For 27 years, the Hawaii Wood Guild has been coordinating public exhibits of members’ works to public acclaim, and this year’s exhibit continues the tradition.
Open through Feb. 22, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Isaacs Art Center in Waimea, the free exhibit showcases the amazing woodworking talent found across the Big Island. Entries range from small hollow vessels to large pieces of furniture — functional to whimsical — with everything in between. All of the works are available for purchase.
Judging this year’s exhibit were Hongtao Zhou, associate professor at the University of Hawaii School of Architecture; Kate Jacobson, executive director of the Donkey Mill Art Center and a ceramic artist; and Peggy Chesnut — interior designer and owner of Chesnut & Co. Following a thorough critiquing process, the three selected the following award-winners:
— Best of Show: Tai Lake for Entry Chair;
— First Place for Joinery: Timothy Allan Shafto, Tiffany DeEtte Shafto and Joshua Johansen for Harmony Table;
— First Place for Sculpture: John Mydock and Elmer Adams for Oasis;
— First Place for Woodturning: Michael Patrick Smith for Blossom;
— Honorable Mention for Joinery: Marcus Castaing for Dream Keeper;
— Honorable Mention for Sculpture: Cliff Johns for Holo Hula, and
— Honorable Mention for Woodturning: Scott Hare for Hawaiian Hooker.
Awards were sponsored by The Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Woodcraft of Honolulu, and Aloha Woods in Kona.
The wood artists who enter also have a chance to vote for their favorite piece. The “Artists’ Choice” is awarded to the lucky woodworker whose creativity and quality of work has received the most adoration from his/her peers. This year, the honor went to Timothy Allan Shafto, Tiffany DeEtte Shafto, and Joshua Johansen for Harmony Table.
Additionally, all visitors have the opportunity to vote for their favorite work of wood art, with votes tallied at the close of the show. The “Peoples’ Choice” award is highly coveted among the woodworking community, so be sure to cast your vote when you visit the exhibit.
The Hawaii Wood Guild is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization for woodworkers and wood enthusiasts on the Island of Hawaii. The mission is to promote awareness and appreciation for Hawaii’s talented woodworkers and the trees and woods they use to create with. Since their livelihoods rely on Hawaii’s forests, it is their goal to bring awareness to good forest stewardship through an alliance with the Hawaii Forest Industry Association.
“The woodworking community finds inspiration here and is grateful to the work with incredible native woods found nowhere else in the world,” said Tiffany DeEtte Shafto, president of the Hawaii Wood Guild. “We are grateful to the Hawaii Forest Industry Association for the work they are doing to preserve Hawaii’s forests, to our clients for purchasing and supporting our work, and to our host — Isaacs Art Center — for allowing us to have our 27th Annual Exhibit in this amazing place.
“Displayed against a backdrop of contemporary paintings by such legends as Herb Kane, Madge Tennent, Lloyd Sexton and D. Howard Hitchcock, the works of wood art are in extraordinary company.”
To learn more about the Hawaii Wood Guild and its talented members, visit the website at www.HawaiiWoodGuild.com.
