liliʻuokalani’s statue, there will be a program of music and speeches throughout the afternoon on the grounds of Iolani Palace.

For Ka Lāhui Hawai’i Kōmike Kalai’āina Chair, Leiānuenue Niheu, “ʻOnipaʻa” is a unified call to the people of the sovereign Hawaiian nation to come together as one force, one will, and one people to resist the settler colonial establishment that governs our islands.”

The Onipa’a Peach March and Gathering annual event helps ensure that the great wrong that was done to Queen Lili’uokalani and the native people of Hawai’i by a small group of American businessmen on January 17, 1893 with the support of US Marines will never be forgotten, she said. 

My good friends, the ones you can always count on for help, came to my  studio today to make very large lei garlands to decorate Keliiponi Hale, the palace pavilion, for the big day. There, kamaʻāina and visitors alike may view a special memorial to native Hawaiian scholar, teacher, and activist Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask who passed over on July 3, 2021.
 
My friends Joe, Girly, Tom, Nancy, Gwen, and I gathered on the back deck to fashion seven lei, each 10 feet long. We had picked the plant material early in the morning—mostly sturdy green ti leaves.
 
Joe went to the pavilion yesterday and photographed it so we could have a better idea of the venue to be decorated.
Clockwise from upper left: Joe, Girly, Gwen, Rebekah, Tom, and Nancy beside the lei garland

Joe

Gwen

Girly

 

Nancy and Tom

I am so very thankful for my friends. As Joe says, an activity like this is better and more fun with a group.

~ Rebekah 

 


Comments : Comments Off on Prepping for ʻOnipaʻa
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Friends & Family, Hawaiian, Travel

Thankful for “old” friends

2 11 2021

It was time to move my office and study hall from the dining table, so I spent the better part of yesterday tidying. I dusted, cleaned, and stacked shelves of books floor to ceiling, stopping periodically to remember old friends.

Ted has been around a long time; he was my father-in-law Walter’s bear, I’m told.

Then this photo of Haunani-Kay Trask, Al Piʻikea Miyamoto and me from about 30 years ago turned up. Both girl friends have passed over, but I/we remember them dearly.

Ted

Haunani-Kay, Piʻikea and Rebekah

Be well, dear reader. I am thankful for you.
~ Rebekah


Comments : Comments Off on Thankful for “old” friends
Tags: , , ,
Categories : About me, Friends & Family, Memoir

Braving the outdoors

30 03 2021
The windward side of the Koʻolau Range as seen from Luluku, the location of Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Gardens. Plant enthusiasts, take note; everything is labeled!

A surprising number of people were in the park at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden this morning where my collage art-making group gathered under the pavilion at parking lot #5 — I think the correct name is Kahua Nui — for a re-orientation, general get-together, and literally some fresh air. We met in part to talk about a “Collage and Clay” group exhibit on tap for June 2021 in downtown Honolulu. The notion of planning a scheduled in-person public event again, after a year-long hiatus because of COVID, is exciting.

L to R: Dottie, Joy, Peg, me (in jeans), Karen (in hat), Flo, Maite, Robyn, and Faye.

Joy brought coffee and sweet nibbles, Dottie brought bananas from her tree, and Peg brought ceramic objet d’art favors for us to take home. Kristi, bless her heart, presented us with small bottles of hand sanitizer for our purses. It was like old home week in the space of less than a couple hours.

Peg’s clay creation has a hole in the bottom, so I think it is calling for a plant.

I didn’t bring anything (tsk, tsk). Some of the gals brought their creations for critique as is customary, but I hadn’t made anything new in hand-dyed tissue paper for the collages in a year, so nothing by me to critique. I did remember to bring a length of white shoji paper for Maitē who needed some to depict breaking waves.

These friends used to get together weekly to make art. Soon, after we’re all fully vaccinated, we may be able to resume that schedule.

It was so nice to see everyone again.

~ Rebekah


Comments : Comments Off on Braving the outdoors
Tags: , ,
Categories : About me, Fine Art, Friends & Family, Travel

Overwhelmed or blah?

27 03 2021


Are you feeling overwhelmed or blah? It’s a yes or no question.

The flyer above tells of the program “COVID 19, Vaccinations, and Kanaka Maoli,” live at 6 pm HST, Sunday, March 28, on Facebook@KaLahuiHawaiiKomikeKalaiana with Lorraine Sonoda-Fogel, MD, and Keaweaimoku Kaholokulu, PhD. You may wish to check it out.

I see a light at the end of the year-long self-quarantined tunnel, as by Easter Sunday I will be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and have sense of wellness. I think it’s a good time to reflect on what changed and what I might do differently. What will I resurrect after 12 months gone by?

I have made some new friends via social media, although I have not met them in person. Long-time cherished friends who I know I can ask and they’ll be here, but because we value “living,” we’ve kept apart. Oh, the small parties we can have soon.

I’ve practiced piano everyday, getting ready for that imagined time when I will play background music at that type of event where no one is really listening. I’ve been on hiatus from making fine art paintings, although my collage group is scheduled to exhibit in June in downtown Honolulu. And I’ve posted updates by writing here.

What’s been constant are the plants and animals. The flower seeds I scattered did not sprout. I suspect the birds got them. So I guess it’s back to growing vegetables. But my buddy JJ is here, as is his nemesis Snowball the pretty cat from next door, Willy the Peacock, and the Fat Dove.

I’ve condensed my living area to the lower of the two floors of the house, but realizing that this minute I think it’s time to reopen the FROG (front room over garage) studio and the upstairs guest room!

Thanks to Pete, of course, my primary rock of support! Blessings to you all.

~Rebekah

JJ and me

Snowball

Willy


Comments : Comments Off on Overwhelmed or blah?
Tags: , ,
Categories : About me, Friends & Family

Hello 2021

2 01 2021

Hello studio fans,

No resolutions, no affirmations. This first post of the new year is more like a personal inventory—a pause to take stock of my likes and what brings me joy, as well as my wishes.

Just looking around, I see I like flowers and fashioning lei. I like to garden and grow food. Cook food, bake fruit pies. Play music, sing. I like to play with my dog; I know he understands English, he’s just not able to speak it. I like to create, as in making art, I like to write and make photos.

I enjoy visiting with our two granddaughters and hope I can be a good example for them.

I enjoy connecting with friends and relatives, remotely at this time. I look forward to a time when I can see them in person. How will we have changed?

And as for my wishes, but no promises, I wish to be kind. a good listener, an understanding mate, lighter all around.

Stringing kou flowers into a lei

Sweet potato stems peeled and prepped for cooking. Tasty!

Mountain apple pie

At the Yamaha

JJ the family dog

My most recent oil sketch with red and green complements

Our moʻopuna

 

Happy New Year!

All the best,

Rebekah


Comments : Comments Off on Hello 2021
Tags: ,
Categories : About me, Fine Art, Food, Friends & Family, Music

« Previous Entries Next Entries »