LIHU‘E — Michael Rollins was in disbelief on Friday night during the artists reception for the Small Works Big Show exhibit at the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center.
“This is Michael’s first show, ever,” said KSA Treasurer RoseAnne Jones in announcing show winners with KSA President Renee Palmer. “Michael won second place in the show for the first time he’s shown.”
Rollins was awarded for his “Koa Hola” piece, a koa whale tail embellished with African blackwood tree.
“This is unbelievable,” Rollins said. “I’m lucky to work for a guy who grows trees. I have access to all kinds of wood he grows.”
Jones said the show’s juror, Betty Jean Nativio spent quite a bit of time looking over and discussing the whale tail that Rollins felled, milled, kiln-dried and hand carved from a tree the farm’s owner grew.
Other awards presented during the reception included first place honors going to “Two Nerikomi Bowls” by Marta Whitlock and third place honors being awarded to “Body of Work — 4 Watercolor Paintings” by Kimberly Kirk.
Special show awards included Peter Thielen being awarded Best of Show for the glass maker’s “Galaxy” hand-blown piece.
Anya Lux’s “Twin Flames,” an acrylic painting earned the Robb Jones Memorial Award and Schar Freeman’s “Five 4 Love” earned the Solomon Family Award.
These works of art as well as many others were available for viewing and sale at one of four KSA signature events at Kukui Grove Center gallery.
For artist Julijana Pinnock, the show was a matter of balancing what she perceives as art and what customers buy as she scanned her seascape pieces that was a nice punctuation of the variety of artwork blanketed by the violin sounds of Megan Lawson. Lawson is an instructor and co-founder of Kaua‘i ‘Opio and Keiki Orchestra (shortened to KOKO).
“She had her students here, earlier doing Christmas carols,” Palmer said.
The Small Works Big Show exhibit is open daily through Jan. 5, 2024, with no admission charge.
Hours are Monday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. Friday hours are from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours are from noon to 6 p.m.
