Island Treasures: High Fire Hawaii Gallery and Studio LLC – Hilo

High Fire Hawaii is a venue and resource for island artists offering instruction, materials, and representation in their gallery. It is dedicated exclusively to local art and local artists representing ceramicists, jewelers, painters, and textile artists.

They offer classes for artists of all ages in their studio and are the only authorized distributor for Laguna Clay Company on Hawai‘i Island. Their patrons are artists, students, locals, and visitors who enjoy art and find that it plays an important role in their lives. They have been in business for six years.

The studio provides classes and workshops for both established and aspiring island artists. A majority of the artists represented in the gallery are graduates of the Art Department of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and all are island residents who live and work in the local community. Making a living as an artist is a challenging endeavor; the gallery supports local artists by helping them create and show their work in a supportive environment.

The islands pose unique challenges to local artists because local materials are primarily organic or of relatively recent geologic origin. Fibers and seashells are relatively abundant, however metals and precious stones have to be sourced elsewhere. Ceramic artists work with heavy clays not found in the Hawaiian Islands. Local artists must choose a level of integration that suits their personal aesthetic and strive to integrate diverse materials into a cohesive whole. Therefore, materials and ingredients are sourced locally and globally.

Owner Steve Lang is Native Hawaiian and a graduate of Punahou School on O‘ahu and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Manager, instructor, and ceramic artist Shannon Hickey is a graduate of the Art Department at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.

Steve and Shannon realized that local ceramic artists were having difficulty sourcing the materials they needed to create their work and lacked a resource for education and development as well as a venue in which to show their work. The opportunity to serve all these needs came when they moved their small gallery on Haili St. to their present location on Kamehameha Ave. They are now able to offer ceramic and painting classes to kids and adults, while also providing gallery exposure for established local artists and carrying supplies for ceramic artists.

High Fire Hawaii Gallery and Studio
114 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo
808.935.8380
info@highfirehawaii.com
HighFireHawaii.com