I was surprised to discover recently that Maui is home to some serious art. One of the things that traveling to Europe brought up for me in December, was how much I missed looking at great art and often.
For those who have lived in the Bay Area for longer, Hawaii is an easy and short plane ride, so most on the left coast may be aware of Maui’s art scene….I’m learning that Hawaii and Tahoe are the equivalents of the East Coaster’s Caribbean and Martha’s Vineyard, Vermont and the Jersey Shore. Short but common hops for a weekend getaway.
While slowly meandering down Lahaina’s Front Street, I poked my head into what I thought was going to be one of those tacky tourist galleries, the ones with the loud brash oil landscapes, the bright pastelled still lives and retro-posters. It was a “Chagall” poster that brought me into Martin Lawrence gallery and only after walking around for ten minutes or so, did I realize that it was not a poster after all.
An hour later, I left feeling much “fuller” after feeding my soul with original (and replicas, lithographs, etc) of Chagall, Rembrant and Picasso. Sargent’s Fine Art Gallery and Lahaina Galleries had some nice finds as well, including the works of Alessio and Marcello Bugagiar, brothers whose combined style aim to revive the romance of the Renaissance.
I really liked the work of Jamali, who is all about mystical expressionism. One of the art dealers described his work as “dark,” and oddly, I didn’t think so at all….then again, I only saw a half a dozen paintings and his collection of fresco tempera. His pigmentaton on cork feels somber but I found him fascinating.
The source of Jamali’s art and his life lies in the primordial spiritual traditions of the East. In his birthplace Peshawar, the Asian crossroads city, Jamali brings in Buddhist, Hindu, and Sufi ideas. Through many of his works, persistent themes and mythic imagery of dream figures seem to appear and then fade away — mothers, sons, lovers and dream guides. I think this sums up why I was drawn to his work right away – he brings us toward “the beautiful resolution of opposing forces” — the moment of transcendence in which art coincides with peace.
A complete listing of Maui art galleries can be found here.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
