The event is an opportunity to meet Emiliano Achaval and other Maui artists in their studios.

The tradition continues during the month of February, when the Maui Open Studios Event kicks off its eighth year of connecting art lovers and collectors with artists around Maui.

MOS has become a very popular event for art enthusiasts, collectors and those seeking creative inspiration – both locals and tourists alike.

Some repeat visitors are tourists who now plan their trips to Maui around the MOS event.

The eighth annual Maui Open Studios Event is scheduled for four weekends in February.

It follows a model that has been very successful on the Mainland for decades: artists and artisans open up their studios and exhibition spaces to show and sell their work to the public as well as “talk story,” connect and inspire visitors through one-on-one interactions and, in some cases, live demonstrations. The entire event is free to the public.

The mission of MOS is to connect the art community directly with art lovers on Maui.

Since its inception, the event has featured over 75 artists every year and generated over 8,000 individual studio visits by art collectors and art enthusiasts each year.

Around $100,000 in art sales made directly between art collectors and artists have been generated by the event each year since its creation.

The event offers a great way for art loving locals and tourists to experience unique opportunities to connect with both local Maui artists and visiting artists. For the 2018 event, there are over 75 participating artists.

During the MOS event, visitors are invited to join many of the artists at the Opening Celebration/Preview Exhibition on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Pa’ina Culinary Arts Center at the University of Hawaii Maui College, where they can enjoy complimentary wine and no-host food options, listen to live music, preview a few pieces of the artists’ work, connect with the artists and pick up copies of the MOS Guidebook containing an artist directory and maps directing them to different studios and exhibition spaces around the island.

Guidebooks are available in January and throughout the duration of the event at various locations around the island, which are listed on www.MauiOpenStudios.com.

Visitors then design their own self-guided tours for each weekend of the month, either by referring to their printed guidebook or the online artist directories at www.MauiOpenStudios.com (which also includes a comprehensive Google map for easy use with GPS).

Hours for the weekend shows are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Upcountry on Feb. 10-11; Lahaina, Central Maui, North Shore and Hana on Feb. 17-18; and Kihei and Wailea on Feb. 24-25.

For information on the event, visit www.MauiOpenStudios.com.