MEDIA RELEASE

A new opportunity for artists and artisans of all kinds is now available in North Hawaii, via Waimea Artists Guild (WAG).

WAG invites the public to celebrate its grand opening 7-9 p.m. Friday, March 16, with a traditional blessing by Lanakila Manguil, music, refreshments and Open Studio time to enjoy the new space and learn more about the Guild.

WAG member Ti deL’Arbre will be presenting a “living mandala,” created entirely with fresh local flowers. Visitors can experience the mandala at the opening, as well as during open studio hours 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 17.

WAG is located in the industrial complex adjacent to Mama’s House thrift store, just past NAPA Auto. The Guild was created by graduates of HOEA, the Hawaiian Ohana for Education in the Arts, whose mission is to “increase the number, accessibility, and visibility to Native Hawaiian Arts and Artists.”

“We humbly intend to continue this goal, while striving to exert, through the arts, a culturally relevant influence on the community at large,” co-director Tom Mehau said.

“The Waimea Artists’ Guild is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for the arts in North Hawaii,” said Beth Mehau, co-director. “Our facility includes equipment for small woodworking projects, carving and soldering stations for jewelry-making, and presses for relief and intaglio printing. These are made available to Guild members, but the workspace is also available for workshops and classes which are open to the public.”

Although Native Hawaiian ancestry is not required for membership in the Waimea Artists Guide, sensitivity for cultural themes, materials and practices is of primary concern in the operation of the program.

The community is invited to come and join in the blessing and learn more about what WAG has to offer in the way of classes, resources and more.

For further information, call: Beth or Tom Mehau at 887-2289, email waimeaartists@gmail.com or visit www.waimeaartistsguild.com