The Art of Saving Nature
Birdwatcher or not, you won’t want to miss the gorgeously detailed, lively portraits of our native avifauna in hand-colored lithographs by Johannes Keulemans, a 19th century illustrator, on view at Maunakea Gallery through March 31. The show is entitled “Extinction,” and part of the proceeds from sales of the several dozen unique prints, from a very limited edition, are being donated to the non-profit Hawaii Wildlife Center (HWC).
Many of the birds depicted, from the yellow ‘apapane of our dwindling rainforests, to hawks, owls and seabirds, are now threatened, endangered or extinct. “HWC is Hawaii’s only state-of-the-art rescue, rehabilitation, research and education facility exclusively for our native species,” says Rae Okawa, HWC development coordinator, noting that the red ‘iiwi, once very common and the subject of songs written by Queen Kapiolani, among others, is currently under consideration for listing as threatened or endangered. “Part of our focus will include programs that will promote the care of our watershed habitat as well as the use of native plants on privately owned property that will…expand habitat,” Okawa adds.
Purchased from the Honolulu Museum of Art, the prints, priced from $295 to $995, are original illustrations from Walter Rothschild’s 1893 The Avifauna of Laysan and the Neighboring Islands. The book had been in the collection of author John Dominis Holt. While you’re there, feast your eyes upon Maunakea Galleries’ plethora of treasures, from vintage Ming’s jewelry to books, woodwork and ceramics.
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