10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Aug. 26-Oct. 5

Free

University of Hawai'i Art Gallery, Art Building, University of Hawai'i at Manoa

The University of Hawai'i Art Gallery kicks off the fall 2007 semester of the University of Hawaii's commemorative centennial year with "Island to Island: A Collaboration Between Three International Universities."

The exchange takes the form of a traveling exhibition that explores the similarities and differences of contemporary island life, and societal and personal issues that arise while living and working in these unique environments. There are nearly 50 participating artists from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, and the University of Tasmania Launceston, Australia (UTAS). On view in Tasmania and Penang earlier this year, Island to Island will be presented for the last time at the University of Hawai'i Art Gallery.

A range of paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, installations, ceramics, and new media comprise this introspective exhibition. In addition to considering the theme of the exhibition for their art, the artists had the challenge of creating a work that fit in a cardboard box approximately 17 by 12 by 5.5 inches. Some of the artists created works close to this size, but others created modular works or installations that require larger spaces.

Interested in ho'oponopono, the Hawaiian concept meaning, "to make right," recent Hawai'i émigré Mary Babcock is intrigued by the way the people from diverse cultures and complex histories live together in the compact space of Hawai'i with relatively little violent crime. Surrounded by 2000 miles of ocean and far away from almost any other landmass, living on an island chain presents a different option of movement and ease of travel.

Babcock reflects on places she has lived and her relocation to Hawai'i in her triptych "Finding Center," a variegated pale green triptych woven from fishing line and maps. A self-portrait is woven from road maps of places she has lived; continents woven from map of the Hawaiian archipelago; and O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lana'i woven from continental maps.

She states, "We are all really living on islands, just with varying degrees of urgency and awareness."

In her work, "Currents," Debra Drexler creates brooding scenes of colonial ships in Malaysia, Tasmania, and Hawai'i using acrylic paint in multiple stylistic approaches. Adding an overlay of scientific schematics of recent environmental threats and disasters at each location, she points to connections between globalization that began in the colonial era and the current environmental threats of global warming and ozone depletion.

Ka-Ning Fong's oil paintings entitled "Honolulu Harbor Views-I, II, III" capture the waterfront during various times and weather conditions, and reflect his feelings about his life on the island of O'ahu. In a fading orange twilight, the buildings and roads along the harbor take on a mauve cast while the glowing lights of Aloha Tower beckon.

Edna Broad from the University of Tasmania created "Time and Tide." Vessels resembling paper boats on a calm sea are painted across three canvases in blue, gray, and green acrylic. In the midst is an open boat filled with human figures. Placed in front of the paintings, towel-shaped bow-less forms made of porcelain, raku, paperclay, and handmade paper echo the lines of the painted boats. Mostly in soft white, green and wheat tones, these forms feature carved and incised interior surfaces.

The islands of Tasmania, Penang, and Hawai'i are highlighted and connected by dotted lines on a circular map in David Hamilton's sculpture Air Awl. Forming a black rim around the map, compass points locate the islands in relation to the four directions. A pair of inverted Y-shaped devices straddles the dotted line between Penang and Hawai'i. Above them, bright white lights beaming from goblet-shaped fixtures, pass through two monocle-like attachments.

Stephen Hudson's three nearly identical pieces in "Ocean Jewels 1, 2, 3" perhaps represent each of the participating universities. Shining like liquid mercury or molten lead, a silvery geometric form sits atop a blue-green, gray, and white marble-like slab. Hudson's ceramic works fool the eye as they magically appear to be made of a completely different medium.

"Island One," "Island Two," and "Island Three" by Zsolt Faludi are made of ceramic glass, steel and resin. Appearing nearly identical, they each have a gray-blue egg-shaped form with an irregularly crackled surface. The egg forms rest on purple bases in clear glass jars sealed with silver lids. Perhaps the eggs represent the islands of Tasmania, Penang, and Hawai'i and their similarities and differences. The three works are similar, but yet they appear slightly different. They are physically close to each other, yet they are separated by their glass jars.

Works by artists from Penang will include digital prints, oil and acrylic paintings, a video, and mixed media sculpture.

Participating artists include:

University of Tasmania Launceston: Christl Berg, John Bissland, Simon Bourke, Edna Broad, Catherine Di Murro, Zsolt Faludi, David Hamilton, David Hawley, Stephen Hudson, Wayne Z. Hudson, Sachiko Mardon, Carly Peters, Adrian Stabb, Judith-Rose Thomas, Jo Thorold, Helene Weeding.

Universiti Sains Malaysia: Tengku Azhari Tengku Azizan (Ari), Hasnul J. Saidon, Najib Dawa, Khizal Saat, Fauzan Omar, Tetriana Ahmed Fauzi, Farizzatul Syahnaz, Sumetha Nagalingam, Shahrul Anuar Shaari, Mat Desa Mat Rodzi, Goh Chu Hiang, Zakaria Ali, Rahman Mohd, Saiful Bin Abd Kadir, Husaini Yaakob, Noor Azlina, Shamsu Mohamad.

University of Hawai'i at Manoa: Mary Babcock, Peter Chamberlain, Gaye Chan, Charles Cohan, Didactic (de) Tour, Debra Drexler, Ka-Ning Fong, Wendy Kawabata, Rick Mills, Shigeru Miyamoto, Fred H. Roster, Laura Ruby, Mamoru Sato, Frank Sheriff, Yida Wang, Suzanne Wolfe.

Each of the three participating venues for Island to Island: A Collaboration Between Three International Universities created an exhibition catalogue that features biographical information about the artists and color images of their works. In a tri-fold portfolio, the trio of catalogues will be available for $15.00 plus $7.00 for shipping and handling to addresses in the United States. Shipping and handling charges to foreign addresses will be determined on an individual basis.