October 2022 at the Gallery
Volume 13, Issue 10
Artist of the Month:
Bill Jaeger
After nearly two decades, Jaeger has earned his reputation as "Hawaii Island's Stained Glass Artist" with signature classics depicting yellow tang, honu (sea turtle), little red birds, pineapple, and more. What makes him a true artist is that he also continues to capture our attention with new designs. As this month's Featured Artist, Jaeger presents a collection of new pieces to the theme, "Flowers and Creatures that Fly."
Bill learned the art of stained glass many years ago. Since moving to the Big Island in 2004, he has had the luxury to completely immerse himself in the art and stretch his creative capabilities. He has developed a style and skill evident in every piece he makes; each being an original design created out of hand cut glass then soldered together using the copper foil method.
More Island Life and Local Art from KVA Guest Artists
Not all artists can or want to spend time working in a gallery. It is for these reasons we have Guest Artists. KVA Guest Artists contribute Hawaii-based art, but do not participate in Gallery operations. They allow us to showcase a broader range of artistic mediums from across the island. For example, Rachel Baker is a math professor at University of Hawaii in Hilo as well as a fused glass artist. Bill Twibell instructed and inspired other gyotaku fish print artists throughout the Pacific before "retiring" to Kona. Gigi Goochey is also an academic, a professor of physiology at the University of Hawaii. Her jewelry incorporates crystals, semi-precious stones, sea glass, and sea shells from her wanderings. Joseph Ster has been metal smithing for six decades and still prefers being in his studio above all else. Scott Pincus is a silversmith on the far side of the island in Volcano. Finally, Brad Lewis, aka "Volcano Man," has been the main photographer at all the eruption events at Kilauea since the early 1980s. His photos have appeared in many books and magazines, including National Geographic. All of these artists bring more local flavor to the gallery and we are so glad to be able to showcase their works.
Art Journeys with Shannon Nakaya: Pigments, Part 1
Throughout the world, humans have been gathering pigments, making “paint,” and drawing for tens of thousands of years. Without prompting, most humans, often as children, have drawn in or shaped sand, dirt, and clay, demonstrating that these tendencies are embedded in our DNA. Natural “earth” pigments, such as clay, minerals, precious stones, and charcoal, were crushed into powders and mixed with “binders” such as saliva or animal fat.
By the time of the ancient Egyptians 5000 years ago, the typical Egyptian painter’s palette include brown from clay, red from red ochre, yellow from yellow ocher, green from malachite, black from charcoal, white from calcite, and blue from heating a mixture sand and other minerals together. Binders included beeswax, egg, and tree sap.
One of our Member Artists, Kathleen Carr, recently traveled to Egypt and photographed the decorated inner walls of Queen Nefertari's tomb. She was astounded by how vibrant those pigments remained even after more than 3,000 years.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, blue lapis lazuli was “more precious than gold.” Almost exclusively mined in Afghanistan, lapis was incorporated into paintings in Italy, China, Japan, and South Asia.
Jaeger has earned his reputation as "Hawaii Island's Stained Glass Artist."
But that does not lull him into complacency. He continues to design and create ever new and ever sophisticated works of stained glass art. One of his recent masterpieces depicts 12 different flower blooms from around the world, and contains 300 pieces of cut glass. It was tedious just counting them; one must admire the patience and tenacity to precisely cut and solder each one of those pieces, into a solid structure. Other pieces in the "Flowers and Creatures that Fly Collection" depict various flowers, birds, dragonflies, and butterflies.
Other pieces in the "Flowers and Creatures that Fly Collection" depict various flowers, birds, dragonflies, and butterflies. Fans of Jaeger's past works will be happy to see a full range of local favorites – nightlights, sun catchers, Honus, and smaller stained-glass panels as well.
To meet featured artist Bill Jaeger and see his latest work, come, and talk story with him at the gallery on Friday, October 14, or Friday, October 28, 2022. While working in the gallery, he will be demonstrating the stained-glass technique, copper foiling, which is used to create a panel. The Kailua Village Artists Gallery is located at 75-5729 Ali’i Drive, Suite C-110 in the Kona Marketplace (just north of Kakina Lane) in Kailua-Kona. The gallery is open daily from 10:00am – 5:00 pm. For more information, please call 329-6653.
October New Art At the Gallery
