HANAPEPE – Mercedes Maza has brought her art gallery back to its roots in Hanapepe.
Situated across the street from Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe Town, the newly opened art gallery is called “Mercedes Maza.Art”. The doors opened Feb. 15, on the same day as the weekly Friday Hanapepe Art Walk.
For several years, Maza has had a gallery in Hanalei town, but her very first gallery was opened in Hanapepe in 1982, alongside artists James Hoyle and A.J. Metzgar. She moved her gallery to Old Koloa Town in 1985, and at the same time often exhibited her art for guests at the Princeville Hotel. In the year 2000, she moved the gallery to the Ching Young Village in Hanalei. Maza stayed in that location through 2006, when she moved her gallery to the Hanalei Town Center. She had her gallery, named “Art and Soul” through July 31, 2019.
“We went through many different changes,” Maza said. “The community came out strongly after we had our big flood in 2018. We closed the gallery as Art and Soul and are now opened as Mercedes Maza.Art.”
She continued: “We exhibit at the Hanalei Farmer’s market on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. through noon, and by appointment by our old location in Hanalei.”
Known for her watercolor art, Maza first realized she loved painting when she was 5 years old, after taking some after-school painting classes and watching watercolor in action.
“A friend of my parents’ came by, and I saw him painting. I was mesmerized as I saw something emerge from a blank paper. I was hooked from that point on through my life,” Maza said.
Maza also loves inspiring others to paint. She hosts one-on-one consultations with aspiring artists who want to get some guidance. She credits it all to one of her mentors.
“I am most grateful to my mentor Waihang Lai, who was my instructor for many years at the Kaua‘i Community College. Because of his techniques and dedication, I have been privileged to be able to share the joy of my work with others, “ said Maza.
Maza has miniature paintings fitting an 8×10 frame for $20 and portfolio sizes fitting an 11 x 14 size frame for $40. She also has original prints starting at $60 through $400. Her original pieces start out at about $125 through $10,000.
Her new gallery in Hanapepe Town operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Fridays from 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. Call for an appointment at: 808-652-7928.
