The Volcano Art Center (VAC) is proud to announce
Christmas in the Country: Annual Wreath Exhibition
November 29 – December 31, 2024
With warmest winter wishes and happiest holiday greetings, the Volcano Art Center welcomes all to the 25th Annual Christmas in the Country celebration starting Friday, November 29th. Featuring the Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit that continues through December, 31st, 2024. Christmas in the Country promises an abundance of art and aloha to kick start your holiday season. VAC Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park creates a merry scene of an old-fashioned Christmas inside its 1877 historic building. The festivities this year spill beyond the park into VAC’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Plan to attend the Annual Volcano Hui Tour, a community tree lighting and acapella Christmas Carols at VAC’s Niaulani Campus on Friday, November 29th.
Both locations will showcase the exquisite artwork Volcano Art Center has become known for year-round, plus you’ll find unique holiday offerings of island-inspired gifts, ornaments and decorations made by Hawai`i Island artists. The concurrent Annual Wreath Exhibit presents one-of-a-kind wreaths in a variety of imaginative media, techniques and styles, from the whimsical to the traditional. This year’s theme “Sunrise To Sunset” reflects VAC’s 50 year commitment to creativity in our community!
The exhibit will also be available for viewing on VAC’s website upon opening. For more information please call (808) 967-7565 or email sales@volcanoartcenter.org
Aloha Friday cultural demonstrations are held each week from 11 am – 1 pm on the porch of Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This month’s offerings include: Lauhala Weaving with Kuuipo Kalahiki-Morales. Visitors and kama’aina alike are invited to experience a free, hands-on workshop.
These free cultural events are supported in part by Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
Volcano Art Center (VAC) is proud to announce the exhibition “Transfiguration, The Art of Mydock, on display from January 11th – February 16th, 2025. The exhibit is a retrospective exhibition of Mydock’s paintings, sculptures, collaborations and wood lathe-turned vessels. The gallery is open daily, 9am -5pm in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Meet the artist at the Opening Reception on Saturday, January 11th from 2-4pm or at a live demonstration on Saturday, January 25th from 11am -1pm. All events take place at VAC Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. While the exhibit is free to attend, park entrance fees apply.
The exhibit will also be available for viewing on VAC’s website upon opening. For more information please contact Emily C. Weiss at (808) 967-7565 or email sales@volcanoartcenter.org
Live Demonstration with John Mydock at VAC Gallery
Join John Mydock on Saturday, January 25th from 11am -1pm.at VAC Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. While the demonstration is free to attend, park entrance fees apply.
Mydock’s current passion is “pyrography,” which is the art of burning to create designs on wood or other materials. His freehand art of decorating his wooden vessels is where his past experience meets his current passion and his work excels beyond others in his field. Mydock’s pyrography takes on a life of its own. He incorporates colorful, intricate layers of original designs, which are influenced by Polynesian Tattoo Art, the beauty of Nature and by Visionary Art. Mydock interlaces and weaves these images into a distinctly unique style of pyrography on his wooden vessels. To share his love and talent of this unique art Mydock will demonstrate pyrography techniques on January, 25th from 11am -1pm at the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Mydock is a member of Big Island Woodturners, the Hawaiʻi Wood Guild and the American Association of Woodturners. “It’s an absolute pleasure presenting “The Art of Mydock” at VAC”, states Gallery Director, Emily C. Weiss. “This is a wonderful opportunity for serious art collectors to add a one-of-a-kind work to their collection and for art appreciators to be inspired by Mydock’s creative expression.”
Hula Kahiko: Featuring: Hālau Nāwehiokaipoaloha under the direction of Kumu Ipolei Lindsey-Asing
Originally from the uplands of Haleakalā on the island of Maui, Kumu Ipolei Lindsey-Asing completed the rigorous training of ʻūniki under her Kumu Hula, Nāpua Silva, and was recognized and accepted as one of three new Kumu Hula in July, 2021. In January 2023 in ʻŌlaʻa, Hawaiʻi, Hālau Nāwehiokaipoaloha officially held the very first papa hula for keiki, ʻōpio and wāhine. Welo Foundation which helps support Hālau Nāwehiokaipoaloha and itʻs endeavors is dedicated and committed to perpetuating our Hawaiian culture and traditions.
The performance will take place in a one-of-a-kind outdoor setting at the kahua hula (hula platform) in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park located in the grassy area in front of the Volcano Art Center Gallery. Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats and arrive early to receive parking at the Kīlauea Visitor Center. Overflow parking is available at the Steam Vents parking lot. National Park entrance fees apply. Please call (808) 967-7565 with any questions regarding the exact location on the morning of February 8th.
Unulau, a hālau hula under the direction of Kumu Hula Pele Kaio
Saturday, March 8, 2025| 10:30am
The Volcano Art Center’s Hula Kahiko program continues on Saturday, March 8th at 10:30am with a performance by Unulau, a hālau hula under the direction of Kumu Hula Pele Kaio. The performance is part of a year-round series sponsored by the Volcano Art Center at the kahua hula (hula platform) near the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Unulau means “The multitudes of UNU”. UNU is a name that is shared by all hālau born from Unukupukupu. Unulau is anchored in the philosophy, teachings, and fire traditions of the hula ʻaihaʻa. Unulau continues to promote and perpetuate ʻike (knowledge) and education through hula – hula is the platform by which we engage, inspire, and inform our relationship to the environment and the spirit.
The performance takes place, rain or shine, in a one-of-a-kind outdoor setting in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats. National Park entrance fees apply.
To donate to the Hula Arts at Kīlauea programs or to find out more information please contact Emily C. Weiss at info@volcanoartcenter.org or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.
Volcano Art Center’s Hula Arts at Kīlauea performance series continues on Saturday, April 12, with a hula kahiko performance featuring Kumu Lehua Bray hālau o Maunalei. The performance is part of a year-round series sponsored by the Volcano Art Center. Hula hālau from across Hawai‘i are invited to perform each month. The hour-long performance begins at 10:30am at the kahua hula (platform) in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.
Lelehua Maunahina Bray was born in Kealakekua, Hawai’i, named after her great-grandmother, Lydia Maunahina Dusson -Bray, a composer, entertainer, and hula exponent she was destined to be a part of hula. Lelehua ‘ūniki graduated in 2001 from Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang and taught within his school for five years before taking the reins of her own hālau in 2009. “My contribution to my community is to share Hula as I have been taught from my lineage.
Hālau Maunalei is located in Kealakekua and shares hula with students from Keiki to Kūpuna. The Hālau continues to participate in many community events throughout Kailua-Kona and Hawaii Island!
Kumu Hula Lelehua’s mission has always been to teach others to love and embrace the traditions and the art of hula passed down to her!
The presentation is presented authentically in an outdoor setting, rain or shine without electronic amplification. Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats, and to arrive early as parking at the Visitor’s Center is limited, additional parking is available at the Steam Vents parking lot
The Volcano Art Center is a non-profit art and educational organization created in 1974 to promote, develop, and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawai‘i’s people and environment through activities in the visual, literary, and performing arts. Visit www.volcanoartcenter.org
Mahalo!