Jan
7
Sat
2023
The Volcano Art Center (VAC) is proud to announce a new exhibition titled Polynesian Curiosities at the VAC gallery in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park from January 7th – February 19th, 2023. The exhibit presents new hand carved woodwork by Jeff Roth. While the exhibit is free, park entrance fees apply.Jeff has a BFA from Washington University School of Fine Arts which naturally included courses in art history. It was his study of Asian art history with Dr. Nelson Wu that inspired Jeff to travel throughout Southeast Asia to see temples and shrines. While there, he was attracted to the handhewn folk and craft furnishings of everyday life and has tried to bring that approach to his own work. He still makes frequent trips to the library to see what is being done in the Pan-Pacific region.
He uses driftwood and salvaged wood to construct what he calls his “functional furnishings.” While he works with traditional hand powered tools and designs, he tries his best to inject some element of humor or surprise into his pieces.