New cigar and ukulele business opens
Hawaii Cigar and Ukulele is holding an opening celebration from 5-8 p.m. Sunday at the store in Hawi.
The event will feature food, music and refreshments. Attendees are invited to smoke a cigar, play an ukulele and drink, dance and relax.
Hawaii Cigar and Ukulele features premium cigars, handcrafted ukuleles, vintage aloha shirts and traditional Hawaiian music on CD and vinyl. It is located at 55-3419 Akoni Pule Highway in Hawi, next to Bamboo Restaurant.
Info: Call 889-0496 or visit www.hawigallery.com.
Ring in the New Year at Gertrude’s Jazz Bar
Gertrude’s Jazz Bar in Kailua-Kona is holding a New Year’s Eve Great Gatsby themed party featuring Casablanca on Sunday.
The evening is being split into two sets. The first, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. has a $5 cover charge, and the second, from 9 p.m.-midnight has a $10 cover charge, which includes champagne toast.
Casablanca is a four-piece band that features Eric Jaegar on drums, Sue Garrod on trombone, Steve Reynolds on acoustic guitar and vocals and Scott Jeffrey on acoustic bass.
Info: Visit www.gertrudesjazzbar.com or call 327-JAZZ (5299)
Mad Marlin plans New Year’s Eve festivities
The Mad Marlin and Ngenius Paramedia present 2018 New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball on Sunday.
The event in the Mad Marlin’s backroom features Hybrid Vigor, DSTN, Tapedek, Jelly, Kai Dimon and EnTRANCE/Metsai. Entry is $5 between 8-9 p.m. and $15 after 9. A balloon drop will take place at midnight.
There will also be prizes and giveaways throughout the evening, including $100 cash for the best mask at midnight.
Info: Visit www.madmarlinsportsbar.com.’
Bottle of Blue offers New Year’s Eve show
This year, forget the champagne — open up a Bottle of Blue to welcome 2018 at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.
A five-piece band from the Big Island, Bottle of Blue plays original music and covers of some of the top classic rock and blues songs from the 1970s and beyond. With emphasis on beautiful vocal harmonies, amazing guitar work and rhythm section, you’ll be dancing the night away.
Tickets are available in advance for $25 online at www.apachawaii.org or at Get Sum Pizza and Kiernan’s Music. Ticket prices increase to $30 at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the 8:30 show.
Info: Visit www.bottleofblueband.com or www.apachawaii.org.
Local author is featured vocalist at Laverne’s on New Year’s Eve
The Average Joe’s Band features Love Guru Uma as guest singer Sunday, New Year’s Eve, at Laverne’s Sports Bar in Kailua-Kona.
The Average Joe’s are known for providing audiences with an experience, not just a show. Their catalog consists of classic 80s rock and dance-able Top 40 hits. The show runs 7-10 p.m.
Uma also recently self-published her book, “Love Is Crazy — Lessons in Love: Creating Your Own Happy Ever After.” The read is both an adventurous romance and self-help book, chronicling an unbelievable journey from Sedona to Seattle and Los Angeles and back again. It also includes real-life experiences as an extra in Three Kings with George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube and shares love lessons to help live happily ever after right now.
Info: Visit www.umaojeda.weebly.com or call Uma at 464-5917.
‘Eclectic Diversity’ exhibition opens Wednesday
Wailoa Center’s “Eclectic Diversity,” a showcase of the island’s artistic talent, will be on display during the month of January.
This unique exhibition of master talent offers an opportunity to showcase the variety of world-class art found on the Big Island. Many of these artists are featured in the permanent collection purchased by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and are in private collections throughout the world.
The 11 featured artists are: Michael Cromwell, Kate and Will Jacobson, Nora Yamanoha, Ethan Froney, Joseph Ruesing, Fair and Evan Jenkins, Phan Barker, Elizabeth Miller, Ken Goodrich, Scott Hare and John Mydock. Disciplines include fiber, mixed media, blacksmithing, video production, ceramics, glass, metal, wood carving, wood turning, digital and print making.
The Wailoa Center in Hilo will host the exhibition starting Wednesday and continuing through Jan. 25. An opening reception is set 5-7 p.m. Jan. 5 offering the public a chance to meet the artists in person. Light refreshments will be served during the free event.
“This rare presentation offers several pieces on display from some of the very best talent on the Big Island who specialize in a diverse range of media,” said Cromwell, who is also the curator of the “Eclectic Diversity” exhibition. “I invited these artists to join me in displaying their depth of talent. The newly remodeled Wailoa Center is the largest exhibition space on the Big Island and is the perfect venue to showcase more than 10 pieces of art from each individual artist in one location. It’s also a perfect opportunity for art enthusiasts to acquire collectible art from among a variety of media offerings. Art lovers and collectors from the West side of the island are very much encouraged to take the time to make the trip to the Wailoa Center and view this exhibition while it’s available this January.”
Wailoa Center, located at 200 Piopio St., is open 8:30-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Info: Visit www.wailoacenter.com or call 933-0416.
Firehouse Gallery exhibition features newest members
Waimea’s Firehouse Gallery will feature an exhibit of the works of some of the newest members of the Waimea Arts Council during January.
Ilmar Reinvald works in oils and watercolors. He was born in Estonia and immigrated as a child to the U.S. after World War II. He is an architect and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, graduated from the Universities of Illinois and Pennsylvania. The greater part of his practice was in Tacoma, Wash. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
After retiring to Waimea 10 years ago, he was able to start devoting more time to an activity he had always loved: Plein air painting in oils and watercolors.
“The beautiful Hawaiian sea and landscapes offer countless stimulating challenges to a painter. As I’m painting, I mostly think about how the light falls on the landscape. In that regard, shadows become hugely important and become the definers of light and objects. At the same time, I am aware of composition, color and values. Putting all these elements together thoughtfully with some skill, will result in a painting that will feel good and look interesting. That’s what I try to do,” he said.
Patricia “Trish” Kimball works in pastel. She retired from careers in both design and education and is relishing the time to paint again! Her education includes a bachelor’s degree in drawing and painting. Over the years, she has worked with many mediums, but currently prefers pastels.
“Pastel ‘sticks’ with their saturated pigments, allow for the expression of intense color, providing for the great contrast, movement and fine details that I like in my compositions. I particularly enjoy the challenges of capturing fallen light and shadows, reflecting water, water that moves and glistens, cloud formations, masses, texture and depth. Nature provides wonderful inspiration! Photographs that I have taken become references for my line and value study sketches which I refer to throughout my painting process,” she said.
Judith Wilson creates fiber art. She came to Hawaii from New York in 1974. She has been sewing since childhood and was introduced to traditional quilting in the 1990s. After recognizing that fiber can be used as an art medium, a world of possibility opened up. She has received several awards for her art quilts, both in quilt shows and art shows.
“I sometimes try to recreate one of my photographs by searching for the perfect fabric as a painter chooses a certain color of paint, or sometimes creating a piece after being inspired by the fabrics themselves.”
An opening reception will be held 2 p.m. Jan. 6 at the gallery.
The gallery, located at 67-1201 Mamalahoa Highway, is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and Sunday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Info: Visit www.waimeaartscouncilgallery.org or Facebook Firehouse Gallery.