By Barbara Fahs

Scattered from the ocean to the hilltops of Hawaiian Paradise Park, between Keaau and Pahoa, 15 artists’ studios housing 55 artists opened their doors to the public on December 3 and 4. This annual celebration of the arts is now in its fifth year of sharing a wide assortment of arts and crafts, many of them created in the Paradise Park subdivision.

But the beautiful works of art on display and for sale are only the frosting on the cake of what this artist collective is all about. Every year the various artists donate 10 percent of their proceeds to art education programs at the high schools of the lower Puna area. Hawaii Academy of Art and Sciences (HAAS), Pahoa and Keaau High Schools all have benefited from the Studio Tour’s donations

Paradise Studio Tour Artist Collective Board member and clay artist Patti Datlof expressed the mission of this annual event by stating, “We support and encourage art and fellowship among artists in our community through exhibits such as our Studio Tour. Although there exists a large community of artists here in Puna, we didn’t all know about each other. This annual event has helped to bring the artistic community together and to support the arts in local schools by donating money to their art departments… the amount has increased each year of the Tour, starting with $600 in 2007 and increasing to $1800 in 2010. We hope to continue this tradition of giving even greater amounts to schools every year our event takes place. This year’s recipient will be HAAS.”

The Paradise Studio Tour Artist Collective also includes artists and crafts persons who live in other parts of the island. The range of media represented in the Tour was huge: from bracelets and other jewelry to fabrics dyed with native Hawaiian plants, the results of so much creativity were almost overwhelming to the senses of visitors like myself.

Here are just a few of the participating artists:

o Rod Cameron is well known for his 2010 and 2011 Merrie Monarch posters and paintings inspired by island life. He has played an integral role in the Tour for the past several years. Tucked away in a converted garage on Beach Road, his studio is a true working studio, unlike some of the other locations, which were set up just for the tour.

o Hopper Sheldon is most famous for her painted “hippie van” and her “Art Uprising” enrichment classes for children on the first Saturday of each month at the Village Toy Shop in Hilo. She also finds old surfboards and paints them in ways that make colorful additions to any décor.

o Vicky Vierra makes artisan soaps that she wraps in her artistic papers and designs. “I also grow plants that I make dyes from. This year I grew cotton and am selling cotton bolls, from which you can make fiber.” Her loufa gourds provide the source material for an interesting natural soap, making an instant body scrub.

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More Info:

Paradise Studio Tour: wwwparadisestudiotour.com

Vicky Vierra: www.orchidislandsoap company.com

East Bay Potters: www.eastbaypotters.com

Hopper Sheldon: hopper@hoppersart.com; www.hoppershippieart.com

Village Toy Shop: www.villagetoyshophilo.com

Jess Craig, woodturner: edgybowls@yahoo.com

Deborah Donaldson quilts: MsQuiltBee@aol.com

John McCollum painted gourds: mccollums@hawaiiantel.net

Linda Brooks glass work: nhawaii@live.com