March 2 – 26, 2016
The month of March is National Youth Art Month and the Waimea Arts Council is celebrating by presenting the 32nd Annual Nā `Opio Youth Art Show and Competition. The show features young artists from grades 6 through 12 from schools in the North and South Kohala and Hāmākua districts, as well as home schooled students in that area. For years this event has provided an opportunity for young artists’ works to be shown to the public, sometimes leading to their own one person shows. Some have even gone on to professional art careers having had their start with the Nā `Opio.
This year 93 entries were submitted. First, second and third plce winners are chosen in each grade level and awards are presented at a reception held Sunday, March 6th from 3:00-5:00 PM at the Firehouse Gallery. The reception is open to the public, as well as students and their family and friends.
The judges for this year’s show are long time Waimea residents. Both are retired art educators and currently practicing artists.
Pat Hall came to the Big Island in the early 60’s when she and her husband accepted teaching jobs at Hawai`i Preparatory Academy – they both worked there for many years. Her artwork has been featured in numerous art shows and galleries in the state. Along with having her work in many private collections throughout the Islands and the Mainland, her work is also represented in the permanent collection of the Hawaii State Foundation for Culture and the Arts. She has also illustrated about a dozen books. Pat works mostly in watercolor but is equally comfortable in just about any other media. Her most recent emphasis has been in ceramic sculpture. Today, Pat divides her time between her artwork, a fourteen acre farm and numerous pets.
Cindy Yarawamai began her 32 year art teaching career as an Elementary Art Consultant for the Grand Rapids Public Schools. In 1978, she moved to Hawai`i where she worked as the Assistant Art Curator for the Honolulu Academy of Arts. After she and her family moved to the Big Island she taught at Waimea Middle School and then 22 years at Hawai`i Preparatory elementary and high school. In 2004 she left teaching to start her own fine arts business.
The results of the judging are as follows:
Grade 6 (17 entries)
1. Rusty Leialha-Cabral, “Wave Over Me”, mixed media, Parker MS
2. Lily Kassis, “A House in the Forest”, colored pencil, HPA MS
3. Natalie Macy, “Sunshine”, acrylic gutta on silk, HPA MS
Grade 7 (20 entries)
1. Andrew Groves, “Picasso Me”, mixed Media, Parker MS
2. Jamie Saito, “Hanging Around”, mixed Media, Parker MS
3. Kayla Tadaki, “Lake Tahoe” , watered acrylic, HPA MS
Grade 8 (13 entries)
1. Hikari Shaver, “Ombré Peacock”, acrylic gutta on silk, HPA MS
2. Macey Van Tassell, “Self Portrait”, pencil, HPA MS
3. Halia Buchal, “Dark Muse”, mixed media, Parker MS
Grade 9 (14 entries)
1. Maya Ellsworth, “The Eye of the Artist”, photograph, Parker HS
2. Anna Gaglione, “Why Aren’t We All Like This Wise Old Bird”, high fired ceramic and moss, Parker HS
3. Jenna Harris, “Fractured”, acrylic on canvas, Parker HS
Grade 10 (9 entries)
1. Soleil Fitzgerald, “The World is Shifting Around Me”, photography print, Parker HS
2. Logan Von Elsner, “On Stage”, pencil, Honoka’a HS
3. Riley Herendeen, “The Universe is in the Eye of the Beholder”, photography print, Parker HS
Grade 11 (8 entries)
1. Romilly Benedict, “Broken Landscape”, graphite, Honoka’a HS
2. Layne “Kawe” Lincoln, “The Gaps Before Completion – A Triptych”, high fired ceramic, Parker HS
3. Eric Fetsch, “Venus Reimagined”, mixed media, Parker HS
Grade 12 (11 entries)
1. Mick Miller, “Life and Death In Cycle”, ceramic, Parker HS
2. Katie Jefferson, “We Are Dust in the Wind”, colored pencil, HPA HS
3. Hoku Pagan, “Sustinance”, photography, Honoka’a HS
BACK GALLERY
In the back gallery during the month of March, artist members of the Waimea Arts Gallery will be displaying artwork with the theme “Living Critters and Fantasy Creatures.”
A few examples of what you will see:
