Blue Sea Artisans Co-op introduces May ‘Artist of the Month’

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Barbara Hanson, polymer clay artist, is slated to be May’s artist of the month at The Blue Sea Artisans Co-op Gallery in the Kona International Market Place.

Hanson will introduce her new turtle series and a new line of jewelry with sterling silver Honu Heart designs.

Barbara Hanson's jewelry (Photo courtesy of Blue Sea Artisans Gallery)

She also will teach a polymer clay workshop in which students will create two canes (or designs) and make beads, key chain and a small wall hanging, noon-2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 22. A reception for the artist will follow the workshop 3-5 p.m.

Hanson (formerly of Omodt Art) is a self taught polymer clay artist beginning her exploration in 1985, her first year in college. Since moving to Kona in 1991, she has taught numerous classes, displayed her work in galleries, hotels and art shows and has been an interactive artist at the Kona Village Resort for 17 years. Her work has been collected and sent all over the world.

Basing her technique on Venetian glass making, she creates an oversized tube with her design going lengthwise inside.

Depending on the image she is creating there can be more than 60 separate pieces of clay that she mixes herself. The cylinders get progressively smaller by hand pulling and squeezing to elongate the tube. When the diameter is right she slices off only what she needs for a particular project.

Some artwork pieces have over a year’s worth of little slices, put together to create a finished piece. When asked how long it takes, she just giggles: “There is really no way to keep track. There are so many steps, so many variables … time just doesn’t exist when you are deep in a project.”

Hanson is a member of a talented group of artists called The Blue Sea Artisans, whose mission is not only to display and sell their work, but to involve the community in the arts by showing, teaching and sharing their knowledge.

The Blue Sea Artisans is planning a monthly series of classes featuring different artists and artistic mediums. These monthly art workshops and receptions are a great way to encourage community involvement.

For more information and to register for the polymer clay workshop, call The Blue Sea Artisans Gallery at 329-8000.

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