Puna’s Doug Keown recently earned the 2015 Wailoa Center’s Big Island Woodturners 17th Annual Exhibit Artist Choice Award for his piece, “Blues.”
The exhibit, which was attended by more than 1,300 visitors, concluded at the end of March. Thirty-three artists participated in this year’s exhibit, displaying 107 turned objects. This year’s awards were sponsored by HPM and Woodcraft.
Keown’s piece garnered the most votes by members of the woodturners club. Keown, who owns Doug’s Woodturnings, used mahogany, inks and lacquer to fashion the one-of-a-kind vessel.
Visitors throughout the month chose Dennis Hakes’ piece, “Untitled,” to receive the exhibit’s People’s Choice Award. “Untitled” is a bowl crafted from Norfolk pine.
Wailoa Center falls under the auspices of the Division of State Parks, Department of Land and Natural Resources. It is free and open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information, call 933-0416 or email wailoa@yahoo.com.