‘Reflections’ exhibit opens Saturday at VAC

Volcano Art Center is proud to announce the exhibition ‘Reflections’ by Gary Eoff. The exhibit, which features prints, cultural reproductions and kapa, will open at the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Saturday and will continue through May 15.

Gary Eoff has resided in Kona since 1981 and works as an artist and craftsman influenced by Hawaiian culture and traditions. Inspired by the expert craftsmanship, the high level of aesthetics and the natural materials used in the culture of old Hawaii, his work is noted for its attention to detail, its authentic designs and use of traditional materials and processes. He grows, gathers and harvests his natural materials in a manner that sustains the forest: always careful to nurture the plants and help them to reproduce more than was taken.

Eoff’s love of Hawaiian traditions, especially the voyaging canoes, is reflected in the themes of his prints and artwork. The last exhibit at VAC featuring Gary’s work was the Worldwide Voyage in 2017 which celebrated the Hokule‘a and its return to Hawaii after its circumnavigation of the globe. That exhibit focused on provisioning the canoe for blue water voyaging and displayed the close connections between cultural practices and protecting Hawaii’s natural resources.

His contemporary art forms have been inspired through the use of traditional materials and techniques. This exhibit will feature several prints varying from original mono prints to giclee reproductions as well as intricate weaving of traditional Hawaiian materials such as hau, ‘ie‘ie and olona. He works independently and in collaboration with other master artists on multimedia art pieces.

“The Volcano Art Center is honored to showcase Gary’s work as a solo exhibition,” said Gallery Manager Emily C. Weiss. “We consider Gary an expert craftsman in his varied expressions and a modern link to ancient methods and techniques. He has a deep understanding and knowledge which accompany his museum quality reproductions of traditional Hawaiian cultural artifacts, which we learn so much from.”

The VAC gallery is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free, however, national park entrance fees apply. Please visit www.volcanoartcenter.org for more information.