Volunteering at our local arts council

Today marks my five year anniversary of taking over the volunteer position of managing our local arts council fine art gallery. The Waimea Arts Council is located in the old firehouse station and fireman's bunkhouse (photo above). I've been a supporting member and had my work in the gallery since moving to Waimea in the mid- 80s. Five years ago I felt I was able to contribute more to the organization and then later wondered if I had taken on too much.

The mural on the side of building was my idea after the county (our landlord) removed the carport. I saw the side of the building like a billboard and a perfect opportunity to display rotating mural. The building is located at the crossroads of two major highways on our island. In reality the "highways" are only two lane roads better know locally as the upper road and the lower road. Only the visitors using maps know them as Highways 19 and 190.

During the past five year's I've enhanced the presence of the gallery in our community, increased visitor count and thus increased sales by utilizing of my marketing skills. That is until the economic doldrums set in. With the help of a gallery committee we've used the downturn in the economy to get out of our comfort zone, having fun and trying new events, while learning from our mistakes. I'm always asking the committee "How can we make it better?"

Over the years I've also attended many workshop addressing non-profit board development. Now I find myself planning board retreats for three nonprofits I'm involved in which include the Waimea Arts Council, Waimea Community Theatre, and Recycle Hawaii. Fun stuff since I am passionate about the arts and the environment.

This coming year I may have to decrease my involvement as I plan on graduation and utilizing my newly found accounting skills to supplement our household income. We'll see how classes and the job search goes the first of next summer.

Going solar

I finally was able to convinced my husband that solar was the way to go. You'd think it would be a no-brainer in Hawaii take advantage of our renewable energy from the sun. But it is expensive and that was his major argument against going for renewable energy via sun power.

The decision to go for both a solar hot water system and photovoltaic panels on our house was made after a representative laid out the financial benefits. Benefits include:

• electric bill will not increase
  
• state and federal tax credits
• no more brown outs
• zero percent financing options

Before we took the plunge I devised a plan on how we would make payments on the most excellent financing scheme. Regular payments would be possible through:

1. electricity bill going from $220 to $20
2. eliminate tax withholding on my husband's paycheck, since we are getting a tax credit.
   

We'll realize an immediate savings of $200. Yes, you read this right - $200. And we don't have AC or heat. We have an energy efficient fridge, a timer on our hot water heater and I cook with propane. Our electric bill like everyone's is high because our electric rates on the Big Island are the highest in the country.

The project looks good on paper, however I'll keep posting on this green project to see if what the salesman sold us on it true.

Piece accepted into Juried Show

The painting posted in January 2008 was accepted into the island juried "Abstract Only!" art show. I haven't been making much art since starting classes, so I enter this one. All of my work is abstract, so no problem with the theme. I'll go to the reception tonight with a friend in her new Prius. Always make it a point to go to receptions to watch the visitors look at my work plus meet other artists. With our local shows artists accepted into the shows usually are asked to bring pupus for the reception. I'll bring a batch of gluten free brownies. Linus Chao, well-know Hawaii artist, once told me "All artists are good cooks."

More coconut fiber - transparent

So I'm getting braver and taking on a larger canvas. Like I'm feeling good about my painting style. This piece incorporates pieces of paper I made while demonstrating paper making at our town's annual Cherry Blossom Festival. I used some of last year's programs that were printed on pink paper. The black ink and the pink paper gave me a pale greyish pink paper. I added a few orchid pedals from an old lei for additional contrast and surprisingly then held their red color. I also made paper pulp from slightly ground yellow pages from the phone book since the new books came out recently, giving the greenish-gray sheets along the left side of the canvas. Recycle, recycle. I combined the cast paper over my painted canvas and then used the coconut fiber that I un-wove to give the transparent effect I'd been longing for. I donated 100% of the sales proceeds to a newly formed local arts organization.

Cruzin' to classes

Classes are going well. Only taking 3 classes to see if I was up for it. The commute to Hilo is a pain, however the car knows the way by now. I especially enjoy the online classes. Much more interaction with students online than in the classroom. The younger ones will communicate with me online, not knowing I'm a "Mature" student. LOL. The hardest adjustment to taking classes is not having as much control over my time like not being able to trade stocks in the morning. I'll have to get use to placing orders for trading. I did grab some of the 10-key calculator printer paper to add to my next batch of recycled paper pulp. Got to remember to add some of the dying lint to the mix.

Back to school

Back to school - haven't said that in many years. I'm looking forward to started classes as I enrolled in an accounting program at our local college. Accounting, you say? Yes, figured I needed something to supplement the income during the lull in the economy. Never hurts to have a plan B.
Accounting classes will be working the other side of my brain for the next 1.5 years. As any artist knows it's almost impossible to do create art and think logically at the same time. So I'll give my creative side a rest. I'll finish the program earlier since the college is able to transfer credits from my BFA degree. This should be easy for me having years in business, just concerned about keeping up with whatever generation this one is called.

Adding Coconut Fiber to the Mix

I found it fairly easy to work in coconut fiber from the palms trees in our yard. The trick is a certain amount of processing, cooking it with soda ash, to break down and soften the fiber. This piece is the second of two where I have incorporated the fiber with handmade recycled paper, plus cotton and metallic threads. I've titled it "Tapa II", 18 4 14". Won an award for it at a juried show in Hilo one year.