LIHU‘E — Living life in meaningful activity is the governing force of creativity for Eastside artist Leah Orr.
“Painting is my tool for living,” Orr said. “Everyone has tools and my tool has always been about living a balanced life well.”
Orr returns to Kaua‘i Museum for her fourth show with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the mezzanine gallery. “Sphinx: Painting as Mystic Voyage; Earth as Companion,” will showcase new work, the works of her students and select pieces from a seven-year project titled “100 Praises to the Garden Island.”
In 16 years living on Kaua‘i her quest has remained steadfast.
“If a person lives by engaging in meaningful activity, then eventually everything you do is of service to people,” she said. “If your mind is on inspiration you can’t focus on pain and suffering.”
Orr’s inspiration comes from her love of botanicals and people. She has been teaching painting classes in different venues all over Kaua‘i for over a decade and offers free workshops at Kaua‘i Museum from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. the second Saturday of every month.
“When we’re teaching we’re learning,” she said. “Teaching is sharing. It’s your responsibility if you’ve been around good stuff to pass it on. It’s useful to me to step into places to teach and be open to whoever shows up.”
Describing all of her activities as “practice,” she interprets every incident as an opportunity to discover something new.
“The practices are about keeping an inspired mind to live a balanced life,” she said. “That is why I am a painter, I believe in inspiring young people so they don’t turn to lesser habits. Practices are essential — they keep your mind focused. Use your mind well so you can walk well.”
Her influences include 10 years spent in West Africa, where she lived from 1968 to 1974, returning again in 1977 to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer until 1982.
“Living in Africa gave me a love for strong color,” she said. “Visual acuity comes to me through form and color.”
As an educator Orr believes the arts are an essential foundation for peaceful, harmonious, balanced living for both individual and community growth and well-being.
“All people are trying to navigate life whether in a canoe or in paint,” she said. “Painting is about dancing with energy. Painting is just a trace of the dance.”
See more on Orr in Sunday’s Kaua‘i Times.
• Pam Woolway, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or pwoolway@kauaipubco.com.
