View from my lanai at the Four Seasons Wailea.

Spent a couple of days on Maui working on a story at the lovely Four Seasons Wailea, one of those places conducive to overall well-being. The few times I’m able to make it to Maui, I feel compelled to go there because of those kinds of associations of feeling at peace with the world. Try getting a noontime table at Ferraro’s overlooking the ocean, and you’ll probably end up feeling the same way.

This is my suite. Just kidding! A print by Madge Tennent is juxtaposed with a woven basket by Mika McCann.

The reason for my trip was for a look at the resort’s unprecedented new art collection, curated by Julie Cline, focusing on contemporary work by Hawaii artists. You will hear more about this when I complete my print story, but for now, let’s just say no detail or nook has been overlooked in public and private spaces. Even the rec rooms, with their video games, pool, air hockey and foosball tables, have become “galleries,” linked by the fun ideas of surf and fashion.

One of the pieces on view is designer Sherry Holt’s Wiggle Dress, circa 1970s, and Holt was there to talk about her creation. For those who may remember, Holt worked for Lauhala Sportswear and her work with prints brought her a lot of attention when her garments found their way into Bloomingdale’s, Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and the national media. In store appearances, Holt recalled often hearing negative comments along the lines of “Go back to Hawaii,” and “No one is going to wear prints,” but she proved her naysayers wrong.

Sherry Holt talks about creating her ruched, draped Wiggle Dress.

She later designed for OP and the Beach Boys, and continues to create a “young American” western-style line called Desert Diva, as well as a line under her own name.

I was just reading a story in the Economist or New Yorker about how, no matter how many hotels are built in New York City, there’s never enough because tourists keep coming in search of art, food, fashion and other aspects of cultural tourism. That should be something local tourism professionals and our visitor bureau should be paying attention to because the days of easy money in tourism are over. The Four Seasons has taken a step in the right direction and with the focus on Hawaii’s vibrant contemporary arts scene, this may be just the move needed to push our living artists into the international arena, considering the caliber and spending power of those who stay at the resort. This will be very interesting to watch.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 28th, 2008 at 1:10 am and is filed under art. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response.