LIHUE — “Birds need trees,” said Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project planner Dr. Julia Diegmann when she realized the opening of the “Wings and Woodlands: A Tribute to Native Birds and Forests” coincided with Arbor Day Hawaii.
“Our hope is that people come not only to enjoy the incredible artwork — we even received a piece from Italy — but also to connect with the stories of these species, whether forest birds, seabirds or snails, that make Kauai unlike anywhere else on Earth,” Diegmann said.
The “Wings and Woodlands” exhibit opens today with a free artists’ reception starting at 6 p.m. at the Kauai Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center, and will feature other events.
Arbor Day Hawaii, as proclaimed by Gov. Josh Green, will be celebrated with a number of events on Kauai and around the state.
Diegmann and volunteers with KFBRP were participants in the Arbor Day Kauai celebration presented by the Kauai Landscape Industry Council and its many community partners last Saturday. And the Ohia Love Fest takes place this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Limahuli Garden and Preserve. The event in Haena features a native plant sale, educational talks, local food and craft vendors with live music, keiki fun and more.
“Wings and Woodlands” is free to the public and will be open daily through Nov. 14 at the KSA gallery, sandwiched between Bubbah’s Toy Box and Small Fry Kauai. The exhibit showcases paintings and photographs by artists from Hawaii and beyond, alongside student artwork inspired by the beauty and fragility of Kauai’s natural heritage.
“Art has the power to inspire people to care for our native species,” said Hazel Cashman of the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project. “Seeing their beauty through paintings and photographs helps us connect emotionally and motivates action to protect them and their fragile habitats.”
Throughout the week, guests can explore the exhibit, shop at the bird shop, learn from conservation experts, and take part in workshops and film screenings focused on native birds, plants and culture.
Kumu Kaeo Bradford will be leading a Kahili Pa‘a Lima, or mini kahili feather workshop on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. There will be a fee to cover materials used in the workshop.
On Sunday, Hiipoi Kanahele will lead a Pupu Shell Earring Workshop. There will be a cost for the workshop.
On Monday, toward the tail end of the Pau Hana Market, the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project will lead a free seabird art class, starting at 4 p.m., and Kumu Kehaulani Kekua will have an admission Culture to Canvas workshop on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Kim Rogers of the Kauai Invasive Species Committee will lead a free forest journaling class on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
This year is the third exhibit featuring a special partnership with the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project expanding the focus beyond forest birds to include Kauai’s rare and imperiled seabirds. Additionally, visitors will find images and information about two recently discovered native small snail species found only on Kauai.
KFBRP and KESRP, along with their partners, Birds Not Mosquitoes and Trees for Honolulu’s Future, continue urgent efforts to protect endangered species threatened by avian malaria, predators and habitat loss. By celebrating art and science together, “Wings and Woodlands” honors the resilience of Kauai’s wildlife and inspires hope for their future.
Source: The Garden Island
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