Local artist Kamea Hadar will be displaying his sculptural paintings in a limited exhibition beginning Friday, October 30 at the Pacific Guardian Center. Hadar, one of Hawaii's new and upcoming artists, will be showcasing a collection of his oil on canvas works through January 2010.

Traditionally trained, Hadar earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of San Diego and has lived, studied and tutored abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris, the University of St. Louis in Madrid and Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv. Since the age of 15, Hadar has been responsible for the fabric prints at Anne Namba Designs and is the head of the glass etching, wood and metal design department for Artflow Studios (artflow-studio.com).

Hadar's most ambitious work, 'Chirpie,' a huge (60' x 2') three-dimensional mixed media piece on canvas, will be a highlight of the Pacific Guardian Center exhibition. 'I have been exploring the advantages of incorporating sculpture with the traditional concept and experience of oil painting,' explains Hadar. 'By using a dimensional canvas surface, the art is able to go beyond the single sense of vision, and starts to interact with the space, light and viewers.'

Of the surreal imagery that is featured in this show Hadar notes, 'Like painting a dreamscape, there are always characters and a setting that one can relate to, but the combination and placement are unreal and otherworldly.' He goes on to say, 'My art includes certain elements of classical ideals, the new visual language developed in the 20th century, and my vision as a young artist at the beginning of the 21st century.'

The Kamea Gallery exhibition will open from October 30, 2009 to January 26, 2010 Mon-Fri from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with special showings with the artist available by request on Saturdays. The Pacific Guardian Center is located at 737 Bishop Street, Suite 100 (Ground Floor, Mauka Tower).

For more information: Kamea Gallery, 373-5186 or visit www.kameagallery.com.