Island Treasures: Living Arts Gallery, Hawi
By Lily Hoskinson-Weinstein
Connie Firestone and Mary Sky Schoolcraft have been working side by side at the Living Arts Gallery since its inception in 2009 with the motto, “Take Heart, Make ART.” Connie’s series of Guardians studio paintings are sleek, contemporary, luminous, and mysterious, at first appearing almost monochromatic. In contrast, Mary Sky’s plein air paintings are fresh and vibrant landscapes with saturated colors painted on site, in an impressionistic /expressionistic style, sometimes referred to as “magical realism.” Mary Sky’s paintings “portraits of place” capture the essence of what it feels like to live in Hawai‘i. Connie’s images are non-representational, and appear as shadowy figures barely visible through a veil between the worlds.
Connie worked as an artist and interior designer for more than 30 years, giving workshops in figure drawing and portrait in California and Nevada before moving to Hawai‘i 14 years ago. She assumed she would continue to paint in a primitive style that had been very successful for her in the Bay Area. However, after her first year in Hawai‘i, she began painting the first of The Guardians.
“Though I have refined and polished the style of this work over the years, I am still just as fascinated with The Guardians as I was years ago. The pieces are always a challenge. I may have something firmly in mind, and then watch the painting take off in a direction of its own. I have learned to just let this happen and enjoy the ride. The Guardians go to the person that they are meant to be with.”
Mary Sky moved to Hawai‘i Island in 1995, and made a dramatic shift from her previous work as a professional city planner. She began painting plein air landscapes about 10 years ago, after working as an arts consultant, visioning faciitator, and luxury property manager. Inspired by her experience with a local co-op, she started the Living Arts Gallery, an artist collective that has grown to showcase the fine art of more than 80 Hawai‘i Island artists.
Mary Sky’s first figurative work, “Lehua’s Bowl of Light” is her illustration of a Hawaiian story that teaches us that we are all born inherently good, with a bowl of light. When we are angry or negative, it’s like we add stones to our bowl of light. “Lehua reminds us that we can return to a state of harmony or pono by emptying ourselves of these thoughts. How reassuring!” says Mary Sky.
Come find your inspiration when you visit the Living Arts Gallery!
Living Arts Gallery
55-3435 Akoni Pule Hwy, #10, Hawi
808.889.0739
Daily 10:30am–5:30pm
LivingArtsGallery.net
