Dietrich Varez

While watching the emotional international news coverage about the deaths of two amazing humans - John McCain and Aretha Franklin, here on the Big Island of Hawaii, another loss hits home as well. Well-known and beloved artist Dietrich Varez recently died, (on Lunel's b-day August 14) leaving an amazing legacy of art created during a long and art-ful life -- right here in Volcano Village.

We are planning to participate in an an upcoming workshop offered through Volcano Art Center that will include making our own prints from some of his carved blocks that have been donated by his family.

(Wikipedia)

The studio where Varez works and lives is in a rural forested area near the small town of Volcano, Hawaii a few miles from the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. He built the house himself after many years of living in tents or cabins on the land or in the Park. For most of his life there, he and his family have lived a self-sufficient pioneering life. They capture rainwater for their needs, and had no electricity for thirty years. The road to his home has been described as “barely passable.”^[5] Varez and his wife rarely leave their homestead, virtually never travelling off-island.

Varez, as a self-taught artist whose career developed outside framework of the institutional art world, maintains a strict policy of keeping prices low and distributing directly to the widest audience. This is consistent with his earliest practice of giving away prints, and only then, when demand required it, of charging nominal prices to cover his expenses. It was only after several years of a growing reputation that he decided to make his living from the sale of his work, and he has expressed in interviews a deep ambivalence toward being considered a professional artist.

"Some people have told me that until I start charging more, I'm never going to become a 'known artist.' I think that's nonsense. You either like the print or you don't, and that shouldn't have anything to do with the price. My goal is to make art -- at least my art -- available to common people. I don't give a damn about the art people; I want to get it into your mom's house and my mom's house.”^[5]

Contrary to the usual practice among print makers, he refuses to limit his editions, printing until a block is exhausted. He dates his prints according to when the print was struck, not, as is customary, when the block was carved. These individualistic practices may have limited the value of his work to collectors, but Varez has said he is committed to staying outside the artificial boundaries of art world conventions. "The printmaking business needs some new blood and new traditions,” he has been quoted as saying.^[2

Samples of Dietrich Varez ART

"Three RRR's for Artists"

Our front door - with appropriate signage in the window.

Part of Phil's shop

Progress!!

After a week of organizing, playing “musical chairs” with what goes where for maximum comfort and accessibility, we are settling in nicely at our new temporary home.

Early in May, when Phil had his rushed evacuation (while I was in the hospital) he had so little time to grab things. Amazingly enough he remembered the dog beds, so they have a little taste of familiarity in another new place.

View out our front door

The last three months have been traumatic, of course, but we have also had time to begin to adjust to our loss and “new reality.” In so doing, during this last week of settling in we have decided to define this next period as artists’ rest, retreat and residency.

Lunel's art space

By choice or by accident (or natural disaster in this case) the idea of an artist-in-residence is to allow space for ambivalence – new territory – a sort of no-time and no-space place where the detachment from the normal allows for new-thoughts and new-responses not attached to a prior familiarity or even comfort. It may also include a necessary irritation and discomfort. 

Thinking of it in terms of biology, it is always an irritation and discomfort that result in an organism exploring new avenues for survival. Maybe this sounds a little academic, but for us it hits us at many levels -- theoretical, spiritual, practical and of course artistically.

View from our back porch/lanai

Here are a few photos of our new spaces and views. 

Our weensy kitchen

As you can see, the kitchen is only 40” wide – much smaller than either of our art spaces – giving us a new appreciation of our priorities.

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Hurricane Lane

Hurricane Lane over Hawaii - photo from NASA

While Hurricane Lane presents a severe situation, we are snug and safe. This post is just to let our blog followers know that the Haysmer Family -- Phil, Lunel and three corgyn are safe and secure. Just a few hours ago, Hurricane Lane appeared to be moving away...but has since turned back toward the island -- a rather unusual occurrence. 

Our lovely landlady has pulled out extra boots, weather proof rain gear from her private stash, so we can get the laundry done, and take the dogs out to pee. Speaking of which -- they are NOT happy to be wading through an inch or more standing water! In our former home -- rains like this soaked into the porous lava -- up here at 3500 foot elevation, there is enough soil to create real lakes of standing water, and flooded roads. Parts of the Big Island are reporting 20-30 inches of rain per hour, and while it has not stopped here for about 24 hours, we are safe and dry.

