‘Far From the Tree’ at Volcano Art Center Gallery

Volcano Art Center will be exhibiting, “Far From the Tree,” featuring new works by Linda Peterson and Gregg Smith opening Saturday and continuing through Nov. 12.

A special opening reception with both artists is slated 5-7 p.m. on Saturday at the Volcano Art Center Gallery. Outside that event, the exhibition is open to the public from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at the gallery located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The mixed media exhibition showcases each artists’ specialty including Peterson’s beautifully detailed acrylic paintings and Smith’s segmented wood turned vessels made mostly of Hawaiian hardwoods. The exhibit will also feature a collaborative collection of hand painted wooden bowls that combine the best of both artists’ talents.

Peterson, a retired teacher and nurse, has loved drawing and the idea of becoming an artist since she was a child growing up in Southern California. A self-taught artist, she enhanced her skills by attending workshops given by accomplished artists. Upon moving to Hawaii in 1974, she began painting with oils and acrylics. While living part-time in the Pacific Northwest, she stayed involved with the arts through local contests, working with a professional designer, painting private and public murals, and demonstrated her techniques on a local television station. She credits her surrounding environment as a constant inspiration to her art.

Smith is a wood artist specializing in segmented wood turning of bowls, vases, urns and decorative vessels. Laminated wood turnings, made primarily of Hawaiian hardwoods, plus his application of decorative pyrography designs sets his distinguished vessels apart from many others in his field. In recognition, Smith has received numerous awards for his turnings and has been asked to judge several wood exhibitions. His work has appeared in national magazines and he has demonstrated at the Utah woodworking symposium as well as at several American Association of Woodturners events. He has served as the vice president and president of the Big Island Woodturners, the West Hawaii Woodturners Club and as treasurer of the Hawaii Wood Guild.

Info: Visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.