The Firehouse Gallery will host the works of Mary Bea Morris during the month of February. After years of urging by her family and friends, Mary Bea Morris is making her art talent public in her first art exhibition. A reception for the artist will be held on Saturday,February 11th, from 3:00 to 5:00p.m. All members, residents, and visitors are invited to attend and meet this new local artist.

The show will feature drawings, paintings and prints by this Waikoloa artist. Ever since Morris was a child growing up in the small town of Laurel, Mississippi, Mary more fondly known as Bea, has combined her love for horses and nature in her art to produce countless drawings and paintings. Sometimes this is done in watercolor and drawing paper, but just as often on napkins, tissues, notepaper, or anything else, which would hold her sketches and colors.

Over the years she has continued to grow her talent by attending classes and seminars taught by some of the best artists of our time. On the mainland, she began her watercolor study from the well-known Hudson Valley New York artist Fiona Banta. Her watercolor experience continued with the brilliant Chinese instructor Hua Dalia, who said "The beauty and feeling of her Chinese art could only be accomplished by an 'old soul'."

Mary Bea's lifetime love of horses is shown in the collection of books of Sam Savitt and Paul Brown who are considered the two finest horse illustrators North America has produced. She was fortunate enough to study with Sam before his death in 2003. Her last horse art class was taken at the American Academy of Equine Art in Lexington, Kentucky under the tutelage of Barbara Oeike.

In Hawaii she continues to hone her god given skills with Ed Kayton, whose work can be seen all over the islands from government buildings in Honolulu to the Hilton Resort on the Big Island as well as Europe. Mary Bea is presently studying with well-known Hamakua artist and friend Janice Gail, who has helped in the preparation for this show.

While horses and landscapes continue to be the main subjects of her works, she has lately demonstrated a remarkable ability to produce beautiful portraits. The oil painting done in Ed Kayton's workshop is to be the first of many to come. The incredible beauty, warmth and soul of these subjects in Hawaii, she says, is one reason why she and husband Don fell in love with the islands several years ago. They now spend most of the year at their residence in Waikoloa on the Big Island, although they travel regularly to Virginia, Vermont and New York to visit with their family, consisting of three children and six grandchildren.

Morris' sisters, both professional artists and instructors, along with the rest of her family and close friends all feel an accomplishment, pride and no small measure of relief that Mary Bea has agreed to share her artistic talent with the rest of the world. While she is unknown as a professional artist today, the people who have viewed her work agree she won't remain in that condition for long, now that her work will be going on display.

During this month long exhibition Morris will donate a portion of her sales to support Waimea Arts Council's community programs.

Belatedly, Happy New Year & Happy Valentine's Day!

And did your hear, Amaury Saint-Gilles came through for us, once again, winning first prize for the 12th Annual Charity Trees Event? Through his hard work, our treasury received $3000!

Congratulations Rani Denise Ulrich and Barbara A Schaefer for a wonderful display of your art work during the month of December.

There is a lot of work being done "behind the scenes": Organization of administrative records (Julie McCue, Suzanne Haight & Merna Watta), cleaning out years worth of accumulated, unused items (Suzanne Haight & Merna Watta), budget planning (Julie McCue), extended publicity (Jay West & Martha Stephens), organizing old minutes (Anne Sheftic), and continuation of our website (Kathy Lukens). We owe a debt of respect and thanks for all your hard work.

Much, much thanks goes to Jay West for the time and effort toward updating the Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival souvenir booklet/program. Dolly Loo had all the faith in her abilities to get the job done right!

This new year, we'll see yet more improvements to the Gallery thanks to your generous donations: new lighting, wall coverings, and card/prints displays.

Donations for the renovation of the Gallery have been coming in from various members. Every little and large amount helps! Thank you very much.

Suggestions/ideas/questions are welcome, always. We'd like to keep open communications for all our members and address all concerns. Contact Sandra Woodfors: sandlewood49@hotmail.com or (808)966-9215.

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"Firehouse Gallery Report

Recent Donation

Mahalo Volunteers!!!