Haysmers' New Art

Poliahu

During the past year as artists the creative process has been an absolutely essential tool for dealing with our loss and grief. The day after Lunel came out of a coma and was released from the hospital Phil helped her by a few art supplies so she could begin a new journal.

With some of the go-fund-me money gifts, Phil immediately bought wood-working tools. Neither of us stopped creating; we found our emotions were channeled into the healing process of making art -- particularly in response to the enormous loss of our retirement home and 99% of the contents (including our art and art collections.)

Ai La'au  (Forest Eater)

"Moving Through Fear"

During July the Wailoa Center in Hilo, together with Hawaii Island Art Alliance (HIAA) is hosting an exhibit for artists' work specifically related to last year's Kilauea's lava eruption. During this time Lunel has created three journals full of art -- over 400 images in about 400 days; some of these images have been shared in previous blog entries; she has been asked to offer a class in July to share her unique process of  using images combined with quotes, drawings and poems.

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.  Thomas Merton

This last year Phil has been experimenting with his latest tool -- a Japanese carving tool, and with it -- he has created four new bas-relief pieces. Three are directly related to the Hawaiian mythological characters, including Pele, Poliahu (Pele's snow sister) and Ai La'au who was the personage living in Kilauea crater before the arrival of Pele to the Big Island. 

"Deep Water Challenge"

Pele

His last image while more ocean-related still addresses the unusual "voyage" we have made in our lives this last year. The vessel is a traditional Polynesian sailing vessel "Wa-a."

Phil's New ART!

The Hokule’a – Star of Joy

By Philip Jon Haysmer 2014

This art commemorates the world voyage of the Hokule’a that began May 30, 2014.  The Hokule’a is a double hulled, ocean going, deep water canoe patterned after the ancient Polynesian voyaging canoes.  These amazing vessels called “wa’a” use the stars, wind and wave direction to navigate.  The Koa’e Kea is the Tropic Seabird that is usually the first bird the crew sees when land is near (but still not visible over the horizon.) This graceful bird is the symbol for the Polynesian Voyaging Society and nests in the cliffs of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island.  The two paddlers at the bottom are from Hawaiian petroglyphs and are offering a salute to departing Hokule’a.  During the1970’s, when it was first built, the Hokule’a played a key role in the Hawaiian cultural resurgence known as “The Hawaiian Renaissance.

$800

Koa'e Kea

White-Tailed Tropicbird or Koa'e Kea

Phil beautiful "Koa'e Kea" piece today at One Gallery in Hilo.  It was inspired by the navigational star chart used by the Polynesian Navigational Society.

He had this beautiful piece of Koa wood in his wood shop and knew there was a bird shape in it, but it took several weeks to bring the whole piece into being.  It is mounted on Mahogany.  This is his interpretation of the star chart that features 32 points associated with stars.

It is really quite interesting that Phil's mother, Margaret at age 96, left on her Final Voyage on the same day that the Wa'a (traditional Polynesian sailing vessels) Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia left from Hilo on their three year round the world voyage.  This week, they arrived In Tahiti...10 days early.

The Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage will visit 85 ports and 26 countries, including 12 of UNESCO’s Marine World Heritage sites, through June 2017. The first stop for Hōkūle‘a and Hikianallia is Tahiti, where Hōkūleʻa made her first voyage in 1976. The voyage is made possible by many community sponsors and partners, including Hawaiian Airlines, the University of Hawai‘i, Kamehameha Schools, the James and Abigail Campbell Family Foundation, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and many more.

To read more about this amazing journey, please go to this link:
Polynesian Voyaging Society