Friendship fuels annual sale [Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)]

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / [email protected]

Artists Kay Mura, left, Vicky Chock, Esther Shimazu, Cora Yee and Donna Shimazu show off some of their wares, to be sold at their 20th studio sale on Saturday.

Find discounted treasures at the Museum Shop closing sale Thursday to Saturday.

See Jacqueline Mild-Lau's bronze works, plus more, at the Gallery at Ward Centre.

Marci Prins' "Poi Dog" is one of the pieces at Koa Gallery's miniature show.

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When women gather for any reason whatsoever, the friendships that bloom usually end up superseding whatever tasks brought them together in the first place. So it has gone for six female artists who will present their 20th annual group studio sale, a holiday tradition.

"A lot of us get tired of doing this, but we stay together because of the friendship and the fun," says ceramist Vicky Chock.

Her friends include fellow ceramists Kay Mura and Esther Shimazu, printmaker and jewelry maker Cora Yee and jewelry makers Bev Creamer and Donna Shimazu.

Chock says the women originally began the sale because it allowed art collectors to purchase their smaller pieces for more affordable prices; galleries usually carry bigger, pricier works. To this day, the annual sale is still the only place folks can purchase works by Chock, Mura, Esther Shimazu and Donna Shimazu outside of art galleries.

"We didn't want to be a craft fair. Everything is art rather than craft," Chock says.

To reiterate that point, the women send out postcards to announce their sale each year. "It's like announcing a gallery opening," Chock says.

In fact, those postcards have become something of collectors' items. Each year, the artists try to come up with a fresh, fun idea for announcing their sale. This year, the six women are standing on a cake mimicking candles, with a flame coming out of the top of each of their heads. "Still on Fire!" "20 years!!!" the card reads.

Until this year, the group has held the sale at Mura's studio. But however much they've tried to maintain the flavor of the studio sale, its success and popularity have grown to the point that they've had to find a bigger venue - much like that of a craft fair.

That's not necessarily all bad, though.

"The sale is pretty successful, and that's had to do with us staying together," Chock says. "Being friends really helps because there are some stressful moments."

Case in point: "We always go to someone's house after the sale to figure out the money part. One time, we all ended up sleeping over because we couldn't figure it out."

Accounting challenge turned slumber party - after 20 years of friendship, that sounds about right.

ARTFUL GIFTS

Numerous gallery exhibits and special holiday sales offer the perfect venues for finding gifts of fine art. Here's a short list of some of them:

>> "14th Annual Mixed Media Miniature Show" (Through Dec. 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Koa Art Gallery at Kapiolani Community College, 734-9374): Small-scale works by more than 150 emerging and established artists in various media.

>> "A Christmas Fantasy" (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday to Dec. 4, Gallery 'Iolani at Windward Community College, 236-9155): Fine art and crafts by students and community members.

>> Academy Shop (10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, Honolulu Academy of Arts, 532-8703): Holiday ornaments and cards, calendars, art books, children's toys and art activity kits, textiles, artisanal creations by local artists, jewelry and home accessories.

>> Academy Art Center Studio Benefit Sale (Through Dec. 4, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, art center, 532-8741): Glass, jewelry and ceramics by local artists.

>> "Christmas POT SALE!": 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.Dec. 9 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Dec. 10, Windward Community College ceramics studio in the Palanakila building, second floor, 235-7323.

>> Hawaii Glass Artists 9th Annual Exhibition: Through Jan. 14, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays, ARTS at Marks Garage, 521-2903

>> Holiday trunk show (7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Chinatown artists loft): Holiday gifts by ARTSmith artists in Chinatown lofts.

>> "Loose Threads and Friends" (Through Dec. 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays, Louis Pohl Gallery, 521-1812): Works by Mary Kamiya, Carola Wilson, Anne Kase, Gail Toma, Sara Oka, Ethel Aotani and Sidney Lynch.

>> "Matchbox Plus VII Show 2011" (Through Dec. 10,

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, Second Floor@Cedar Street Galleries, www.cedarstreet­galleries.com): Small-scale works by more than 70 local artists in a variety of media.

>> Museum Shop Clearance Sale (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and noon to 4 p.m.Dec. 4, Spalding House, 526-0232): The shop at Spalding House, formerly The Contemporary Museum, is being closed. Find deals on art books, arty toys, jewelry and home design items for up to 50 percent off.

>> "Small Works for the holidays" (Through Dec. 30, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and until 6 p.m. Sundays, Gallery at Ward Centre, 597-8034): Works by Mark Norseth, Susie Anderson, Roger Whitlock, Jacqueline Mild-Lau, Cindy Conklin, Barbara Edelstein, Michael Lee, Babs Miyano-Young, Greg Pai, Lynda Sakraida, Linda Spadaro, Bud Spindt, Roy Tsumoto, Gordon Uyehara, Debbie Young and Doug Young.

>> "Toy Show" (Through Jan. 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, Fishcake, 593-1231): "Toys" by local artists, including "squeezables and wearables."

Credit: Joleen Oshiro