Guests will enjoy an art exhibition of over 125 freshly painted scenes of Maui life at the “Art to Heart” Gala.

LAHAINA – Art lovers look forward to Presidents’ Week for the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational and the expansive exhibit of original artworks by 25 award-winning landscape artists from Hawaii and the Mainland.

Tickets are available for the “Art to Heart” Gala Award Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 23, at the Royal Lahaina Resort Ballroom. Guests will enjoy an art exhibition of over 125 freshly painted scenes of Maui life.

Tickets are $175 per person, with $75 going toward an art purchase that evening. Sales proceeds benefit the artists first, then event operations and educational programs for next year, including a youth workshop for 40 Maui art students in grades K-12. A portion of sales also supports the strategic mission of Maui Arts League: to build a fine arts museum here in West Maui.

Tickets are available online at www.mauipleinairpainting.org.

The “Art to Heart” Gala starts with a formal blessing by Kahu Clifford Nae’ole, followed by a champagne reception and mingling with the artists. Guests will enjoy pupus that will prepare the palate for a served entree of beef and pheasant.

Royal Lahaina Chef Bernardo Salazar’s elegant menu is inspired by the harvest and bounty of West Maui pineapple plantations of yesteryear. For that perfect ending, guests may select from an array of sweets from a three-tiered dessert “island.”

Smooth jazz and blues guitar by Prem Brozio will create the perfect ambiance for good food, warm conversation and strolling the gallery. The art display walls of the ballroom will gleam with over 125 scenes of Maui; all are available for purchase.

Jean Stern, associate director, UCI Museum and Institute for California Art, will confer “Best in Show” and three honorable mention awards. Gala guests will cast their ballots for “Collectors’ Choice” winner, and artists for “Artists’ Choice.”

Event sponsors – Royal Lahaina Resort, Makana Aloha Foundation, One Main Plaza, Mary Anne Fitch and Nam Le Viet, Hawaii Life-Christies, Pioneer Inn, Montage Kapalua Bay, Kaanapali Land Management Corp., Mala, Honu and Frida’s restaurants – will also confer awards. Nae’ole will select the 2018 Honor Hawaii/Honor Maui Award.

This award gala and art sale leads to a weekend exhibition of all of the award paintings and a sale that includes over 200 new paintings produced during the week. Saturday and Sunday will feature free educational forums at 3 p.m.

On Saturday, four plein air artists will discuss their career paths and inspiration. New and young artists are encouraged to attend and ask questions. Sunday afternoon is a public panel discussion on the benefits of fine art with presentations by a lifelong art collector, an art whole school curriculum consultant, an art therapist and an art curator. They will talk about embracing art in their lives and how art enriches their communities.Sunday will also feature over 20 Grand Finale Mini Paintings for exhibition and sale.

Visit www.MauiPleinAirPainting.org or call (808) 268-0787 for more information.