36 Artists on O’ahu Open Their Studios and Exhibition Spaces to the Public in December

Visitors are invited to join the artists at the Opening Celebration/Preview Exhibition on Thursday, Dec. 4 where they can enjoy live music, preview one or two pieces of the artists’ work, and pick up a copy of the OOS Guidebook containing an artist directory and maps directing them to different studios and exhibition spaces around the island.

Guidebooks will also be available throughout the duration of the event at various retail pickup locations around the island which will be listed on our website. Visitors then design their own self-guided tours, either by referring to their printed guidebook or by using our online artist directory and Google maps on our website, based on the artists and work that most interests them.

The event is produced and organized by acclaimed, award-winning fine art photo collage artist and former art gallery owner on Maui and Oahu, Carolyn Quan. She is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area after living in Hawaii for 9 years, while continually remaining connected to the islands and the art community there.

“When I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area from Hawaii and began to do research into art shows and ways of exposing my own artwork to the public, I learned about the myriad of open studio events that take place in California and other art-loving states on the mainland. I realized that it was time for Hawaii to have such an event and plans began to create the Maui event back in 2010. Now, with the success of the Maui event, I felt it was time to spread the opportunities to other islands for artists and art-buyers. O’ahu was a natural addition. As a former art gallery owner and resident in Waikiki, I made a lot of connections in the art community on O’ahu and I still feel very connected to it. Also, the island has such a vibrant art community island wide that it made perfect sense to expand the event “ohana” to O’ahu. The O’ahu Open Studios Event is a chance for the art community to come together and show the world what we’ve got here on O’ahu and what we’re all about!” says Quan.

The dates for the inaugural 1^st Annual Oahu Open Studios Event are as follows:

Opening Celebration/Preview Exhibition

Thursday, December 4, 2014 • 6pm – 9pm

Ward Center Conference Rooms at Ward Warehouse

(In Kaka’ako Room)

1020 Ala Moana Blvd. • 2nd Floor

• Enjoy food and drinks at nearby restaurants at Ward Center before and/or after the Opening Reception/Preview Exhibition.

• Pick up a copy of the OOS Guidebook.

• Meet many of the artists in person.

• Preview one or two pieces of the artist’s artwork to help design self-guided tours

• Enjoy live acoustic musical entertainment.

The OOS self-guided tours begin that weekend. Hours for the Weekend Open Studios are 11am – 6pm. Directional signs will be posted on roadways, at intersections and at artist studios and exhibition spaces to guide visitors to their locations. Visitors can use GPS or our online Google maps to find artist venues.

Weekend 1: Leeward Side O’ahu

Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7 • 11am – 6pm

Weekend 2: Central, North Shore and Windward O’ahu

Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14 • 11am – 6pm

“Since this is a free annual event for the public it will not only attract local art-lovers and collectors, but also attract tourists who love art to the island year after year, and perhaps even be the focus of visitors’ trips to the island whether inter-island, domestic or international. Visitors will enjoy a wide range of art and craft selections as they customize their studio tours and decide which artist’s work will become part of their collections. This event allows artists and art collectors to connect more personally and directly with one another, giving locals and tourists alike a unique experience and opportunity to learn about the artists’ techniques and about the artists themselves, as well as purchase art directly from them. The O’ahu Open Studios event is also a way of helping artists gain vital exposure to the public year after year in a fun, exciting and creative way,” says Quan.