Island Treasures: Kailua Village Artists Gallery—Kailua-Kona
The Kailua Village Artists Gallery, Inc. (KVA) is a cooperative organization that offers original art made by local artists from Hawai‘i Island.
The gallery features an eclectic display of reasonably priced original artwork including paintings in acrylic, gouache, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography and watercolor, and fine-art prints of the originals are available. The gallery hosts a distinguished display of 3-D art in ceramics, glassware, jewelry, mosaics, porcelain, stained glass and wood work.
KVA is a small business, promoting the arts in the community, with no paid employees or managers. The purpose is to collectively bring artistsʻ work before the public and mutually share the costs of promoting and selling the art.
The gallery is managed by its members: Stefanie Culbertson, Barbara Denman, Felicia Fry, Betty Gerstner, Cynthia Hankins, Bill Jaeger, Kathleen Jaeger, Gay Jensen, Marilyn Koschella, Richard Rochkovsky, Linda Savell, and Gail Yasin.
Eight guests artists include: Rachel Baker, Patti Datlof, Marian Fieldson, Hugh Jenkins and Stephanie Ross, Brad Lewis, Dale Moore, Stacey Siegel, and Syd Vierra.
In 1987, the artists made the guild an official business and became Kailua Village Artists Inc.
KVA’s first gallery was located in Waikoloa at the former Sheraton Hotel (now the Marriott) for almost nine years. KVA had galleries at the Lanihau Shopping Center (now a Verizon Store). For a decade and a half KVA was at the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. The Cooperative ran their gallery for 16 years at the Keauhou Beach Resort, until the hotel closed its doors on Oct. 31, 2012. The second gallery was Alii Sunset Plaza Gallery from March 2010 until Dec. 2012. In January 2013, KVA opened its new gallery at the Kona Marketplace.
In 2012 KVA celebrated its 25th anniversary. Its roots go back to the 1980s when a few artists bonded together and for years participated in art shows around the island at different hotels and venues. Dorothy Williams was the founder of Kailua Village Artists in 1987. Felicia Fry is the last original founding member. She has painted in watercolors featuring the Kona Coast for the past 25 years.
Every month KVA features an artist for the month. July is Stefanie Culbertson who paints in watercolors and does digital design and is well known for her Ānuenue (Rainbow) Series. August is Betty Gerstner who specializes in hand crafted and painted porcelain and paints in watercolors.
Friday, July 12, 2013 is the featured artist reception from 4-7 pm for: Gail Yasin, Richard Rochkovsky, and Stefanie Culbertson.
Kona Marketplace Gallery
75-5729 Ali‘i Dr., Suite C-110, Kailua-Kona
808.329.6653
Facebook.com/KailuaVillageArtists
KailuaVillageArtists.com
