Lahaina has been the arts center of the Hawaiian islands for decades, with more art galleries in one square block than anywhere else in the archipelago. As a young artist going to the University of Hawaii at Manoa and trying to navigate the art world, showing my artwork in Lahaina seemed like a pipe dream. Lahaina is where the top artists show their work, and I still had a lot to learn. This is my experience as a young artist getting to show my work for the first time on the famous Front Street of Lahaina, Maui.
As my art career began to take off in my late 20’s I was able to get into a group surf art show at the Wyland Gallery in Haleiwa on Oahu. This was a huge step for me as I had spent most of my 20's being denied wall space. The Annual Surf Art Show was a success and I was fortunate to sell a lot of pieces (They were very affordable then) . Getting into the Wyland Gallery was a giant leap for me as an artist as the Wyland art gallery brand is in my opinion the most prestigious art gallery in Hawaii.After a year at the Wyland Haleiwa location, the owner of the gallery decided to try me out at some of her other gallery locations on Oahu. This was great for me as I was fully committed to make the art business work and wanted to get my art in front of as many people as possible. As was being coveted by many new art collectors, the owner of the gallery decided I was ready to be shown in Lahaina.
Everything always felt surreal when working with the galleries. I could not believe it when the offer was presented. A gallery director would say something in passing as I was dropping of new artwork and then next thing you know I would be packing art to deliver to the next gallery. With Lahaina, the gallery that I would be showing in was the Signature Gallery. A gallery that represented Jim Carrey, Dr. Seuss, Nano Lopez, Heather Brown and more. This was a great stepping stone for the 30 year old Welzie, a surfboard building resin artist from the North Shore, Oahu.
I created a small body of work for the Front Street Lahaina art gallery and sent it over a couple weeks prior to my art show and I got lucky, a couple pieces had sold in the first week. I was so excited. I really felt like my art career was taking off and that I was finally doing something right, after feeling like I had been doing everything wrong for so long. Before I island hopped over to Maui, I packed a few more pieces and headed to the Valley Isle.
When Arriving on Maui it was hot and windy, I had a box of art, a backpack and a smile. I had hit the big time. Inter island travel as an artist. waiting to be picked up by my represented art gallery for a big art show in the art center of the Pacific Ocean. I envisioned all my art selling off the wall and spending the rest of the evening buying rounds of drinks for everyone at the local bar. It was going to be an amazing night.
I didn’t notice my chauffeur pulling up to the curb at Kahului Airport because it was a sketchy white Astro van, not exactly what I was expecting. The gentleman yelled "Welzie!" and I hoped into the passenger seat, eager to get out of the heat. Here we go I thought. As we headed west to Lahaina, Mike my driver and I talked art the whole way. He ran the warehouse and kept all the galleries supplied with art and packed paintings to ship all over the world. As we made to 30 min drive out to the westside I got a much better understanding of the art scene in Maui and how lucky I was to be showing my art work on Front Street.
I had only been to Lahaina once before on a trip with my family in the early 2000's. The little narrow street was glowing with energy and I looked in awe at each of the art galleries like a child seeing real life dinosaurs. It was magical. Me, an artist, arriving on Front Street for an art show, being escorted by a driver (though in a sketchy van) to show my artwork with Hawaii’s top Artists. Wow, it was like a dream, and it still is to be honest.
I jumped out of the van and went straight into the gallery as Mike took off to another gallery to pick up a few pieces that had sold the previous day. Wow, I thought, this is where art is happening. Entering the gallery no one noticed me and I couldn't find my art. Not the red carpet experience I was hoping for a North Shore surf artist with 18x24" originals selling for 350$ would expect. As I approached the sales team, and introduced myself, “Hi, I..am…uh…Welzie”
Greeted with Aloha, I soon found my work on a back wall and started talking story with the sales team. They were so nice and helpful, suggesting pieces that might work well in Lahaina. Once I got a few more pieces hung up, I headed to my hotel to get settled and have a bite to eat.
Walking Front Street is such an experience. Being right on the water, watching surfers ride waves while tamed parrots squak at you for pictures. An old hippy asks if you need some pakalolo, while locals are throwing shakas to all their friends and family. Lahaina is a magical place and you can feel the energy and aloha strolling the old narrow streets of Lahaina town.
After checking into the historic Pioneer Inn I think about all the artists who have stayed in the same hotel before me. Showing artwork in Lahaina is a right of passage for many Hawaii artist. Lahaina is the most well known art town in the state and was once one of the highest selling art towns in the country. As the sun started to settle over Molokai I was filled with gratitude that I have the opportunity to share my work in such a historic Hawaiian art town.
As the art show began I got to visit with the art dealers and watch Front Street come alive. So many people from all walks of life passed by the small gallery space. For someone like me who loves people watching it was so entertaining. The night went on and not too many people stopped into the gallery. I got to chat with a few interesting people but it wasn’t till the end of the night when my first piece sold. A small 12x16” shave ice art piece. The family was really nice and their kids favorite part of the trip was the daily shave ice after the beach.
It was a humbling experience showing my art work for the first time in Lahaina. It was so much more than I expected. Though I didn’t sell as much art as needed to make the trip profitable, I did get to experience the Lahaina art scene. I knew this was a place important for me to be showing my artwork and that even though it wasn’t a perfect evening, I had to improve. This is where all the top dogs are. This is where you need to have representation. This is Hawaii’s art mecca.
Over the years my work got better and I eventually got my artwork into the Wyland gallery on Front Street. For me this was a major accomplishment. In my opinion the Wyland gallery is the top gallery and to have any wall space in the ocean front gallery is truly a blessing. Lahaina makes artist step up their art game, become better and more professional at their craft, and keep them humble at the same time. Thank you Lahaina for all that you have taught me. I will pass the lessons you taught me to the next generation of Maui artist striving to show their work in the historic art town of Lahaina Maui.