Hawaiʻi’s premier statewide juried exhibition – held annually since 1967 – features traditional and contemporary craft from across the state of Hawaiʻi. HAWAIʻI CRAFTSMEN ANNUAL STATEWIDE EXHIBITION 2025 October 3 - November 1 Downtown Art Center 1041 Nuʻuanu Ave., Honolulu Exhibition opens to the public: Friday, October 3, at 5 pm First Friday reception: October 3, 6-8 pm Artists reception and award ceremony: Saturday, October 4, 6-8 pm Gallery hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11-5 pm |
Invited Artist Carol Yotsuda
Carol is not only an accomplished artist but also an influential educator and community leader. She played a pivotal role in founding the Garden Island Arts Council, an organization dedicated to promoting and nurturing the arts throughout Kauaʻi. Through this platform, she has organized the highly acclaimed Hawaiian music program, E Kanikapila Kakou and other cultural events, numerous art exhibitions including over 90 exceptional displays in the Lihuʻe Airport, community art workshops, fostering a thriving artistic community on the island. Her influence touches many art-related activities on other islands. Her own work is characterized by its dynamic use of color and innovative techniques, blending traditional Hawaiian motifs with contemporary artistic practices. Carol’s pieces frequently explore themes of nature, heritage, personal reflection, and the lifestyles of the people around her, making her art both visually captivating and deeply meaningful. Beyond her artistic endeavors, Carol Kouchi Yotsuda has made significant contributions to arts education, inspiring countless students through her teaching and mentorship. Her dedication to cultivating creativity and cultural appreciation continues to make an indelible mark on Kauai’s artistic heritage. Carol’s legacy continues to grow as she remains an active figure in the art world, participating in exhibitions, community projects, and cultural dialogues. Her passion for art and education embodies the spirit of aloha, enriching the lives of those who encounter and are impacted by her work and philosophy. A few of the many acknowledgements bestowed upon her include the “Living Treasure of Hawaiʻi” Award from the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaiʻi; “Living Treasure of Kauaʻi” Award from the Kauaʻi Museum, “Hoʻokele Award for Outstanding Non-Profit Executive Director” from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and the “Lifetime Achievement Award in Industry” for E Kanikapila Kakou from the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). |
Carol Kouchi Yotsuda is a renowned artist from Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, celebrated for her vibrant contributions to the island's cultural and artistic landscape. Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Carol developed a deep connection to the natural beauty and the people around her, which profoundly influences her artwork. Her creative journey spans a wide array of mediums, including ceramics, mosaics, fiber art, drawing, mixed media, installation art, and major public work commissions. Her works reflect the rich textures, colors, and spiritual essence of the Hawaiian environment and lifestyle.JurorSarah Darro, Curator and Exhibitions Director of Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
SARAH DARRO is a curator, writer, and visual anthropologist working at the nexus of contemporary craft, art, and design. She lives and works in Houston, TX, where she serves as the Curator and Exhibitions Director of Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. She has established an intersectional curatorial vision invested in reinvigorating museum spaces as forums for discourse, innovation, action, and engagement through experience. Her research interests include artist communities and collectives, movement and performance practice in craft, architecturally-influenced design, radical accessibility, systems esthetics, and the life histories and agency of objects. Darro serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and is a 2023 American Craft Council Artist Directory Guest Curator. She was named the 2022 Jentel Foundation Art Critic at the Archie Bray Foundation, the 2022 IASPIS Swedish Arts Grants Committee Visiting Expert, and the 2019 American Craft Council Emerging Voices Scholar. From 2021-2022, she served as the Gallery Manager of the Center for Craft and has completed curatorial research fellowships at Corning Museum of Glass and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. She holds a Master’s degree in Visual, Material, and Museum Anthropology from the University of Oxford and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Art History and Anthropology from Barnard College of Columbia University. More Information |
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HAWAII CRAFTSMEN IS SUPPORTED BY THE HAWAI’I STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS, THE HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE ATHERTON FAMILY FOUNDATION, THE COOKE FOUNDATION, THE MCINERNY FOUNDATION, THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, THE LAILA TWIGG-SMITH ART FUND, SEVERAL PRIVATE FAMILY FOUNDATIONS AND OUR MEMBERS
HAWAI‘I CRAFTSMEN 1110 NUUANU AVE, HONOLULU, HI 96817 • info@hawaiicraftsmen.org • 808-521-3282