Art Exhibit Expert Puts On His Own Show

Visit Gallery ‘Iolani at Windward Community College between Sunday and Nov. 25 and you’ll find yourself on a visual journey induced by the interplay of space, light and artistic media.

The special exhibit, Tom Klobe Retrospective, is part of the college’s 40th anniversary celebration, and it showcases the work of the exhibition master himself. Klobe, a Maunawili resident, was the University of Hawaii gallery director for 29 years (retiring in 2006). He also taught courses in 2-D and 3-D design, exhibition design, museum interpretation and medieval and Islamic art history.

Before that, he spent a productive 10 years creating his own art – more than 60 sculptures and paintings that make use of light and Plexiglas. A Peace Corp volunteer in Iran from 1964 to ’66, Klobe also documented, in photographs, the unique people and places that became dear to his heart, from “the eastern edge of the Mediterranean to the far shores of the Indian subcontinent,” as he writes in his bio.

“Art, science and religion come together in my work,” he states. “In the ideas of an art movement of the 1960s called Minimalism, I found a means of expressing my experiences living in the deserts of the Middle East where three of the great religions of the world originated.”

His photography from his time in Iran, plus 18 pieces of his artwork will be on display at the Gallery ‘Iolani exhibit, as will his new book, Exhibitions: Concept, Planning and Design. The book presents 50 case studies of exhibitions he produced in Hawaii. A video also will elaborate on some of the exhibitions.

Klobe will sign copies of his book at the opening reception, set for 2-5 p.m. Sunday, and he will return from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Nov. 4, 11, 18 and 25 for talk story sessions.

Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m. Sunday through Friday. For more information visit gallery.wcc.hawaii.edu or call 236-9155.