Jerome Heck

Exposure to outside artists and their ideas and techniques is an important part of maintaining a viable connection to the national and international craft scene for an island community.

To that end, Hawai`i Craftsmen conducts the following basic programs:

• `Aha Hana Lima ("Gathering of the Crafts") is an annual series of intensive 3-day hands-on workshops and lectures exploring various media: clay, metal, wood, fiber or glass and usually conducted by artist-craftsmen from outside Hawaii.
• Raku Ho`olaule`a , is an annual community Raku ceramics workshop and camp out, preceded by an Urasenke tea bowl workshop, a public demonstration of clay technique, a slide lecture and a reception for the guest artist. The camp out is followed by a juried exhibition opened by a Tea Ceremony, a festive reception and firing demonstration.
• The Annual Statewide Juried Exhibition of traditional and contemporary crafts brings a juror of national or international reputation to the state to jury entries on Oahu and the neighbor islands (Maui, Kauai, Hilo, and Kona). The juror also presents a slide lecture at each site.
• Fiber Hawai`i , is generally offered every other year. This exhibition encourages the participation of artists in all media who wish to explore fiber related work. Fiber as a medium as well as fiber as a concept is encouraged. The juror also presents a slide lecture that is free and open to the public. Sometimes a workshop is also offered.

Hawai`i Craftsmen also participates in various community outreach programs such as Second Saturday sponsored by the Hawaii State Art Museum. Individual members are involved in many other volunteer educational and charitable activities.

Our four Film and Video Productions, created for education and outreach have won numerous awards and distinctions. The tiles include: The Hawaiian Quilt--A Cherished Tradition, Legacy of Excellence, Raku Ho`olaule`a and You Be the Judge.