"Global Warming: Face the Facts"
"Pain at the Pump"
Ceramic, Wire, Naked Raku
"Duck and Cover"
The O'Neill Award of Excellence at the Hawai`i Craftsmen's 41st Juried Statewide Annual
Exhibition
"Duck & Cover" detail
Awards and Honors: * 41st Hawai’I Craftsmen Statewide Juried Annual Exhibition, Hawaii-2008
The O’Neill Award of Excellence
* Big Island Ukulele Exhibition, Hawaii-2007
Drawing chosen for the official 2007 poster
* Kona Coffee Festival, Hawaii-2006
Drawing chosen for use as the official 2006
logo on t-shirts, magazine, buttons, and other
advertising.
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Hawaii-2005
1st place, Peoples Choice Award
1st place, Juried 3-D Art
2nd place, Juried 3-D Art
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Hawaii-2004
1st place, Peoples Choice Award
2nd place, Juried 3-D Art
* Fish Follies, Alaska-2004
"Most Fishy" Award
* Ink and Clay 30 Exhibition, Caliifornia-2004
Presidents Purchase Award
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Hawaii-2003
1st place, Juried 3-D Art
2nd place, Peoples Choice Award
* Islands Magazine: International Photography Contest, Honorable
Mention-1989
* Bank of America Achievement Award-1976
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Artists's Statement:
“Throughout history artists have functioned as social commentators. I see this as a
sacred calling in my work. My inspiration comes from watching human and attempting to
bring my view to people’s attention. My view of the world is biased by my own personal
experiences as are most people, but I hope to plug into experiences that many people have
and can relate to. I am looking for that connection of humanity and that often means
seeing the flaws that are within all of us or that we create in the world. I often show
the negative experiences, not as a comment on the bad in humanity so much as to humor,
mock and cajole us to accept our imperfections and fix the faults that we may see within
us. . I see it as my way of contributing to “Ttikkun O’lam” (a Jewish call to make the
world a better place).
I attempt to make visual statements that are strong enough to elicit emotions in the
viewer that make them stop, think and perhaps even take action.
My visual language uses narrative sculpture, often figurative combined with various
surface treatments. I often use naked raku because I feel the harsh cracked look conveys a
painful feeling. I enjoy contrast and will often combine naked raku with glossy glazed
colors in moderation that accentuate the monochromatic nature of the naked raku”.
Artists's Bio:
Education:
* San Jose State University, San Jose, California
Masters Degree (MLIS)-1996
Teaching Credential in Library Info. Science-1996
* San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California
Masters Degree (MA)-1990
Teaching Credential in Fine Arts-1987
* University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA)-1981
Related Experience:
* Private Lessons and Workshops, 2003-present (ongoing)
All facets of ceramic art
* Kollage Art and Ceramic School, Sept. 1993-Feb. 1994 Art Teacher: Kindergarten through
3rd
Grades
* Woodside High School, Sept. 1988-June 1991
Art Teacher, Full Time, Tenured
* San Mateo High School, January 1988-June 1988
Art Teacher, Part Time
Amber received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Southern
California, and then continued her education with a Masters Degree in Art Education at San
Francisco State University. At that time she also received her California teaching
credential and went on to teach art in the public school system. Amber taught ceramics,
jewelry and drawing for many years. Eventually Amber felt the desire to go back to school
and she obtained another Masters Degree, this one in Library and Information Sciences from
San Jose State University.
When Amber’s daughter left for college, she moved with her husband to Hawaii where she
was determined to allow her creativity to flourish. She gave up teaching and began to work
on her own art in earnest. Soon, her work was being featured in many Big Island galleries
and she also began to enter her work in national shows. She has won awards and exhibited
in many states and continues to pursue her career from her home studio in paradise.
Amber is inspired by the various textures she sees while living in Hawaii. She enjoys
the feel of the harsh rough lava contrasted with the glossy green leaves of the
rainforest, and these are often reflected in the textures in her work. Low fire raku is
her method off choice because it connects her to the living earth and particularly the
island. She often ventures to Kilauea to view the molten lava flowing from the earth.
