Exhibit: All About The View by John Dawson

The Volcano Art Center (VAC) will soon be displaying new works by Hawaiʻi Island’s wildlife artist John D. Dawson. The exhibit titled All About The View features new acrylic paintings and illustrations of scenes within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The exhibit opens to the public on Saturday, August 31st and continues through Sunday, October 13th. The gallery is open daily 9am -5pm at the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. While the exhibit is free, park entrance fees apply. The artworks can also be viewed online on www.volcanoartcenter.org.

John D. Dawson was born and raised in San Diego, California. He graduated from the Art Center School in Los Angeles, California which is now The Art Center College of Art and Design and served in the Army Reserves. After graduation John entered the world of advertising and spent time in Detroit, Michigan before returning to San Diego. His skill of illustration provided him full-time employment for sixteen years while completing free-lance jobs on the side.

John’s art is highly recognizable on Hawaiʻi Island. One can find his illustrations included within maps provided to visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as well as in past Nature in America stamp series which includes a lush depiction of the Hawaiian Rain Forest created for the United States Postal Service. Dawson’s resume includes many major assignments for the National Geographic Society, National Wildlife Federation, Audubon Society, United Nations and the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center. With decades of experience, Dawson’s work continues to captivate audiences.

The recent works of art included in John’s All About The View exhibit, help us celebrate our beautiful park environment as well as the tremendous artist who captures the highly detailed views, states gallery director Emily C. Weiss. “This exhibition is timed over John’s 87th birthday. The public is invited to the gallery on Wednesday, September 11th from 2-4p, to join in a small celebration in John’s honor. “We greatly appreciate John’s artistic abilities and his accurate knowledge and depiction of Hawaiʻi’s native flora and fauna which he skillfully shares through his work,” states Weiss. John credits Linda W. Pratt and retired Interpretive Ranger Jay Robinson for a decade of sharing their expertise and time with he and his wife Kathie on numerous hikes to locations both near and far in search of ideal specimens and spectacular landscape views which are part of this recent collection.

The public is also invited to the opening reception from 2 – 4pm at VAC Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, August 31st. For more information visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

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