CREATIVE TEAM
CHRIS SPRINGER. Installation Team Captain
Born and raised in Hilo and filled with aloha, Journeyman Chris Springer has been a marble mason, granite and tile professional for fifteen years. Chris studied the trade in Las Vegas in 2002, and has a wealth of diverse experience in certified specification work, public art installation, granite and marble fabrication, tile setting, concrete and pool work, and glass tile, block, and mosaic work in numerous commercial, public art and residential projects.
Chris and his colleague, Jeremiah, expertly set all the glass pieces for Kipapa and the Path of Light, the Pukalani mural, and we look forward to working with them on this project as well.
JEREMIAH WISE, Installer, Mosaic and Tile Setter,
Chris’s frequent work partner was born and raised on the Big Island. He is a Journeyman for the Mason Union and earned his degree from Hawai'i Community College. An outstanding craftsman, he radiates aloha in his very being.
Aside from being a pleasure to work with and essential team members, Chris and Jeremiah bring their wealth of expertise to the installation and durability of our murals.
JULIA FAIRCHILD, Calley's Assistant
JJulia is the web weaver, research and administrative assistant, official seamstress, Calley's right hand, co-pilot, and more. As a mother of four sons, five grandchildren, and various 'borrowed' grandchildren for whom she cares, Julia remains ever-young at heart.
Julia earned a BA in Psychology from Antioch University, CA, in 1998. Now a sensitive, self-taught web designer, Julia is intent on helping creative people with big dreams bring their ideas to the world.
CALLEY O'NEILL, Artist, Founder/Creative Director
A highly respected Big Island conservation artist, muralist, and educator, Calley earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree Summa Cum Laude from Pratt Institute, NY, and a master's degree in Social Ecology, Goddard College, Vt.
Calley is also well known for her unique interspecies work, The Rama Exhibition, An Epic Journey of Art and Soul for the Earth, which was featured at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2016 and on display from 2016 ~ 2020 at NOAA's Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo. People know her through her public art at UHM’s Campus Center, Waikoloa Kings Shops, Kipapa Elementary School, Oahu, Pukalani Elementary School, Maui, and many more works throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
LAMAR YOAKUM, Stained Glass Artisan
Lamar, our stained glass artisan, is a 'salt-of-the-Earth' kind of guy, Lamar is capable in all areas of his trade, from glass cutting, to grinding and fitting each piece of our huge stained glass ‘puzzles‘ bringing decades of experience, mindful skill, and integrity.
A jack-of-all-trades, Lamar adds his nearly 50 years of stained glass experience to Calley's 35+ years of stained glass and mosaic design. Together, they make a leading-edge team in stained glass windows and public art.
NOA EADS, Lead Painter, Installation Assistant, TRT Board Member
Lead Painter, Installation Assistant, TRT Board Member
Musician, Gourmet Mushroom Grower, Lucid Dreamer, Calley’s son and right-hand man, and more. Born and raised in Waimea, Noa's support and expertise have been invaluable in building the mural. Mural work is second nature for Noa, as he spent his first year alongside Calley as she painted the cultural murals at the King's Shops, Waikoloa Resort. Besides his strength and stature, Noa lends his level-headed advice to the mural process, and Calley follows his counsel, as his suggestions are solid, practical, and wise. Noa headed the KOA mural mineral painting process and assists our installer who also values his help. Noa also crafted the lava stones for the mural.
Art and Soul for the Earth
Big Island of Hawai'i
ISAAC HOMZA, Stone and Tile Setter, Owner Higher Standards Tile and Stone
Isaac has been installing tile and stone since 1990 in NYC. He has worked on many large commercial projects and high-end residential installations. Isaac volunteers on projects that benefit the local community, training people who want to learn the tile trade.
He has extensive technical training throughLaticrete, Schluter, TEC, NTCA, TCNA, ANSI, and the John Bridge Tile Forum. He stays up-to-date on the latest methods and brings nearly 35 years of experience to create lasting installations. He has worked with and learned from tile and stone professionals in Hawai'i, all parts of the US, Canada, and Europe.
His installation of Calley's complicated Pukalani School mural, bordered by the work of over 300 kids and families, was absolutely meticulous.
LORRAINE DUTTA,
A Fine Arts teacher for 35 years, Lorraine draws from a breadth of knowledge and a body of creative work that spans decades.
Born in the rich soil and traditional glass arts communities of the Folk and Farmlands of Southern NJ, Lorraine stands out by crafting accessible, tangible, and simple beauty, a hallmark of Southern Folk Arts. She has long been passionate and active in environmental issues, hoping to be a part of solutions.
Lorraine has taken on the critically important step of grinding and final fitting of thousands of pieces of glass to create elegant, flowing grout lines.
JULIE ANNE CHIA
Born in San Francisco, CA . Recently moved back to Hawaii after many years away. BA in Art from Cal State in Sacramento. Artist. Dancer. World traveler in many positions for major and charter airlines. Jewelry designer. Mom. Fitness and ocean enthusiast. Mixologist. Creative cook and cooking teacher. Sourdough bread baker. Farmer. KOA mural studio assistant. (Note: Julie Anne has more hours in a day than we do.)
‘I consider myself a creative individual and have always loved the arts, thanks to my father. I have always loved food and travel thanks to my mother. I was a dancer in college and danced professionally with Jazzworks - A Dance Company. I owned and operated
J. Chia Designs, a handcrafted jewelry company until my 2 sons came along. Crafting jewelry until 2 am and waking up to raise children 3 hours later cut that career short. I own and operate Big Island Gold Orchards, a sustainable family-run orchard, growing mangos, avocados, citrus, jackfruit, lychee, and longan.
