English Docent Meeting - Artist Paul Nagano

Front row: Ethel Murakami, Joe Muratsuchi, June Kadomoto with her new Nagano painting, Paul Nagao (artist). 2nd row: Carol Meier, Ethel Hasegawa, Valerie Okihara. Back row: Meredith Ching, Aileen Fujitani, Betsy Sekiya, Elaine Okazaki.

Our February English Docent Meeting was held at the beautiful home of June Kadomoto, on Waialae-Iki Ridge, overlooking a panoramic view from Koko Head to Diamond Head.  Our special guests were June’s classmates from Ali‘iolani Elementary and Stevenson Middle School, Meredith Ching and artist Paul Nagano.

We enjoyed a relaxing and informative morning listening to Paul talk about his path to becoming a watercolor artist and had the privilege to see some of his works done in Hawaii and several of his sketchbooks that have traveled around the world with him.  Paul graduated from Punahou School and attended Columbia College in New York on a Navy scholarship where he earned a B.A. in English Literature (the Navy would not allow him to major in Art).  After serving three years in the Navy, he enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, studying drawing and painting.  He then served as Art Director at the Pucker Safrai Gallery in Boston until 1989.  He is still based in Boston, but for most of his career has been fortunate to have the support of art patrons, allowing him to travel and seek inspiration in Japan, Europe, and perhaps most significantly in Bali, Indonesia, where he has spent time each summer since 1984.  His work has evolved over the years, in both subject matter and style, but his primary medium remains watercolor – ideal for traveling due to its quick drying time and portability.  In the late 1990s, Paul found himself creating scenes in his mind, a menagerie of the images and culture he had absorbed through years of time spent in Bali, prompting a series of paintings he calls “SymBALIst”.  Last year he celebrated 25 years of painting Balinese landscapes and images with an exhibition at the Bamboo Gallery in Bali.

With the exception of a small “BANG” across the street, which caused some excitement and much CSI-like speculation about the culprit and cause of the fender bender, we had a leisurely time chatting and feasting on refreshments provided by Betsy Sekiya and Aileen Fujitani.  Our next meeting will be a visit to the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center on March 1.

Nagano works: www.flickr.com/photos/ptnagano

Bali video: www.linkscreen.com/Nagano.html

Paul Nagano’s current exhibit “NAGANO ON BALI: 25” can be viewed at Baik Designs in Gentry Pacific Design Center, 560 N. Nimitz Hwy Ste. 108B, 524-2290.