Amber Aguirre
Delightful Amberrrrrrr has designed “Heavenly Honu” for the Kona Brew Pub.
Check out Amberʻs Honu in progress!
This Honu represents the Big Islands connection with not only the world, but the Universe. This celestial honu deals with the newest theories in physics: Space-time and “String Theory” (the idea that there are more than just 3 dimensions…now they are saying 11). As you find out about this Honu you will find that it too has many dimensions.
Amber received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Southern California. She also has two Masters’ degrees, one from San Fransisco State University and the other from San Jose State Unversity. Her specialties are ceramics and drawing. She was a high school art teacher for many years before moving to Hawaii and becoming a professional artist.
Amberʻs work is often a reflection of her love of living in Hawaii. Her ceramic vessels bring to mind the primal textures of the lava, earth and fire, while her sculptures and drawings are often inspired by contemporary Hawaiian culture.
“Living in Hawaii has had a profound impact on my work. There is a connection with nature here that I constantly feel. The Big Island is very primal…it is a place where one can see that the earth is truly a living organism. The fires of Tutu Pele are alive as they spew raw lava from the earth on a daily basis. I am surrounded by black lava fields contrasted with the amazing variety of life in the verdant tropical foliage as well as in the ocean. I am surrounded by the earthʻs birth, life and death.
“I see my art as a force of these elements, and the culture in which I live. Working with the primal elements of clay, fire and water, I become part of that elemental process.”
Artist Profile:
Amber received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Southern California. She also has two Masters Degrees, one from San Francisco State University and the other from San Jose State University. Her specialties are ceramics and drawing. She was a high school art teacher for many years before moving to Hawaii and creating art as a professional artist.
Amber’s business Fire and Ice Ceramics developed out of her need to work three dimensionally. She added drawing to her business so she could “make art without getting covered in mud all the time”. At this point she changed her business name to “Ambersart” in ordeer to encompass all the media she works in.
Amber’s work is often a reflection of her love of living in Hawaii. Her ceramic raku vessels bring to mind the primal textures of the lava, earth and fire from Tutu Pele, while her sculptures and drawings are often inspired by contemporary Hawaiian culture.
Most Recent Exhibits:
- Coffee, Ti or Chi? 4 artist show, Pau’ole Art Gallery, Holualoa, Hawaii
- Hawai’i Craftsmen 40th Annual State Wide Exhibition, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Drawing used for official poster, t-shirt, and buttons,
- Big Island Portrait Exhibition, East Hawaii Cultural Center,
- Ka Ho ‘Ike Wa’a (the Hawaiian Canoe Art Exhibit), East Hawaii Cultural Center,
- The Art of Tea, Firehouse Gallery, Waimea, Hawaii
- Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort, Keauhou, Hawaii
- Hawai’i Craftsmen 38th Annual State Wide Exhibition, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii
- 16th Annual Teapot Show “On the Road Again”, Chiaroscuro Galleries, Chicago, Illinois
- Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort, Keauhou, Hawaii
- Self Portraits 2004, Northwest Cultural Council, Rolling Meadows, Illinois
- Hawai’i Craftsmen 38th Annual State Wide Exhibition, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Fish Follies, Cordova Historical Society and Museum, Cordova, Alaska
- Ka Ho ‘Ike Wa’a (the Hawaiian Canoe Art Exhibit), East Hawaii Cultural Center, Hilo, Hawaii
- Mugs, Jugs and Bottles, Saratoga Clay Company, Wilton, New York,
- 2005 Clay Lovers Calendar Show, Greensboro Artists League Gallery, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Cambridge Art Association National Prize Show, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Ink and Clay 30 Exhibition, Kellogg Art Gallery, Cal Poly University, Pomona, California
- Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort, Keauhou, Hawaii
Galleries carrying work for sale:
- Volcano Art Center, Hawaii National Park, Hawaii
- Dreams of Paradise Gallery, Hilo, Hawaii
- Eternal Wave Gallery, Kainaliu, Hawaii
- Showcase Gallery, Keauhou, Hawaii
- Pahole Gallery, Holualoa, Hawaii
- Hawaii Treasure Mill, Holualoa, Hawaii
- Volcano Garden Arts, Volcano Village, Hawaii
- Island Treasures Art Gallery, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii
- Pura Vida Gallery, Kapaau, Hawaii
Awards and Honors:
- Big Island Ukulele Exhibition-2007
- Kona Coffee Festival-2006
- Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit-2005
- Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit-2004
- Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit-2003
- Islands Magazine: International Photography Contest, Honorable Mention-1989
- Bank of America Achievement Award-1976
Education:
- Workshops taught by renowned Ceramic Artists:
- San Jose State University, San Jose, California
- San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Professional Organizations:
- Member of The Potters Council of the American Ceramic Society
- Member of the Holualoa Foundation for Arts and Culture
- Member of the Volcano Art Center
- Member of the Studio Potter Network
- Member of NCECA (National Council for Education in the Ceramic Arts)
- Member of the Art Glass Association
Related Experience:
Private Lessons and Worshops, 2003-present (ongoing)
All facets of ceramic art
Kollage Art and Ceramic School, Sept. 1993-Feb. 1994
Art Teacher: Kindergarten through Third Grades
Woodside High School, Sept. 1988-June 1991
Art Teacher, Full Time, Tenured
San Mateo High School, January 1988-June 1988
Art Teacher, Part Time
