Island Treasures: Gary Leveque and Karen Spachner
Gary Leveque first visited Hawai‘i Island in 1985 while on tour with Showcase Hawai‘i. He had been living on O‘ahu since 1982, while attending Brigham Young Universityʻs Hawai‘i campus. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in fine arts and also his education credentials, he first taught in Kuhuku.
After 10 years on O‘ahu, Gary moved to Livermore, California to teach middle school and college for the next 28 years. In the meantime, he had fallen in love with Kona, traveling here virtually every school break.
On a fateful day in 2013, Gary met Kaeti Ecker on an airplane. Kaeti enlisted him in the Keauhou Canoe Club the day after they met and he’s been involved with the club ever since. Gary considers the members his hānai ‘ohana.
Gary is an extraordinary watercolor artist whose art had been displayed at Pictures Plus since an exhbition in January 2019. When his hānai (adopted) aunty, Maxine Kaha‘ulelio (Aunty Mack), was walking through the exhibit, she said to him “Gary, your heart is Hawaiian.” Truly, his heart and his art have always been in Hawai‘i.
Gary returned to Kona again in April 2019. Jade Chang, the director of Pictures Plus, offered him the challenge of having a new exhibition with another island artist. Gary chose to work with his favorite island watercolorist, Karen Spachner Goard.
Originally announcing the new exhibition for April 2020, fellow paddler and dear friend Mika Yandall asked Gary to make this exhibit a fundraiser for the Kona Choral Society. Gary, Karen, and Jade agreed to the benefit exhibit.
Gary returned again in June 2019 to begin making plans for the exhibition. Shockingly, he discovered Mika had suddenly died of a heart attack during the Kona Choral Societyʻs tour of New Zealand. Mika was only 11 days into his retirement. Devastated, Gary and Mika’s widow, Susan, mutually agreed that plans for the benefit exhibit would move forward in his honor. Gary reflects, “Mika enveloped the spirit of aloha in everything he did and offered his aloha to everyone he met. I miss my friend.”
The Gary and Karen Connection
Gary met Karen Spachner Goard in 2002, when he spotted a painting of a plumeria in the gallery at the former Keauhou Beach Hotel. He purchased it, and left a note for Karen. She contacted him to thank him and they’ve been friends ever since.
Karen lives in Kapa‘au and had been semi-retired until Gary pulled her out of it for this exhibition. He felt her multitudes of fine art needed to be seen again and is making sure that is happening.
A biography on the Isaacs Art Center website says, “Karen takes her inspiration from her home. Her fanciful designs reflect the island’s beauty and warmth. As the island of Hawai‘i grows from volcanic action, Karen’s work continues to emerge as a true portrait of Hawai‘i, while she captures local fish, historical sites, beaches, flora, and fauna. Her love of children led her on the exciting adventure of illustrating children’s books. Painting and drawing most of her life, Karen majored in art at Dean College in Massachusetts. She attended New York’s School of Visual Arts. She moved to Hawai‘i more than 30 years ago. Karenʻs art can be found in shops and galleries around the islands, and in homes around the world.”
Although COVID-19 caused them to reschedule twice, the benefit exhibit is now July 31 and August 1, 2020. Please call Pictures Plus in Kona at 808.327.3810 to confirm the date. ❖
For more information: garyleveque.com
