Exhibit: Recent Eruptions Photography Exhibit

The Volcano Art Center (VAC) is proud to announce the Recent Eruptions Photography Exhibit at VAC gallery location in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.  The juried exhibition and contest celebrate the recent volcanic eruptions on Hawaiʻi Island. For the first time in nearly four decades Mauna Loa Volcano began erupting in Moku‘āweoweo Caldera on November 27th, 2022. In honor of this very special event, and the reactivation of Kīlauea since January 5th, 2023, VAC requested photographic works of art that captured these recent events. The juried exhibit opens on February 25th and continues through April 2nd. The public is invited to meet the photographers on Saturday, February 25th from 2 – 4 pm.  Award winners will also be posted at this reception for the artists.

The exhibit was juried by professional photographers G. Brad Lewis and David Jordan. Both photographers have extensive portfolios spanning decades from past volcanic eruptions and have been published in magazines worldwide.

Brad Lewis is a world-renowned volcano and nature photographer. His images have been featured on the covers of Life, National Geographic, Natural History, Nature’s Best, Terra, Geo, and dozens of other publications, as well as accompanying articles in many magazines, including Time, Outside, Fortune, Newsweek, Sunset, Mens Journal, Forbes, and Stern.  Brad’s award-winning photos of erupting volcanoes have been widely exhibited, and he’s appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS Evening News, and on the Discovery and Disney Channels.  He’s been featured in Photo District News, Outdoor Photographer, Studio Photography & Design and Newsweek. His work is displayed in fine galleries as well as many public, corporate and private collections.  Inspired by nature’s beauty and variety, Brad is based out of Hawai`i, Utah and Alaska, traveling several months each year to pursue his art.  “My life’s mission is to connect the viewer to a deep understanding and appreciation of the Earth. This incredible planet of ours is a living, breathing entity. In my ‘LavArt’ series, I use the movement, light and texture of our most active volcano to open human emotions to the pulse the planet.”

Volcano artist David Jordan has been photographing lava since 2002.  As he states, “my goal as a lava photographer is to channel the constantly changing artistic magic of Madam Pele into a visually and emotionally stimulating moment preserved on paper.  I have always found inspiration in the colors and patterns that occur in nature, and the lava flows of Kīlauea provide an endless and constantly evolving subject matter. With luck and persistence I have been fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right moment on many occasions and I hope that my photographs do justice to the spirit of Pele.”

Volcano Art Center wishes to mahalo all the photographers who submitted entries into the juried photography exhibit and contest.  “Over 75 entries were received in the professional, hobbyist and phone photography categories, states Gallery Director Emily C. Weiss.  We are always amazed by the beauty of the eruptions, sharing these dynamic images is such an honor and allows us to connect people, art and our natural environment.”