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KSA's 2007-2008 Year
In Review
For many KSA artists, volunteers
and board members, the years flow one to the next, and we
seldom pause to look back over the group's accomplishments
(probably because we're too busy getting ready for the next
show!) However, with 2008 marking the Kauai Society of
Artists' 25th anniversary as a nonprofit arts group in
Hawaii, it seemed appropriate to review another successful
year. KSA's fiscal year of 2007-2008 featured a number of
well-attended events and the enthusiastic participation of
numerous Kauai artists, residents, and visitors.
KSA sponsored
events during the year
included:
- 3 juried or semi-juried art
exhibitions with 354 artworks displayed.
- An expanded exhibition schedule
of 3 additional shows, including a Digital Art show and
an exhibit at the Red Clay Jazz Festival, displaying an
additional 146 artworks.
- 5 slide lectures, an exhibition
critique, portfolio review, and workshop.
- 5 newsletters, 3 color show
invitations, 3 show catalogues, and the KSA website
promoting KSA and other arts events.
Other highlights included:
- An over 75% increase from the
previous year in the number of paid memberships received,
with 225 active members participating in the year's
activities.
- Over $17,000 in arts sales for
Kauai artists from KSA exhibitions, including 5 works
purchased by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and
the Arts (SFCA) from Art Kauai 2007.
- Over $2,300 in cash plus other
awards given to Kauai artists in the KSA
exhibitions.
- Over 13,000 visitors to
exhibitions and events&endash; a more than 40% increase
over the previous year's total.
- Over 1,800 youth visited last
year's exhibitions, including several school groups.
Also, the youth of the art program at Hale Opio Inc. (a
residential program for at-risk youth) were again invited
to contribute a collaborative artwork to the KSA
Membership Show.
Jurors and
lecturers included:
- Gregg Hertzlieb-
Director/Curator of the Brauer Museum of Art at
Valparaiso University, Indiana. (exhibit jurying/awards,
slide lecture, show critique)
- Pegge Hopper- well-known Oahu
artist and gallery owner. (exhibit jurying/awards and
slide lecture)
- Kelly Sueda- O'ahu painter and
art consultant with The Fine Art Associates in Honolulu.
(exhibit jurying/ awards and portfolio review)
- Kirby Gookin- New York curator,
public artist, art historian, and critic.
(lecture)
- Tom Grollman- Digital artist,
Kauai (workshop/demonstration)
- Jan Hathaway- Digital artist
and educator at Kapiolani Community College, Oahu.
(lecture/demonstration)
- Janet De Boer of Textile Fibre
Forum Magazine-Australia (lecture cosponsored with Garden
Island Arts Council)
In order to be as inclusive as
possible, KSA continued the following general policies
during the year:
- KSA welcomed artists working in
all media, styles, and approaches.
- Attendance to KSA exhibitions
and lectures was open free to the public.
- Art Kauai, a fully-juried
professional level exhibition, was open to entry by all
adult Kauai artists. KSA membership was not required to
enter.
- Both the Membership Show and
Small Works Show were semi-juried, with at least one work
from each artist displayed, and youth members were
welcome to take part.
- KSA offered membership, entry
fee, and showsitting assistance for artists with
financial or other disabilities.
Many elements contributed to KSA's
successful year including a consistent, central, and
accessible exhibition space (thanks to Kukui Grove), an
expanded event schedule, better promotion of events, more
artists participating, and especially a dedicated board of
directors, the hard work and donation of time and skills
from many volunteers, and the continued support of the SFCA
through appropriations from the Hawaii State Legislature and
the National Endowment for the Arts.
KSA hopes to continue building on
last year's momentum. With a slowing economy and rising
costs, the new fiscal year may pose some challenges, but KSA
has weathered tough economic times before, and the
enthusiasm, dedication, and creativity of Kauai's artists
(and art lovers) will persevere.
Mahalo to all of the KSA members,
the Kauai community, and isle visitors for your support from
the 2007-08 KSA Board: Sally French (President), Charles
Davis (Vice President), Diki Bettencourt (Treasurer),
Liedeke Bulder (Secretary), Carol Ann Davis, Nazira De
Marchi, Elizabeth Ferris, Laurel Francis, and Gloria Hope.
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