Amber
Aguirre
77-361 Ainanani Street
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808) 322-9474
ambersart@hawaii.rr.com
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:
* Hot Flashes: Solo Exhibition, Volcano Art Gallery, Volcano National
Park, Hawaii
June
7th-July 20th, 2008
* Artists of the Big Island, Firehouse Gallery, Kamuela,
Hawaii
May 2nd-30th,
2008
* Coffee, Ti or Chi? 4 artist show, Pau’ole Art Gallery,
Holualoa, Hawaii
Oct. 25th-Dec. 31st, 2007
* Hawai’i Craftsmen 40th Annual State Wide Exhibition, Honolulu
Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii
Sept.296th-Oct.28th, 2007
* Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Drawing used
for official poster, t-shirt, and
buttons, Kailua Kona, Hawaii
November 3rd -12th, 2006
* Big Island Portrait Exhibition,
East Hawaii Cultural
Center, Hilo,Hawai’i
August 4th -August 25th,
2006
* Ka Ho 'Ike Wa'a (the Hawaiian
Canoe Art Exhibit), East Hawaii Cultural
Center, Hilo,Hawai’i
July 7th -July 28th, 2006
* The Art of Tea, Firehouse Gallery, Waimea, Hawaii
May 1st - 29th, 2006
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort, Keauhou,
Hawaii
November 11th & 12th,
2005
* Hawai’i Craftsmen 38th Annual State Wide Exhibition, Honolulu
Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii
Oct. 6th-30th, 2005
* 16th Annual Teapot Show “On the Road Again”, Chiaroscuro Galleries,
Chicago, Illinois
April 3rd –May 15th,
2005
* War, Peace & Civil Liberties, Berkeley Art Center,
Berkeley, California
Nov. 14th-Dec. 18th, 2004
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort,
Keauhou, Hawaii
November 10th & 11th, 2004
* Self Portraits 2004, Northwest Cultural Council, Rolling Meadows,
Illinois
Nov. 1st-Dec. 31st , 2004
* Hawai’i Craftsmen 38th Annual State Wide Exhibition, Honolulu
Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii
Oct. 7th-31st, 2004
* Fish Follies, Cordova Historical Society and Museum, Cordova,
Alaska
Aug. 30th -October 31st, 2004
* Ka Ho 'Ike Wa'a (the Hawaiian Canoe Art Exhibit), East Hawaii
Cultural Center, Hilo, Hawaii
July 30th -August 27th, 2004
* Mugs, Jugs and Bottles, Saratoga Clay Company, Wilton, New York,
July 15th -Sept. 6th, 2004
* 2005 Clay Lovers Calendar Show, Greensboro Artists League
Gallery, Greensboro, North Carolina
July 2nd -Julye 20th, 2004
* Cambridge Art Association National Prize Show, Cambridge,
Massachusetts
May 4th -June 24th, 2004
* Ink and Clay 30 Exhibition, Kellogg Art Gallery, Cal Poly
University, Pomona, California
January 8th -February 14th, 2004
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort,
Keauhou, Hawaii
November 12th & 13th, 2003
Galleries carrying work for sale:
* The Gallery, Hilton
Waikoloa Resort, Waikoloa, Hawaii
* Volcano Art Center, Hawaii National Park, Hawaii
* Dreams of Paradise Gallery, Hilo, Hawaii
* Eternal Wave Gallery, Kainaliu, Hawaii
* Showcase Gallery, Keauhou, Hawaii
* Pa'ole Gallery, Holualoa, Hawaii
* Hawaii Treasure Mill, Holualoa, Hawaii
* Volcano Garden Arts, Volcano Village, Hawaii
* Pura Vida Gallery, Kapaau, Hawaii
Awards and Honors:
* Big Island Ukulele Exhibition-2007
Drawing chosen for the official
2007 poster
* Kona Coffee Festival-2006
Drawing chosen for use as the
official 2006 logo on
t-shirts, magazine, buttons, and
other advertising.
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit-2005
1st place, Peoples Choice Award
1st place, Juried 3-D Art
2nd place, juried 3-D Art
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit-2004
1st place, Peoples Choice Award
2nd place, Juried 3-D Art
* Fish Follies-2004
"Most Fishy" Award
* Ink and Clay 30 Exhibition-2004
Presidents Purchase Award
* Gevalia Kona Coffee Art Exhibit-2003
1st place, Juried 3-D Art
2nd place, Peoples Choice Award
* Islands Magazine: International Photography Contest, Honorable
Mention-1989
* Bank of America Achievement Award-1976
Education:
* Workshops taught by renowned Ceramic Artists:
1 week intensive with Charley and Linda Riggs at
Laloba Ranch, Colorado
1 weekend workshop with Esther Shimazu
2 weekends workshop with Catherine Merrill
* San Jose State University, San Jose, California
Masters Degree (MLIS)-1996
* San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California
Masters Degree (MA)-1990
Teaching Credential in Fine Arts-1987
* University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree-1981
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