Maui Artist Depicts Historic Puʻunēnē Sugar Mill

Ronaldo Macedo’s “So What’s Next?” won the Maui Prime sponsor award this year. Maui Arts League photo.

Event Co-founder Ronaldo Macedo captured the island’s last glimpse of the soon-to-close Puʻunēnē Sugar Mill during the 2016 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational in February 2016.

Macedo depicted the historic mill as five generations of Maui residents have known it for over 130 years.

The close of operations at Alexander & Baldwin’s facility spurred Macedo to secure permission for 13 top plein air artists to paint the scene one last time—the mill, trucks, smokestack—memories now preserved forever.

Each artwork created during he 2016 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational was a “slice of Maui life.”

The artists painted outdoors, on location; painting were completed in a few hours to depict movement, weather and time of day.

Attendees were invited to watch artists up close as they worked, as well as view their completed artwork.

During Maui Arts League’s recent plein air event, 25 artists sold 95 paintings, generating gross sales of over $143,000.

Weeklong attendance exceeded 2,000, including more Mainland visitors than previous years.

The event now draws nationally famous artists, who say they are honored to be invited.

“Our event is helping West Maui become an art destination,” said Maui Arts League President Lois Reiswig.

Maui Arts League is dedicated to bringing fine art events and programs to Maui.

Ronaldo Macedo’s “So What’s Next?” won the Maui Prime sponsor award this year. Maui Arts League photo.

“Best in Show 2016” was a large oil painting, “Lahaina Dusk,” by Jason Sacran, from Arizona; a Lahaina collector purchased the artwork. Maui Arts League photo.

The 2016 Makana Aloha Foundation sponsor award went to Artist andInstructor Hiu Lai Chong for “Catching a Wave.“ Maui Arts League photo.

James McGrew from Oregon perfectly experienced the sky-land-sea dynamics in “Honolua Bay Shimmer,” which Clifford Naeʻole selected for the Honor Hawaii, Honor Maui award and David Hoffman selected for the Montage Kapalua Bay sponsor award. Maui Arts League photo.

“Up Front” by Lori Putnam won the coveted Irvine Museum Award. Maui Arts League photo.

“Lahaina Glow” by John P. Lasater, IV earned popular acclaim in two ballots: “Artists’ Choice” and “Collectors’ Choice” awards. It also won the One Main Plaza sponsor award and an Honorable Mention from Irvine Museum. Maui Arts League photo.