Faces of Hawaii Vol. III Just Released

Faces Of Hawaii 2010 Portrait Submissions

Artist, Ceramic Sculptor & Educator Stephen Freedman left the glitz & glamour of the international arts scene a few years back to transform a plot of lava & scrub in Kurtistown on the Big Island into an exotic botanical Garden of Eden complete with home, working studio, classroom and gallery in miniature known statewide as IdSpace. And, as if all this wasn't enough to occupy most of his waking hours, Stephen has been busy breathing new life into the sleepy arts community in East Hawaii... that breath now reverberating within the arts circles statewide. 

Stephen is the impetus, along with other collaborators, behind the online art 'zine Hi Art Magazine, perhaps the most comprehensive glimpse into Hawaii art & artists published in the state. Each new issue brings focus on the best in writing, poetry, fine art, photography and a comprehensive list of Call to Entries for exhibits & art competitions both in Hawaii & beyond. 


HiArt Magazine & IdSpace have come together to host what is becoming an annual tradition; a statewide portrait challenge competition. Now in it's third year running, Faces of Hawaii, solicits the best in portrait photography from around the state, curated by a different notable from Hawaii's art world and cumulating in an exhibit at the IdSpace Gallery and the publishing of a lovely book available in both hardcover & paperback. This year's curating duties fell to Oahu based photographer, mixed media artist, author & educator Kapulani Landgraf, Instructor of Photography and Hawaiian Visual Art at Kapi'olani Community College.


The exhibit opened last weekend with a gala at IdSpace on Sunday evening. All three images I submitted to the competition were selected for inclusion in both the exhibit and the book Faces Of Hawaii Vol. III. Sadly, I was unable to attend... busy with Practice Aloha book signings and the premiere of the Maui focused & locally produced feature film Get A Job (you can find an excellent trailer for the film by clicking the link) in which yours truly has a couple of bit, walk-on parts and contributed photography to set props used in several of the film scenes. 


Today, Faces of Hawaii Vol. lll, the book was made available for purchase online. You can find it here.... a perfect Christmas gift for the artists, photographers and art enthusiasts on your shopping list (wink, wink, nude, nudge).


Mahalo to the folks at IdSpace, HiArt Magazine, Stephen & Kapulani for all that they do to keep the enthusiasm going for artists working outside the commercial gallery structure in this state. Your every effort is much appreciated by all.

"The Fabulous Haoles" from the new movie Get A Job