Tag Archives: Honolulu Academy of Arts

Art museums’ merger plan moves into “due diligence” phase

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The Honolulu Academy of Arts and the Contemporary Museum moved ahead this week with a plan to merge into a single entity.

According to letters sent out to their respective members this week, the two arts organizations had reached a non-binding agreement and signed a letter of intent, formally entering a phase of “due diligence”, designed to catch and address any potential problems before proceeding with a merger.

Nothing was said about the shape of preliminary plans for merging their collections and activities, or whether the new combined museum will retain both buildings.

The Contemporary Museum experienced major investment losses during the global recession, which appear to have kick-started these merger discussions.

Both of these museums have made major contributions to the Hawaii art scene and it remains to be seen whether their merger will add up to an overall loss or a gain for the public.

Click here for a copy of the letter from Lynne Johnson, interim director of the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Beatup

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This past week’s “beatup” at Civil Beat became the occasion for one of Meda’s better recent “finds”.

We got to Kaimuki early and, after a stop to check out the wine at Tamura’s, we still had a few minutes to kill. So we headed up Waialae Avenue to the Goodwill Store for a quick look-see.

Meda had already been there a couple of days before, so she didn’t expect much.

But then I saw her coming my way past aisles and shelves full of junk, all smiles.

She had found a vintage fish plate by the Hawaiian Potters’ Guild, perfect condition, highly collectible. Price? $1.99.

The Hawaiian Potters’ Guild dates back to the 1930s. Not to be confused with the Hawaii Potters’ Guild, which followed decades later in the 1960s.

I haven’t found much online about the Guild. My mother recalls that the group was located in upper Manoa, and it products were very popular locally in the 1930s and ’40s.

“Everybody was buying their leaf plates, fish, all kinds of things,” she said. “I remember lots of greens, lots of reds, different shades. Other colors aren’t vivid in my mind.”

She doesn’t recall the name of the tall, heavy-set woman who ran the group, although I imagine that she’ll stew about it until the name pops onto her tongue.

According to a 1940 article on ceramic clay in Hawaii, classes in craft pottery began at the Honolulu Academy of Arts in 1931, and after several years led to the formation of the Hawaiian Potters’ Guild.

In any case, a photo of the fish follows, along side some salad plates and small dinner plates, to give you some sense of proportions.

As usual, click on either photo for a larger version.

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