Big Island artist Henry Bianchini has donated his “Involuntary Journey” to the Hilo Public Library. The aluminum and stainless steel sculpture was featured in Bianchini’s 40-year retrospective at the East Hawaii Cultural Center in 2010. The sculpture was installed July 5 in the library’s atrium.
“The name of the piece means life is not controllable, rather it is a process,” said Bianchini. “Our dreams and our decisions have a life of their own. Art and the creative process are like that.”
Bianchini’s connection to the library began in 1974 when he presented his first one-man show in the main lobby, displaying 10 of his early paintings. He studied art from the library’s collection, searching for a way to find a modern equivalent to ancient Hawaiian sculpture.
“I found that much of the Hawaiian sculpture had been destroyed in the early takeover of the monarchy but what was left did give me insight into how advanced the Hawaiians were culturally,” Bianchini said.
Bianchini arrived in Hilo in 1969 with his wife Dianne and son Theo on “Island Dancer,” a self-built 30-foot trimaran. He built his first art studio and began painting and carving Hawaiian woods in 1972. For more about the artist, visit henrybianchiniart.com.