This NASA view appears so beautiful and peaceful -- quite a contrast to the flooding and danger in many places over all of the islands.  Namaste' 

For more meteorological and accurate, scientific reports just goggle Hurricane Lane and Hawaii

Rx for Us: A Little R&R

Well after the last three and a half months of WTF -- we're due for a little R&R, right? Once again we are grateful to have found what seems to be the perfect place up in Volcano Village at about the 3500 foot elevation. As we drove up this last week, we have found that elevation can be just above the cloud line -- raining below but with cool blue skies higher (typical of the island's weather pattern.)

So here'a a few photos of our next "nest" -- nestled in a small furnished studio on a working ranch with goats, sheep, ducks and chickens -- and one token horse. The night sky will be amazing, and the property is surrounded on four sides by giant Sugi Pine trees. Our immediate plan is to be there for several months while we continue to work on long-range plans.


Well, maybe this R&R
would be appropriate too!

Ha! Ha!

We'd like to think
we are "rare" but right
now RICH would
really be acceptable
too.

(May be a few days
until our next post.)

50 years later

Honolulu Star Bulletin - 
February 1969


One of our neighbors in Leilani Estates just posted this ad that ran in 1969. 

Today is my 70th birthday. Looking back to 1969...that was the year that everything I owned could fit in my Volkswagen. Fast-forward 50 years (after the fire of May 2, and the total loss of our home and contents - except for dogs and computer) -- and now, everything we own fits into our VERSA!  Now that's a real mind-bending "trip" isn't it! 

Today we schlep a load up to our new digs in Volcano Village where we hope to have a few months of cool and quiet to recoup and regroup -- body, soul, mind and spirit.

And, yah, except for Phil's reacquired wood working tools, all we now own can all fit into our VERSA car. Interesting that in loading up, his tools take up the most room, followed by my art supplies and our newly collected set of books, followed by three corgi dogs.  Shows where our priorities are.

Lava Update and Economic Re-Building Needs of the District of Puna

At our corner of Luana and Leilani

Aloha blog followers! We belong to a local forum of neightbors on NextDoor where we can access information being posted by our friends and neighbors. In the last week or so, people still living in either the voluntary evacuation or even the involuntary zones are providing some encouraging news -- that, of course, must be taken with a grain (or three) of salt. The main source of flowing lava from Fissure #8 appears to be slowing, but this historic and unprecedented volcanic event remains unpredictable.

Lava fissures slice across the land

From earlier posts there are fissures that slice cross the entire subdivision from the southwest corner to the northeast. There are gas emissions coming up through many of those fissures in many places. We understand that some people want to move back into their still-standing homes.  However, many of the still-standing homes have extensive and permanent damage making them uninhabitable. This video shows the extent of the damage to homes, lives and local farms.

VIDEO:  Fissure 8 reduced flow

Of particular interest to us is at 50 (seconds in) where the 200+ foot cinder cone covers what was our property, also at 1.0. At 1.41 you can see Luana street, and because we know all our neighbors, it is painfully personal. Aloha to Erik and Amber, Helena, Roni and John, Eileen, Harry and Patti, and others whose houses are still standing on our street, but uninhabitable There are other neighbors who like us, where fire burned their homes days before the lava reach them..

Also, at 2.34 you can see a graphic image of a home totally surrounded and inaccessible. At 2.45 you can see the result of lava tubes feeding into the ocean. At 2.58, 3.07 and 3.30 what remains of the local favorites -- Isaac Hale Boat ramp, where the pilot gives a "thumbs up" it is still there. Lastly, perhaps just as an abstract image, 3.03.

Using some of the same footage Hawaii Volcano Observatory provides explanation:

HVO extensive explanation of slow-down

Most people traumatized by this event are worried about where to live, what to eat, how to survive, businesses and farms frantic over loss of income -- while the state and county "discuss" appropriation of money to help this crisis. Frankly, many people don't have the energy or time to devote -- that's what we expect from our government and elected officials..WELL JUST LISTEN to the BLAH BLAH BLAH response to the desperate needs and requests for financial assistance. For example - listen to the fact of the State appropriation of $100 MILLION dollars to Kauai -- when they asked for it through a Special Session and got it in ONE WEEK!-- and NOTHING yet for Puna on the Big Island --- over three months later.

