What Is Chance Carpenter Doing Now?

In 2010 Chance Carpenter left UH with his BA and has become a well-known and sought-after graphic design artist in Hawaii for the past three years.  He has jump-started his own business, Silhouette, which specializes in branding, advertising, and video production.  In the past year, Silhouette has taken off with it's new physical location on Hotel St. in Chinatown.  Along with the new location, Carpenter has added three employees.  Despite the growing demand for his creative talents, Carpenter says he plans on keeping the business small in order to have a more personal relationship with clients and boutique type of feel.  Carpenter's talent extends beyond his entrepreneurship, he is currently the creative director of Nude, a premier surf magazine for Hawaii. Check out the links to his websites for additional information.

Chance's work for Silhouette

Nude Surf Magazine

Nicole Naone and Ashley Huang Spark New Art Enthusiasm in Waikiki

Nicole Naone

University of Hawaii College of Arts and Sciences graduate Nicole Naone launched the Waikiki Parc Hotel's Parc Promenade earlier this year.  Using fiberglass, bronze, and repurposed woods, Naone created a beautiful piece of art drawing from multiple inspirations.  Her aim was to represent local art values and inspire the local art community to continue to grow and flourish.  Her installment at the Parc Promenade ended in October but fellow alum Ashley Huang has just installed a new exhibition entitled "Bamboo Forest."

Naone's installation

 

Ashley Huang

"Bamboo Forest" will be on display until February 28th 2014.  Huang's inspiration for the piece came from personal life experiences.  In describing her art Huang said, "Each ceramic bamboo culm represents my relationships with significant people who have influenced me throughout my life."

Ashley Huang's "Bamboo Forest"

The exhibit is free and open to the public at the Waikiki Parc Hotel lobby at 2233 Helumoa Road, Waikiki.

Congratulations to Newly Published Authors Jaimey Hamilton Faris and John Szostak!

Two UH professors, Jaimey Haimilton Faris and John Szostak have joined the prestigious ranks of published authors with the recent releases of their books.  

Faris’ book, Uncommon Goods, focuses on the shift in art since the 1990’s to focus on globalization.  Artists are engaging audiences using conventional commodities and goods, making statements about the “readymade” items that have become a common staple in every day life.  Uncommon Goods delves into the deeper ethical dilemmas associated with global commerce such as consumption, marketing, bureaucracy, labor, and community.

John Szostak focuses on early 20^th century Japanese artists in his book PaintingCircles.  Szostak centralizes the book around Tsuchida Bakusen, a Nihonga painter who founded the Kokuga Society.  The book analyzes the Kokuga Society’s efforts to preserve traditional Japanese art themes in today’s Western influence.

Annie Nguyen is Putting Herself on the Map!

Linkin Park's new LP designed by Annie Nguyen

After graduating from UH with her BFA, Annie Nguyen has been on force in the graphic design world.  After graduation, the Honolulu native moved her talent to Los Angeles where she is currently the art director at Machine Shop, a creative art studio in L.A. that works with top artists.  Machine Shop started in 2011 and the company has taken off in the past two years, now working with top names such as Linkin Park. 

Nguyen has had an interest in music and design from a young age.  While she was at UH she was involved with KTUH and launched Space&Sound with TravisTokuyama, Joe Gosalvez, and Alika Pfaltzgraff. Nguyen is still the creative director of Honolulu-based creative art company Space&Sound despite her current mainland location.    

686 Technical Apparel coat

At Machine Shop, Nguyen has been able to blend her two passions together in a creative explosion of talent.  Her latest works include the graphic design of Linkin Park’s new LP, as well as the design covers of some of the band’s singles.   She has also worked with Musicfor Relief, which is a charity organization that provides aide to environmental programs and disaster relief programs.  Nguyen has also applied her talents to 686 Technical Apparel, which is a high-tech clothing company specializing in cold weather environments.  Nguyen worked with her creative director, Rickey Kim, and artist, producer, rapper Mike Shinoda to design a jacket for 686.  Take a look at Annie Nguyen’s blog for more samples of her work.

BFA Alum Bringing Together New York and Hawaii With The Garage

Liam Davis "Fear Less, Hope More, Eat Less, Chew More,Whine Less, Breathe More, Talk Less, Say More" diptych, ink, pencil and acrylic stencils on wooden panels 14” x 11”2013

Susan Callahan Kang has jumpstarted a new gallery/salon called The Garage, in Honolulu highlighting local talent as well as notable artists from New York.   UH art professor Debra Drexler recently led a trip of MFA and BFA students to New York, where they met up with some New York talent to bridge the connection for The Garage.  New York artists include Liam Davis, Rob DeOude, Linda DiGusta, Enrico Gomez, and Michele Zalopany.  De Oude and Gomez have both exhibited internationally and published articles in well-known art magazines.  Liam Davis is a MFA alum from UH who is currently an artist and curator for Artifact Gallery in New York.  Michele Zalopany is a celebrated artist of Native Hawaiian decent given exceptional recognition in the 1989 Whitney Biennial.

