WEST HAWAII TODAY | FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2007 ARTS

Gallegos exhibiting latest work
SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY

Uniquely original “Wood Burned Oil Paintings” and giclee prints of some of these new works by David “Kawika” Gallegos will be unveiled by the artist at a reception in his honor at Harbor Gallery in Kawaihae on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. Pupus and refreshments will be served. Gallegos moved to the Big Island in 1994 from the Bay Area, and has been showing at Harbor Gallery ever since. Originally from the Denver area, Gallegos won scholarships in painting and drawing and moved to the West Coast, where he eventually earned his master of fine arts degree from the University of California at San Francisco in 1977. He worked with Tamarind lithographer Ernest DeSoto and produced pieces for the famous “Art for Peace Project” among other exhibitions from 1978 until 1990, also traveling throughout the United States and Europe. He has also spent a lot of time in Japan and collectors there flock to his shows.

The artist’s latest technique was originally inspired by wood burnings on a floor in an old mansion in San Francisco. About five years ago he started experimenting with various techniques and different woods, first burning the image into the wood, and then painting many thin glazes of oil paint over the image. The trick is, to leave much of the wood grain visible through the painting, which produces a very original look that also varies with each piece he transforms, each “wooden canvas” having its own unique characteristics. The wood burning also adds dimension and texture.

Gallegos works with different woods, but mostly koa and mango. The koa works best with darker, nighttime scenes. “Kanani Hula Malamalama” is a wood burned oil painting by David “Kawika” Gallegos that also allows the wood grain of the painting’s base to show through. The artist is showing his work at the Harbor Gallery 2 on the Big Island of Hawaii.

SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY
“Hawaiian Botanical No. 2” is among the artwork by David “Kawika” Gallegos on display at Harbor Gallery 2 in Kawaihae. A reception in his honor will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the gallery.

GALLEGOS: Artist showing work CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5C
where he will sometimes dangle a full moon over the water as paddlers push by, and the mango wood, being lighter, suits itself to hula dancers performing their graceful motions in varied authentic poses. His subjects also range from playful dolphins to his newest foray, embellishing maps of the Hawaiian Islands with symbols of Hawaii; hula dancers, sailing canoes and palm trees all adorn the area surrounding the map, bringing to life some of the spirit of the islands, with the wood grain giving the sensation of looking at a very old rendition.

Since first showing his work at the gallery in 1994, Gallegos’ work has evolved in so many ways, and he constantly reinvents himself with new ideas and fresh approaches in unique media that are truly original.

The public is invited to spend an evening with the artist whose work is collected by patrons all over the world. For further information, contact Harbor Gallery 2 at 880-9100, The gallery is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.