The Waimea Arts Council, located at the Firehouse Gallery in Waimea, celebrates National Youth Art Month with the 35th Annual Nā `Ōpio Youth Art Show and Competition. The show features young artists from grades 6 through 12 from schools and home schooled students in the North Hawaii. This show has provided an opportunity for young artists’ works to be shown to the public for many years, sometimes leading to their own one person shows. Some have even gone on to professional art careers having had their start with the Nā `Ōpio. Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be awarded to each grade level and presented at a public reception Sunday, March 10 at 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Firehouse Gallery. The show ends March 30.
The judge for the show is Kathleen Jaeger, a Kona artist, art educator, and art therapist. Her statement below illustrates her expertise and knowledge for judging a student show.
“Having been born into a faith-based and arts-valued family, both aspects were a large part of my early education, which was centered in the church and has continued as a strong force throughout my life. My art education at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma further opened to me the world of creative thought and action as I completed a BFA in Education. This focus continued at the University of Kansas as I studied for a career in Education with special needs populations, specifically behavior disordered/emotionally disturbed individuals, K-12. Further work toward attaining certification with the American Art Therapy Association as an Art Therapist merged these two specialties, and it is there I devoted most of my teaching career in alternative settings within the public schools.
Retirement in 2004 and moving to the Big Island provided the opportunity to devote my time to my faith, my art, and the ‘pursuit of happiness’. I recently found myself thinking of our right to the ‘pursuit of happiness’ and what that may mean. How does that impact the way I live my life? I do not think it this ‘pursuit’ is something that can be given to me by any outside entity. I believe it starts with me making a commitment to myself to live the life that will that lead me toward ‘happiness’ now and create memories for my future.
That thread of thinking leads me frequently to my art studio. Walking down the spiral staircase, across the lanai, and opening the door I find myself greeted with an array of color, materials, books, papers, and even the customary chaos and mess somehow sets “right” what may be “wrong” in my current circumstances. Perhaps it is the wealth of opportunity so evident in every corner of that room that draws me in. I sometimes just sit for a while, looking around, touching things, my mind settling on specifics or vagaries, on thoughts deep or shallow. Or, other times I am immediately drawn to action and just get started. I work largely with acrylic paint, stained glass mosaic, pen and ink, and beyond; the medium to choose being dependent on the image that is in my mind, or what will best serve my ‘pursuit of happiness’ and will ‘feed my soul’ that day. Finding it is the creative process that I seek, I choose to avoid making reproductions of my completed work. Aside from a few notecards, each piece of art I offer to my clients is an original, unique piece with its own personality. I am always delighted when something that gave me such joy as it was created, moves on to give joy to others.”