Local artists featured in the exhibit are three 2013 BFA alums; Susan Callahan Kang, Jodie Chock, Nicole Naone, 2013 MFA alum JessicaOrfe, and Roland Longstreet, Nari Maeda, with Debra Drexler as the curator.  Drexler has exhibited at multiple galleries in Honolulu and New York and currently has studios in New York and Kailua.

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, and by appointment.
The Garage- 1510 Ohialoke Street, Honolulu, Hawai’i, 96821.

Maika'i Tubbs now in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Canada

"Life of its Own" (detail pictured above), the work that Maika'i Tubbs produced for Sakahàn: International Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Canada early this year was purchased by the gallery for their permanent collection.

The National Gallery of Canada interviewed Maika'i was his work and it is available here.

Kaili Chun with Erin Yuasa - Veritas, the second Iteration

Kaili Chun’s VERITAS II is featured in Kaka‘ako's ii gallery, 687 Auahi St. from November 14th – December 14th, 2013. An opening reception on Thursday, November 14th from 6 – 8P.

This exhibition will include photographs taken by Erin Yuasa of Chun's earlier iteration of Veritas in 2010, coorganized by Interisland Terminal and Na Mea Hawai‘i.
opening reception, Thursday, November 14th from 6 – 8P
artist talk on Friday, December 6th from 6 – 7P.

ii gallery, 687 Auahi Street
Tuesday – Friday, 7A – 7P
Saturday, 11A – 5P
Closed Sunday
facebook.com/iigallery

Students Impress at AIGA Hawai'i

“Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” –
book design. Designer: Lauren Trangmar. Instructor: Chae Ho Lee.

On October 26, students from the UH Manoa Design Area took top awards at the biennial AIGA Hawai‘i 5-0 statewide design competition. In the student category, the new identity system for the UH Department of Theatre and Dance, “Live on Stage” (designed by 2013 BFA design students in the UH Design Workshop – listed below) and the book, “Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” (designed by BFA design student, Lauren Trangmar) were both recognized with top honors. The nationally recognized designers and design writers who constituted the jury not only added an additional award to the student category (raising the number from 3 to 4) but made special note of the general quality of the student work saying:

“Overall, the student work was great. There was some stuff that was really surprising, hit the mark, and even went beyond the category. There were a couple that I could put in the [professional] Top 50, or even the [professional] Top 5.”

“Live on Stage” – Identity system for the UH Department of Theatre and Dance.
Designers: Brigitte Baker, Brian Baldwin, KC Fong,
Taylor Hanson, Janell Isara, Linda Lovan,
Casey Nishikawa, Kamie Oda, Robin Pignataro,
Maribeth Seveses, Sarah Smith, Lauren Trangmar.
 Instructor: Anne Bush.

UH Design alumni working in Hawai‘i were also well-represented. Of the 50 designs by professionals in the state singled out for recognition, 25 projects were designed by UH Design alumni (including 4 of the “Top 5” projects).

Duncan Dempster named Executive Director of Honolulu Printmakers

Executive Director Duncan Dempster

Honolulu Printmakers has recently chosen a new Executive Director, MFA alum Duncan Dempster.  Dempster has big plans for his new position and is already starting up a new project titled the Director’s Portfolio.  He has handpicked fellow Honolulu artists for their diverse styles and innovative perspectives.  The artists featured are BFA standouts Ualani Davis and AJ Feducia.  Current BFA student Marika Emi has also been chosen to join the ranks of these talented artists and will be completing her degree later this year.  The portfolio will be on sale for $100 at the Impression Print Sale, Nov 29-30^th with another special appearance at the Honolulu Museum of Art on Dec. 1^st.  The portfolio is limited to 20 copies, containing four 8.5” x 11” prints.

Three UH Alums Chosen for Luxury Row Art Exhibit

Daniel Stratis'

UH alums Tonia Moreno and Lynn Liverton will join current student Daniel Stratis in the eighth annual Luxury Arts exhibit entitled "Hawaii's Modern Masters" A Celebration of the Arts.  The exhibit runs November 7th to December 1st at 2100 Kalakaua Ave.

Lynn Liverton

Tonia Moreno

Between Art Fairs and Books, UH Professor Debra Drexler is Making Us Proud

New York artist Eric Ginsberg revamped the prestigious Fridge Art Fair last May in NYC.  Ginsberg wanted to bring a variety of artists from different backgrounds. UH professor Debra Drexler was chosen as one of the 12 artists featured at the exhibit, along with other international artists.  The event encourages open sales and interaction between customers and the artists.  In the past, the event has felt stiff and formal; this year it had a personal laid-back atmosphere.  Artists were encouraged to make exhibits their own, utilizing whatever materials they wanted to best showcase their art.  The purpose of this new layout was to promote open communication with the artists, bringing a deeper meaning to each piece.  Drexler was chosen for her elaborately colorful paintings which range from $80-$7,400.

Planning Entropy

Drexler also has a new book entitled "Planning Entropy" which is on display at the FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social and Politically Engaged Art from Nov. 1-29th at the Tipton Gallery at East Tennessee State University.  The book has been in the works for 15 years and touches on sensitive subjects about nuclear testing and colonialism in the Pacific.  The book is composed of 38 drawings, paintings, collages, and writings.