The 29th Annual World Art Bazaar

Every summer, the shop manager at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Kathee Hoover, goes on the road, visiting importers around the globe to collect a treasure trove of international goods from Nepal to Niger in one big gallery.  Then, once a year, these goods see a steep decline in price at the Academy’s World Art Bazaar.  This is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for Honolulu, as the products are a carefully selected array of antique and contemporary handcrafted items, from tree ornaments to intriguing clothing from around the globe. There is something to fit every budget and taste.

The Bazaar will open this year on Saturday, November 27 during the Academy’s opening hours from 11-4:30 p.m., and it lasts for two weeks until December 12.  This is its 29th straight year of offering great international deals.

The event has another goal: to preserve fast-disappearing traditional crafts in a big-box retail world. Most of the contemporary crafts are Fair Trade, meaning you are getting the real deal at market price.  Some of the great items at this year’s Bazaar include a Peking-glass vase, Peruvian reverse-painted mirrors, a vintage dance mask from the Bamileke tribe of Cameroon, hand-beaded baskets from Kenya, and painted swan eggs from Indonesia. Perennial local favorites like vintage baskets and lacquerware will also be available. 

For more information, contact the Academy Shop directly at #808-532-8703 or visit the Academy online (www.honoluluacademy.org)

Photo courtesy of jpellgen (Flickr)