Senator Ruderman and Mayor Kim asking COUNTY AND STATE to help

On The Road Again

During the first few weeks after The Event (which includes the seizure/coma/fire/lava) on May 2nd, I have been unable to tolerate excessive stimulation -- like noise, light, crowds, conversation, traffic, shopping lines, dogs barking, sirens, helicopters etc., etc..  One Sunday early in the process, Phil went to one of our local farmers' markets alone and came back with a surprise gift. As he presented it to me he confessed that he had just spend a lot of money buying a gift for me. Of course, right now, spending money on anything unnecessary has not been part of our MO.

Then, with his shy grin, he confessed as I opened the gift, that actually he had only spent $10! Opening the gift I was again moved to tears at his perceptive choice -- a tapestry from India -- pictured here. Of course, the meaning was clear; we are "on the road again" in our lives -- in a temporary safe place while knowing we will be moving again before this challenging ordeal is over. To both of us it represented that wherever we go, we take our "temple" with us. And, so it is as we prepare to move ourselves, our furry kids, and our "Temple" to our next safe haven.

It has been an interesting learning experience for me, personally, to have been forced to "drop the reins" struggling with the associated disabilities of PTSD and the loss of our home, and the unknowns of the seizure incident -- me, the Type-A Leo - in charge, in control, multi-tasking person I am. In my letting go, Phil has taken on a new role as Protector and Defender and it is he who has been driving the bus, providing a sense of tender compassion while dealing with his own losses.

Through it all we have had moments of doubt, yes, of course, moments of despair and depression, but we have managed to return to the deepest truths we know for reassurance and hope. And, always with gratitude to the kindness of friends, neighbors and strangers who have aided us in our journey.

We Found It!

We Found It!

Phil is standing at the path that leads to our new abode.

We just returned from a very comforting experience in finding a rental for ourselves for the next number of months....at of all places, a lovely farm-style place on five acres.  Another diamond we are blessed to have found!

Exactly three months ago today, while Lunel was in ICU for a surprise seizure/coma (for which there is still no definitive diagnosis or prognosis) our lovely retirement home burned to the ground.

As blog readers already know, we have been housed safe and sound since then but have always recognized that this was only a temporary respite. Two days ago we began our search for a new place in earnest, searching on line through Craig's List as well as utilizing other sources. We sent out our introductory letter (including photos of ourselves and of our "kid" corgi dogs) to a variety of realtors, property managers, rental ads, etc..

Our unit is in the back with patio and picnic table in front.

Today we met the owner of a lovely old-fashioned farm/ranch that has a lovely, fully furnished studio unit with covered lanai. The property, in Volcano Village, is surrounded on all sides by giant Sugi pines, housing  mating and nesting pairs of Io (Hawaiian Hawks).

There are a dozen kinds of chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats and a token horse.  Phil's wood shop is -- get this -- a building under an old fashioned functioning redwood water tank!! The woman (our age) who owns this ranch grows and raises nearly all of her own food and runs a farm stand as well. She bakes bread, makes a variety of cheeses and is getting started on making her own soap. Additionally, she runs a charming B&B, separate from our small place. Needless to say, her day begins at 4am.

The elevation is about 3000+ feet, so the air is fresh and cool -- and will be chilly this winter, so we will have, as the song goes, "Three Dog Nights." Volcano Village is well-known for its artists community and it feels like home because we have visited there so many times. There will be some "earthquakes" that are not true earthquakes but tremors from parts of the inner walls of Kilauea caldera that are collapsing -- but after what we have been through -- what's an occasional 3.1 jolt!

Just yesterday we received a generous check from one of Phil's relatives in Michigan that will cover the security deposit and we will be moving in around Lunel's Birthday!! This means of course, that she will have to get some work boots and gloves, but Joan has a full contingency of appropriate tools -- and while Lunel can't wait to get out in the garden again Phil will have a great new wood working space too.

PS Several people from "The Continent" have been puzzled by our move to "Volcano."  And, it can be a little confusing.  No, we are not moving TO or ON a volcano! (The entire island is made up of 5 volcanoes itself.) Volcano is a small town (3000 or so folks) up at the 3200 foot level adjacent to Kilauea National Park. Now, if that sounds crazy, you need to know that all lava activity at the crater of Kilauea has stopped, and is now flowing down and through Fissure #8 -- which, ironically enough, opened in our front yard. So, we are actually moving AWAY from lava activity. Volcano Village is a small subset along Highway 11 -- an artists community with galleries, B&B's, and restaurants.