Taking her raku gloves with her, she will make an offering to the Hawaiian goddess Pele of
the volcano, and then “play” in the molten lava with kitchen whisks, metal kitty-litter
scoops and whatever else she thinks of. Molten earth makes her happy, whether it’s clay
coming out of a kiln at 1850 degrees or lava pouring from the earth.
RESUME'
Recent Exhibits:
* 41st Hawai’I Craftsmen Statewide Juried Annual Exhibition Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawai’i Oct. 10th-Oct.31st, 2008
* It’s a Honu World, Parker Ranch Center, Waimea, Hawai’i
Sept. 19-21, 2008
* Solo Exhibition:Hot Flashes, Volcano Art Gallery, Volcano National Park, Hawaii
June 7th-July 20th, 2008
* Artists of the Big Island, Firehouse Gallery, Kamuela, Hawaii
May 2nd-30th, 2008
* Coffee, Ti or Chi? 4 artist show, Pau’ole Art Gallery, Holualoa, Hawaii
Oct. 25th-Dec. 31st, 2007
* 40th Hawai’I Craftsmen Statewide Juried Annual Exhibition, Honolulu Academy of Arts,
Honolulu, Hawai’i
Sept. 29-Oct.28th, 2007
* Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Drawing used for official poster, t-shirt, and
buttons,
Kailua Kona, Hawaii November 3rd -12th, 2006
* Big Island Portrait Exhibition, East Hawaii Cultural Center,
Hilo,Hawai’i
August 4th -August 25th, 2006
* Ka Ho 'Ike Wa'a (the Hawaiian Canoe Art Exhibit), East Hawaii Cultural Center,
Hilo,Hawai’i
July 7th -July 28th, 2006
* The Art of Tea, Firehouse Gallery, Waimea, Hawaii
May 1st - 29th, 2006
* Artists of the Big Island, Annual Juried Art Show, Firehouse Gallery, Kamuela,
Hawai’i
May 6th-27th, 2006
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort, Keauhou, Hawai’i
November 11th & 12th, 2005
* Hawai’i Craftsmen 38th Annual State Wide Exhibition, Honolulu Academy of Arts,
Honolulu, Hawai’i
Oct. 6th-30th, 2005
* 16th Annual Teapot Show “On the Road Again”, Chiaroscuro Galleries, Chicago,
Illinois
April 3rd –May 15th, 2005
* War, Peace & Civil Liberties, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, California
Nov. 14th-Dec. 18th, 2004
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort, Keauhou, Hawa’ii
November 10th & 11th, 2004
* Self Portraits 2004, Northwest Cultural Council, Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Nov. 1st-Dec. 31st , 2004
* Hawai’i Craftsmen 38th Annual State Wide Exhibition, Honolulu Academy of Arts,
Honolulu, Hawaii
Oct. 7th-31st, 2004
* Fish Follies, Cordova Historical Society and Museum, Cordova, Alaska
Aug. 30th -October 31st, 2004
* Ka Ho 'Ike Wa'a (the Hawaiian Canoe Art Exhibit), East Hawaii Cultural Center,
Hilo,Hawai’i
July 30th -August 27th, 2004
* Mugs, Jugs and Bottles, Saratoga Clay Company, Wilton, New York,
July 15th -Sept. 6th, 2004
* 2005 Clay Lovers Calendar Show, Greensboro Artists League Gallery,
Greensboro, North Carolina
July 2nd -July 20th, 2004
* Cambridge Art Association National Prize Show, Cambridge, Massachusetts
May 4th -June 24th, 2004
* Ink and Clay 30 Exhibition, Kellogg Art Gallery, Cal Poly University,
Pomona, California
January 8th -February 14th, 2004
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort, Keauhou, Hawai’i
November 12th & 13th, 2003
 CONTACT:
Contact Amber Aguirre by email at:
ambersart@gmail.com
website:
www.ambersart.com
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