(read) the fine print

sizzle n' splash

chicago-based artist hiroshi ariyama is today's etsy find! born in japan, hiroshi spent part of his childhood in honolulu and later studied printmaking at uh before moving to the midwest to finish his fine arts degree. a few years ago, the former graphic designer & art director began experimenting with fine art screen printing resulting in a buzzworthy new collection, our city, our neighborhood, that documents everyday moments and architectural icons in the windy city.

hidden amongst the chicago cityscapes and lake fronts are images that could easily double as glimpses into island life. i love the saturated color which can be credited to the intricate layers hand screened and based on one of hiroshi's original photographs. many of the prints remind me of looking at a negative in glorious technicolor which is, alas, an experience falling by the wayside in this age of instant digital snaps.

what's your story

distant storm

wheee

the good news is that hiroshi recently began work on a honolulu series which he hopes to show in hawaii when the project is completed!

chicago readers may want to click over to the event page to find upcoming shows while the rest of us can scoop up limited edition, hand pulled original prints (under $200) and archival prints ($25 to $45) of the current collection over in hiroshi's etsy shop.

ko'olau - a true story of kaua'i

the lovely woodblock prints by big island artist caren loebel-fried are one of my favorite things so you can imagine my excitement upon discovering that a stage production in nyc featuring her artwork made its debut last week. the story of ko'olau is being told through japanese-style puppetry created by ny-based local boy tom lee (who is also directing the show) set against projected backdrops based on caren's woodblocks.

this traditional storytelling style combines with live shadow animation and video projections to tell the story of kaluaiko'olau, a 19th century paniolo on kaua'i who resisted being deported to a leper colony and separated from his family after contracting the disease. together they fled to a remote valley where the family lived until the death of ko'olau and his son.

after the ordeal, ko'olau's wife pi'ilani recounted the family's struggles and it is her dramatic tale of love and 'ohana that the production is based on.

since most of us can't make the show, click over to the gallery to take a fascinating peek at the puppets and production design. performance details below for those lucky readers who call new york home:

• show dates: now to sun, oct 5th
• show times: fri/sat - 10p & sun - 5:30p
• where: la mama experimental theatre club, nyc
• tix: $18

let's hope ko'olau makes it way west and across the pacific one day!

p.s. prints of caren's work are available over in her etsy shop.

the haunted works of edwin ushiro

when we met * since time only meant . . .

a few weeks ago, i stumbled upon a collection of artwork in an online gallery and instantly felt a connection to the small kid time escapades and plantation town backdrops of one artist who i just knew had to be from hawaii.

it turns out that edwin ushiro, the la-based artist behind the canvas, is a local boy who grew up on maui and left for the mainland to study illustration at pasadena's art center college of design. after graduation, he joined the ranks of kama'aina working behind the scenes in hollywood (storyboard artist, visual effects consultant) while continuing to use a mix of mediums to recreate scenes evocative of many an island childhood.

art always becomes a bit more intriguing when you discover the maker's perspective and edwin's work is a yet another reminder that looks can be deceiving if the viewer doesn't go beyond the first glance. a few clicks around his website revealed that just below the surface of these seemingly idyllic paintings lay the spooky worlds whispered about around campfires and sleepovers. those same obake stories that chill(ed) many of us to the bone sparked edwin's fascination with the paranormal which have become the inspiration behind many of his pieces.

when everything really mattered

edwin's fan base has grown after only a few appearances at galleries around los angeles and his newest work will make its debut at his solo exhibit, while tides guide you back home, at project:gallery in culver city this weekend.

red dots seem to be a familiar sight when edwin's art hits the market, however his work seems to have somehow slipped under the radar of the hawaii art scene. hopefully, that will be remedied soon but until then a few clicks will allow you to take a peek here - buy prints here - and order wallpaper here (all the way from spain so beware the exchange rate).

so/cal readers are invited to stop by project:gallery and join edwin at the opening reception saturday evening. hope to see you there!

• when: sat, jul 12th - 7p to 10p
• where: 8545 washington blvd, culver city
• show dates: sat, jul 12th - sat, aug, 9th

p.s. stay in the loop via edwin's blog.

hello momo!

whenever kama'ainas go off island, be it on holiday or a move to the mainland for one of the oft-discussed trifecta of better opportunities (college/job/housing), the locales that make the destination list are predictable: las vegas, southern california, the bay area, and the pacific northwest. (the latter three choices are understandable but the first one, to be honest, has always perplexed me.)

if you happen to call seattle your home away from home or plan on hitting the emerald city on your next trip, be sure to add a side trip to japantown to your shopping list. the revitalized neighborhood, filled with noodle shops and tea houses, happens to be the home of momo, the east meets west boutique of oahu girl and seattle resident lei ann shiramizu.

the freelance writer, who grew up in moanalua, and her husband opened the doors of momo late last year to much acclaim for its mix of style and design finds from around the world. the stock list is long and intriguing including french fashion (cop.copine), finnish decor (iittalia), reclaimed leather handbags (bronsino), and vintage asian accessories gathered up at local estate sales.

visits home double as buying trips which mean you can scoop up select finds from the islands from a tin of timana tea to an aloha shirt from iolani sport. and, with father's day just around the corner, momo will be throwing a hawaiian shirt show tomorrow evening featuring styles flown in from IO sport just for the occasion plus handmade aloha shirts for your little one.

• when: thu, jun 12th - 5p to 7p
• where: 600 south jackson street, seattle
• fyi: pupus & light beverages will be served

take a peek inside momo here and here.

on the town with malia mills

t-dress

malia mills' childhood in hawaii inspired her foray into the world of swimwear where she seamlessly blends styles made for every body (and every age) with a sophistication hinting at her east coast home base. and while malia has made a name for herself designing suits that show off your curves to their maximum advantage, lately she has been extending her collection into pieces more suited for everyday wear featuring the feminine details fans have come to love.

i am loving the t-dress which seems to be a more modern take on the classic pareau. it's made of the same pretty swiss dot fabric seen throughout the collection, and the versatile design allows it be wrapped in a number of ways depending on your mood.

lulu

kalola

you can get your malia mills fix either online or at one of a handful of eponymous boutiques scattered from ny to chicago (alas, no shop or stockists in the islands yet).

malia's sister carol, who helps run both the company and the official mm blog, was kind enough to send along a $50 coupon for h|h readers. the coupon is good until the end of 2008 and can be redeemed either in-store or via phone order (so a fit specialist can help you find the perfect suit).

click rewind to learn more.