My wood carving and sculpting career spans more than fifty years from 1966 to the present. During this period, numerous years were also devoted to my career in fisheries development projects in the Indopacific islands of Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Micronesia( Chuuk, Guam, Saipan, Kosrae, Marshall Islands). This resume is presented in historic chronological order.
Working and living on Kayangel Atoll, Palau, Micronesia I worked closely with the Atoll’s resident wood carvers. Using simple hand tools, we produced utilitarian items such as spearguns, diving goggles, coconut scraping stools, pig platters, fishermen’s boxes and food containers.
Being inspired by the late Kupuna, Lorna Dunne owner/curator of the Nuuanu/Pauahi Gallery in Honolulu, I began focusing my budding wood sculpting career on portraying Hawaiian legends in wood. I also started carving replica oceanic fish hooks, weapons and decorative implements.
During this period, I continued my wood sculpting career in San Diego and Maui, Hawaii. In San Diego I carved from palm logs, 25+ large, commissioned tikis(ki’i) figures. On Maui, I sculpted several Hawaiian legend pieces displayed at the Village Gallery in Lahaina.
I was privileged to be an artist based at the Village Gallery in Lahaina, Maui. I also exhibited in Lahaina with the Hawaiian group He’ U’i on a biweekly basis. All works, Hawaiian themed.
I was Invited by executives of the Outrigger Reef Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii to spend a period of time in the hotel’s main lobby, sculpting a large Koa wood bas relief sculpture. In two months I completed the Oahu tale of “Niho-o-leki” , 6’x3’. Sold to hotel employee.
I continued to work on my art during a two year residency in the Hawaiian homestead community at Hauula, Oahu hosted by kupuna Ahi Logan. Working in local woods of Koa, Milo, Ohai and others, I completed many Hawaiian fish hook replica’s, Poi pounders, bowls(umeke), and idols(ki’i).
This period of time was spent learning and sharing new techniques with Tongan Master Carver, Toni Niu at his woodcarving centers at Kualoa, Oahu.
I spent four months working independently at Keeau, Hawaii, completing numerous Hawaiian fish hook(makau) replicas And commissioned pieces for What would become a lifelong collector of my works at Kailua, Oahu.
Working on site as a member of The San Diego Sculptors Guild, I focused my efforts on carving bas relief sculptures. I created the Keeau, Hawaiian family history of Botello/Fontes originally of Madeira, Portugal, 7’x2.5’. Another bas relief carved in this period, the Hawaiian legend of Lau-ka-ieie fora client in Utah through online sales.
San Diego state university — B.Sc., Zoology, 1971
I appreciate your interest in my work!
To find out more, please send a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.