In Brief | Arts 1-10-14

Process Painting class offered in Volcano

Volcano Art Center presents “Process Painting — Spirit of Creativity” with Patricia Hoban from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at the center’s Niualani Campus in Volcano Village.

In this workshop, participants will learn to silence the internal critic and throw away the rule book about how they “should” paint. Paper, brushes and a rich array of paint colors will help each student access their creative self. No previous art education or painting experience is necessary. Cost is $45 or $40 for Volcano Art Center members, plus a $5 supply fee. Participants should bring lunch and drinks and wear painting clothes.

For more information or to register for the workshop, call the center at 967-8222.

Film festival deadline is Feb. 1

With three weeks before submissions close for the Big Island Film Festival at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, executive director Leo Sears is confident that movie lovers will be captivated with a full slate of entertaining narrative films. The final deadline to enter is Feb. 1, by direct submission with website submission forms, or via withoutabox.com.

Celebrating its ninth year with the new name that comes with special partnership, the Big Island Film Festival at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii will be attended by independent filmmakers from around the world.

The festival includes film screenings for adults at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii’s outdoor Plantation Estate, free family films under the stars at The Shops at Mauna Lani, numerous networking and celebrity social events, feasts, screenwriting workshops and a closing night “Best of the Fest” with a concert and movies chosen by the audience from festival entries. Golden Honu Awards will be presented to the best feature and best short in family, student, animated, foreign, Hawaii and audience choice categories at an awards brunch May 26.

For more information, visit bigislandfilmfestival.com, like it on Facebook, or call 883-0394.

‘Swingin’ Sixties’ benefits two groups

White Tip Productions presents “The Swingin’ Sixties Musical Variety Show,” a topsy-turvy trip through a grueling, yet groovy decade. This theatrical comedy concert featuring David Lawrence and the Green Machine Band and a Big Island all-star cast, will be performed at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel’s luau grounds.

Producer Jill Randall brings this original production to the stage with the help of fellow cast members Binti Bailey, Kelly Drake, David Lema, Miles Lugo and music director Gina Savage. The performance will include renditions of more than 20 hit songs from the era, “Laugh-In” style sketches, one-liners and propaganda.

“Music has always been a universal language which transcends all other forms of communication, the time for change is now and the future must be an improvement over the past for our children and for ourselves,” Randall said about the premiere performance. Her company White Tip Productions is dedicated to helping organizations impacted by a slumping economy and lack of donations. Profits from this single night event will be donated to the Hawaii Island Humane Society’s “Second Chance Fund” and The Kohala Center’s “ReefTeach” program. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at Soundwave Music, Cloud 9 Emporium, located below Costco, and Rumley Art and Frame in the lobby of King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

For more information, or to charge tickets by phone, call 326-2297.

Firehouse Gallery reception held tonight

The Waimea Arts Council will host a wine and cheese reception, in conjunction with its opening show of 2014, from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Firehouse Gallery. The public is invited to meet the artists and view the art on display. This show features accomplished artists who are new members of the Waimea Arts Council, including painters, photographers, stained glass artisans and quilt makers.

The Firehouse Gallery is located at the stoplight at 67-1202 Mamalahoa Highway and Lindsey Road in Waimea. Parking is in the rear of the complex. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

For more information, call 887-1052 or visit waimeaartscouncil.org.

Photographer reveals photos of dolphins communicating

Ted Roe has been documenting nature and the underwater world on Hawaii Island for the past six years. He has captured many beautiful photographs of dolphins, whales, turtles, fish and other wildlife, including many photographs of eye-to-eye contact, interactions, invitations and other interspecies communication.

Roe decided to publish his stories in a photography book and exhibit, “The Leaf Game.” He is running a fundraising campaign on the website Kickstarter with the goal of raising $30,000 by Jan. 20.

While choosing photographs for the book and exhibit project, the photographs of wild dolphins expressing interspecies communication rose to the top of his portfolio. Reviewing those moments when wild dolphins surrounded him entirely on free diving ascents, played games around him, offered him leaves, and the verbal clicks and pops of their voices communicating with him, Roe was compelled to share his portfolio with the world. In addition to these images are landscapes, flowers, sunsets and some photographs taken of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Roe uses a small Canon G10, a small housing and natural light. All underwater images are taken free diving with one breath. His approach is dependent on the receptiveness of subjects, as well as his experience, training and skill set.

The title of the project, the book and the signature photograph, “The Leaf Game,” is a reference to a practice of dolphins whereby they pass a leaf between them. Often they will attempt to involve human swimmers into their games.

“The truth is that we are all more alike than we are different,” said Roe. “Sentience is a trait that applies to many more beings than just humans.”

For more information, more photographs, and a video, visit kck.st/1fvDO84.