January 31 – February 24, 2018
February is springtime in Waimea and the time to celebrate “Hanami,” the viewing of the flowers. February 3rd, 2018 is the 25th annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival. For each of these 25 years, the Waimea Arts Council has sponsored the cherry blossom art exhibition at the Firehouse Gallery to coincide with the festival. This year the annual show will feature “Springtime and Cherry Blossoms.” Original art, prints, cards, and fine crafts will be for sale by artist members and will be on display from January 31st through February 24th. A percentage of all sales will be donated by the artists to the Council to fund various community art educational programs.
The featured artwork for the 2018 Cherry Blossom Festival and the art exhibition is “Celebrating the Bloom”, a mixed media wood piece by Waimea artist Anna Sullivan. This unique 28″ x 48″ wall piece is framed in curly mango.
Anna says of herself and her art, “Born Anna Moff, and using Anna Sullivan since marrying nearly 20 years ago, I was drawn to all forms of art since I was very young. Graduating with a BFA in 1986 from FSU, I have continued to create a variety of pieces including ceramics, weaving, painting, mosaics and drawings. In 2014 I began a mixed media method that combines fabric, wood burning and paint. The use of patterned fabric, cut and assembled on wood panels, has a mosaic feel. Having danced hula for a few years, the spirit that embodies this dance is near and dear to me. “Celebrating the Bloom” is the largest of three works I have made depicting hula dancers during Waimea’s Cherry Blossom Festival.”
Sullivan’s original piece “Celebrating the Bloom”, is available for sale at the Firehouse Gallery, along with other pieces in her unique style of combining fabric and wood. In addition, Sullivan’s work will be featured on the 2018 commemorative event poster, available only at the Firehouse Gallery and priced at $10 each.
Visitors to the gallery on Cherry Blossom Festival Day can try their creative hands at chalk drawing on the concrete and surrounding sidewalks at Waimea Historic Corner Park during the festival. Bring your own chalk or use the Waimea Art Council’s. Artists and wannabe artists can express themselves visually during the festival. Parents please supervise your children in this area.
Also available at the Historic Corner on February 3rd, will be a wide range of wontons, from savory meats to dessert treats, provided by Any Kine Wontons. Many other activities, crafts and entertainment will be available throughout Waimea Town on this day.
The Gallery will be open from 8 am to 4 pm on February 3rd. Regular hours are 11am to 3pm Wednesday through Friday and Sunday, with extended hours of 10am to 3pm on Saturdays.
