ART REVIEW
Gallery shops an excellent place to look for holiday gifts

By Victoria Gail-White
Advertiser Art Reviewer

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Art notes: Congratulations to Patricia Carelli for her "Molten Metal Triptych" painting, selected from 13,000 entries as a finalist in the experimental category of The Artist Magazine's annual art competition. Congratulations to Morris Nakamura whose oil paintings, "Wave No. 10" and "Kohala Coast," were accepted into the Muscular Dystrophy Association's art collection, featuring work by people from across the country who have neuromuscular diseases. The Hawaii Watercolor Society open exhibition at The ARTS at Marks Garage has been extended until Saturday. Call the society at 521-9799. Scott Fuller's "Commonality" exhibit at Brigham Young University-Hawai'i has been extended until Jan. 1.

Here are a few places to explore:

Academy Art Center at Linekona, 1111 Victoria St., 10 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 15; 532-8741. The mission of the 21st Annual World Art Bazaar is to teach people about the artistic traditions of various cultures through the indigenous crafts and merchandise offered for sale. This year's additions are: alpaca fur teddy bears from Peru, up to $47.50; men's aloha shirts with handwoven cotton ikat from Indonesia, $55; soap scrolls from Africa, $7.95; pillows made with sari border patchwork from India, $29.50; prayer flags from Tibet, $19; and hand-painted ornaments from Samoa, $9.95.

Artists' Christmas Sale, 2790 Kahaloa Drive, Manoa Gardens Retirement Home activity space, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Artists Jeff Berenberg, May Izumi, Rochelle Lum, Sally Fletcher Murchison, Gordon Uyehara, Lori Uyehara, Jim Winters,Erin Yuasa and others are offering glass, ceramics, wood, jewelry and mixed-media works for sale to raise money for "The Life Journey" art show in the Arts Center at Linekona in 2003.

bibelot gallery, 1130 Koko Head Ave., extended holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 24; 738-0368. This gallery has a reputation for a wide selection of ceramic works. This year you will find: moveable handmade Christmas bears by Sara Oka, $5-$12; ceramic ornaments by owners Tom Tierney and Paul Sakai from $3; ceramic Christmas bells by Charles Higa and Peter Drewliner from $14; silk bracelets by Becky Kendro, $12; whimsical figurines by Ester Nowell from $18; colorful high-fire ceramic bowls and mugs by Marie Kodama from $14; hula dancer dinner bells by Deborah Chambers for $45; and hand-blown glass vases by Evan Jenkins from $40.

The Contemporary Museum Gift Shop, 2411 Makiki Heights Drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays; 523-3442. Here you'll find a wacky selection: cardboard surfers by Mark Chai, $12; ornaments made of wood and found objects by David Landry from $18; wire dogs and cats by Fae Yamaguchi, $14; hand-painted photo albums and journals by Sabra, $14 to $40; mixed-media pen holders by Marcia Mager, $65; mixed-media paintings by James Mosher from $40; and Cosmic Carving hat pins by Kathleen King, $25.

The Gallery at Ward Centre, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays; 597-8034. Highlights include pets in a pouch by Jackie Thompson, $25; beaded eyeglass keeps with lamp-work glass beads by Charlene Tashima, $25; lamp-work glass bead earrings by Joel Park, $30; raku-fired fish by Steve Martin, $75; and a selection of hand-made sterling silver earrings by Cynthia Wiig from $29.

Holiday Studio Sale. Fine arts and ceramic sale. Margo Goodwill (637-8934) and Jeff and Carol Lee team up from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 14 at 68-474 Crozier Drive, Mokule'ia. Goodwill will offer small-framed original watercolors from $60, hand-painted lampshades from $45, hand-tinted koa frame woodcuts from $60, and stocking stuffers. The Lees will have square sushi plates, wasabi dishes, bowls and mugs, all for less than $75.

Honolulu Academy of Arts Gift Shop, 900 S. Beretania St. Open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays (closed Dec. 14); 532-8703. Most of the art books in the shop cost less than $75 and make wonderful gifts. There also are sushi candles by Double Brush, $9.95; sets of Hawaiian ceramic quilt coasters by Meg Graves, $32.50; Kathleen Kam's carved gourd ornaments, $24.95 and small carved gourd bowls, $45.

Honolulu Printmakers, Impressions Benefit Print Sale (a portion of the proceeds benefits the Honolulu Printmakers' community programs) 1111 Victoria St., 1 to 4 p.m. today, Academy Art Center in the printmakers studio. Thirty artists will have unframed prints for sale from $25 to $75. This is a great opportunity for neophyte collectors.

Koa Gallery at Kapi'olani Community College, "MMM-V" Mixed Media Miniature, Fifth Annual Invitational Show, through Dec. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, parking passes available in the gallery; 734-9375. One-hundred and fifty well-known and emerging artists have created miniature artworks for this high-quality show (also a fund-raiser for the gallery). Prices begin at $15. There are more than 25 works (including watercolor and mixed-media paintings, assemblages, ceramics, steel and woodcut printed gift boxes) for $75 or less. This is the largest show in the five-year history of the exhibit.

Native Books and Beautiful Things, Ward Warehouse, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays; 596-8885. For handmade gifts with Hawai'i-inspired designs there are silk-screened dresses by Tutuvi, $68; silk-screened Pa'u Skirt by One by One, $72; hand painted flower pots with Hawaiian leaf designs by Linda Gue, $30; and lauhala slippers by Bete Mu'u, $22.

Nohea Gallery, Ward Warehouse, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays; 596-0074. Always filled to the brim with delightful handmade gifts. Look for: hand-stitched, beaded and embroidered pillows by Deborah Evans, $24; ceramic gyotoku fish platters by Reid Yoshida from $50; lamp-work glass honu necklaces by Josh Frager, $18.95; glass perfume bottles by David Williams, $55; koa reindeer by Randy Breyer, $7.95; lamp-work glass angels by Marian Fieldsen, $40; and koa music boxes by Robert and Velma Burgado, $44.

Pacific Handcrafters Guild, Thomas Square, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Dec.8. This is the 28th year that this mother of all local crafts fairs has been cranking out artful handmade gifts. Ninety handcrafters are participating. Some features are: acrylic landscapes by Mark Brown from $40; blown glass shells and vases by Bruce Clark and Diane Kelly from $32; Hawaiian wood candle lights by Aaron Hammer, $40; completely hand-made sterling silver chain necklaces with beads and bezel set shells or pearls by Casey Holaday, $65;and serigraphed Hawaiian floral and fruit matted prints by Janet Holaday from $12. There will also be a special sale of bonsai plants.

University of Hawai'i Art Students and Faculty Christmas Sale, UH art building (signs will be posted) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday-Dec. 8. Promising lots of wonderful works of glass, ceramic, prints, photography and more at very reasonable prices.

workspace, "The Night Before Workspace" through Dec. 22. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3624 Wai'alae Ave., Suite 201; 732-2300. Always on the cutting edge with humor and a playful spirit, workspace offers screen printed men's underwear and pillowcases by Bradley Capello from $20; Plexiglas night lights with laminated designs by Duncan Dempster from $20; mixed-media drawings and sculpture by Cade Roster from $30; necktie handbags by Waileia Roster from $30; stuffed dolls with personality by Kris Higa from $20; and wooden toy blocks with pen-and-ink drawings by Ryan Higa from $30.