Post #394567 by dogbytes on Wed, Jul 16, 2008 9:19 PM

update for Marcus ~ he's carving in hawaii! he'll be at the All Hawaii Collector's Show on Oahu this weekend.

here's the scoop! (its a press release~ i'm a friend of Karen)

Australian develops new audience for contemporary South Pacific sculpture in Hawaii.

Janelle Maguire embraces both art and artist over the 4th of July weekend.

“Until recently my nieces didn’t understand my obsession with large carved images, and then they met Marcus and pffft objection over” remarked Honolulu Interior Designer and Art Dealer Karen Maguire. “Marcus’s colorful personality and large scale work won them over in no time flat.”

The object of Janelle’s affection was Marcus’s first carving begun in Hawaii at the first of the year
and quickly dubbed “Henry” after the Kaneohe Street the massive Mango trunk was salvaged.
Maguire 11, of Kailua-Kona said of the 12’ carving: “ I love Henry, he’s great. He looks strong, like he could attack, but he’s not scary.”

Sculptor Marcus Thorn of Queensland Australia. will show his work in Hawaii for the first time this weekend at the Hawaii all-collectors show July 18- 19. The exhibit is the result of an ongoing collaboration between the Artist and Maguire.

Karen Maguire: “When Marcus started the Marquesan style piece. I began to suspect that we were on to something. Young and old, the entire neighborhood stopped in for a look, and as the piece took shape it seemed to appeal to everyone.”

“My niece told me she liked Henry because he’s ‘different ’ and I think there is always truth in what kids say. We are in a place where the richest of carving traditions existed, but how much of the past do we know about ? So much was destroyed and there are few references and examples.
( World wide fewer than 200 pieces of Hawaiian sculpture are known to exist today) If one thinks about it most of the contemporary sculpture we are used to seeing derives from only a handful of originals.”

“Through our work, Marcus is re-imagining the original forms. As a community we are fortunate to have the Bishop Museum.” said Maguire. Marcus and I have been able to discover so much that interests us through their library, exhibits, and helpful staff. Our goal is that eventually through commissioned work Thorn will able to explore the sculpture of the entire South Pacific region” .

“Looking at Marcus’s work, its fantastic scale and complexity reminds one of how extraordinary the work of the ancient carvers is .”

Friday and Saturday the public will be able to see both of Thorns large sculptures up close, and talk with the carver. Demonstrations will be ongoing during the show.
Should be a good time for all, but says Maguire: “ Bring the kids- it’s something they’ll actually like “.

Where: Hawaii All-Collectors Show, Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
When: July 18, 19, 2008 Friday 3pm -9 pm, Saturday 10 am -6 pm

Marcus Thorn in Hawaii now thru July 23, and again in September 2008.