Julie McCue and Sandra Woodford are the featured artists at the Firehouse Gallery in Waimea, on Hawai`i Island, during the month of August. Julie will have about 40 original watercolors on display, plus prints, cards, and decorative ceramic tiles. Sandra will be showing painted and decorated furniture.

A reception for the artists will be held on Saturday, August 13th, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. All members, residents, and visitors are invited to attend and meet these exciting local artists.

For most of her life, Julie McCue lived in or near Minneapolis, Minnesota. She managed a needlepoint shop and worked at a paper products company as financial officer and office manager. She worked closely with artists, but never thought about becoming an artist. In 1994 she and her husband, Tom, decided to escape the cold winters and retire to the Big Island.

While building their home in North Kohala, Julie began observing the rich colors of the area - the deep blue of the Alenuihaha Channel, the sky filled with constantly moving cloud formations, and the contrasting bright green hills. An urge developed to try something creative with color, and after some encouragement from a local artist, she taught herself to paint. She chose watercolor because it was easy to use, but she also soon discovered that she loved the way the colors blended together to create interesting patterns. She bought books, subscribed to magazines, and began studying the work of local artists for inspiration. A couple of adult classes in Waimea and a series with Mac McKenna in Kona helped with the learning process.

"I learned that I didn't enjoy doing landscapes, but was most intrigued by the flowers, and that became my primary focus. I prefer to concentrate on a close-up view, not trying for a precise botanical look, but rather a sense of movement and freedom. The hibiscus is one of my favorites, because it comes in so many colors and varieties."

Her designs can be found on note cards at Elements in Kapaau, Kohala Mailbox in Hawi, and the NHCH gift shop in Waimea, as well as the Firehouse Gallery. An offshoot has been creating decorative tile designs for Kulia Tile, formerly of Hawi, now located in Arizona (www.kuliatile.com).

Daughter of talented painters and art collectors, Sandra Woodford began her formal art lessons at four. Her family was living in Quito, Ecuador where they met a renowned Dutch artist, Jan Shroeder. He had a fully equipped studio and worked closely with the local artisans to meld his modern art with their traditional crafts. Sandra learned silk screen printing, ceramics, sculpting, watercolor painting, wood block printing, and enameling. This early foundation allowed Sandra the freedom to find her own expression through painting and sculpting.

Sandra dabbled with the arts in and out of school. Near failures in college art courses eliminated pursuing an art career. Instead, she attended nursing school in San Francisco, California. In the early 1970's she joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to Afghanistan until a change of government ousted all health care providers. Fortunately, she was able to travel through surrounding countries, including India. Next assignment was back in Ecuador, a country she admired and loved as a child. She enlisted in the US Army, spent three and a half years in Germany and traveled throughout Europe. During her travels, she observed colors, designs, and artifacts that contributed to her queer art works.

The 1990's brought a resurgence of her art efforts and she displayed her painted and decorated furniture at Wine and Art Festival Street Fairs around the San Francisco Bay Area. The public response was enthusiastic. Since she was working in a gastroenterology suite, she began to sculpt GI tract organs on mirrors; several GI doctors became fans and collectors. After 25 years as a nurse, she decided to retire and pursue her art seriously. She found the perfect venue, home, and locale on the east side of the Big Island in 2003. Sandra joined the Waimea Arts Council and became the Co-President of the Board of Directors last fall. Her work is displayed in the Firehouse Gallery in Waimea, Dreams of Paradise Gallery in Hilo, and in private collections and doctors' offices across the country. Sandra lives creatively in Kea`au. Her work can be seen on her website: www.divineartforyou.com.

As many of you have seen during the reception for the Arts Pacifica Biennale, the construction and renovation continues. The bathroom in the gallery is nearly complete as well as the work up in the kitchen and that bathroom. The lead contamination issue has been solved with newly planted grass on the grounds and clean-up in the rear of the gallery accomplished.

Many, many thanks goes to Amaury Saint-Gilles for the organization, hard work and innovative idea of extending the gallery space with an outdoor tent for the Arts Pacifica Biennale Egg Theme Show; brilliant! Congratulations to the award winners; greatly deserved. Excellent entries!

Donąt forget that our Newsletter may be viewed on-line: www.waimeaartscouncil.org

Anyone may serve on the Board. The positions needed are: Recording Secretary, Newsletter editor, and web master, Corresponding Secretary, and Publicity/Press Chairperson. Contact the Nominating Committee, who will announce all Board position openings. The Committee encourages any & all interested in running for the Board to call either, Judy Folk: 885-4302 or Wendi Roehrig: 885-4368 with questions and/or interest.

The monthly Board Meeting, every second Saturday, 1:30 pm is open for all members to attend. If there is a specific issue to be presented, we ask that you give advance notice to the Board. Contact Sandra Woodford: (808) 982-3946 or sandlewood49@hotmail.com

Suggestions/ideas/questions are welcome, always. Weąd like to open communications for all our members and address all concerns. Contact, Jay West: artglass@gte.net or a note to her in the office.

Volunteers are constantly needed as docents, aiding in the intake/take down of art for each show, help with wall coverings/wall painting/putting up new shutters, or just brainstorming. Please consider giving your time.

Sincerely,
Judy Folk, President
Sandra Woodford, President

From the Gallery Chair . . .

Helen M. Cassidy Show

Construction Update

West Hawaii Plain Air Painters

Artists of Hawaii Exhibit

Mahalo Volunteers!!!