Congratulations to Wailea Contemporary Gallery co-owner Kari McCarthy, whose painting featured in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Biennial has been purchased by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts for their permanent collection.

Kari describes her inspiration for the piece:

"I enjoy observing weather and the challenge of depicting atmosphere in paint. This scene marked the end of a huge squall on the North Shore. I was struck by how luminous the water appeared as the sky opened up."

This acquisition is a testament to Kari’s skill in capturing the subtle interplay of light, water, and sky—moments where nature’s drama gives way to quiet beauty.

Her work often explores the shifting moods between sky and sea, capturing subtle changes in light, color, and texture. In this piece, the transition from storm to calm is distilled into a quiet composition that invites the viewer to pause and take in the moment of stillness.