Honolulu, March 24, 2011: Local artist, Dennis Mathewson, teams up with Pictures Plus and Chromaco to help produce and auction off an original work of art. 100% of sales will be donated to the American Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief Fund. The painting is entitled Tomodachi which, in English, translates into friend or friends. It depicts two tikis – one tiki (representing Hawaii) sharing a sprouting coconut with the other tiki (representing Japan). The painting symbolizes the friendship between Hawaii and Japan, and the Kokua extended to Japan in the wake of the tsunami.
The original is being auctioned off on eBay. Limited edition giclée (zhee-clay) prints and smaller matted fine art prints are also being sold at all Pictures Plus locations. There are only forty giclée prints in the edition, being sold at $200 each. The matted fine art prints are being sold for $20 each. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the Tomodachi original painting, limited edition giclées and the fine art prints will be donated to the American Red Cross to benefit the Japan Disaster Relief Fund. Pictures Plus hopes to generate $20,000 or more to donate to the American Red Cross.
Dennis Mathewson, an artist and custom painter, created the painting. He airbrushed Tomodachi onto aluminum and utilized an array of airbrushing and freehand painting techniques to produce a painting with vibrant colors and fine details. Chromaco, a fine art printing company located in Iwilei, reproduced the painting and donated high-quality, limited edition giclée prints of the Tomodachi painting to Pictures Plus. All Pictures Plus stores are stocking Tomodachi fine art prints and limited edition giclées. The original will be displayed at Pictures Plus stores and Diamond Head Gallery on Oahu on the following dates:
March 24th – March 27th
Pictures Plus at the Ward Warehouse
1050 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste. #1500
Honolulu, HI 96814
March 28th – March 31st
Pictures Plus at the Pearl Highlands Shopping Center
1000 Kamehameha Hwy., Ste. #224
Pearl City, HI 96782
April 1st – April 4th
Diamond Head Gallery at Waikiki Beachwalk
226 Lewers St., Ste #139
Honolulu, HI 96815
April 5th – April 8th
Pictures Plus at the Navy Exchange (open to the public)
4725 Bougainville Dr.
Honolulu, HI 96818
April 9th – April 11th
Pictures Plus Home at the Kahala Mall
4211 Waialae Ave., Ste #G-06
Honolulu, HI 96816
Donors can view the Tomodachi original and place bids on eBay or www.picturesplus.com/helpjapan.
