Founded in 1975 as the West Maui Cultural Council, the Maui Arts League is expanding into a fine arts membership organization, focusing on painting, sculpture, and photography.
To showcase, cultivate, and build appreciation for Visual Fine Arts while creating unique opportunities for people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds to embrace the experience of art.
Be a vibrant and enthusiastic organization providing enriching opportunities for our island community and visitors to experience world class Visual Fine Arts through our museum, exhibitions, events and educational programs.
Our values include Integrity, Excellence, Diversity, and an Appreciation for Visual Fine Arts. We wish to foster honesty, distinction while welcoming all people as members.
Assistant Art Director
Since 2012, Karen and her husband Ty split their time between Lake George NY and Kapalua, Maui. Karen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University at Albany and served in numerous roles that range from Programmer to Project Management for major system, healthcare and vision companies. She enjoys volunteering on Maui as a second career and shares her enthusiasm and energy ensuring the success of large events on Maui, including the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Maui Jim Basketball Tournaments when held on Maui, and of course, all Maui Arts League events. She is very energetic, creative, and a dependable team member for the groups she supports.
Her passions beyond volunteering include travel and enjoying the summer with her family and grandchildren.
Janis spent 39 years working as a Financial/Investment Advisor and Executive for Banking and Hotel Industry companies in Maui. She’s held many positions over her tenure including Controller, Executive Director, and Management Agent. In addition to the normal securities licensing requirements, she pursued obtaining the OSJ (Office of supervisory jurisdiction) and CFP designation and opened her own brokerage firm, Casco Wealth Management. Even though dealing with numbers, spreadsheets, doing financial analysis, advising clients on how best to invest their money for the long term, her dream was to return to her true passion of painting. After retiring she did just that. Living on Maui provided a wonderful canvas of subject matter. Her works are exhibited at Sargent’s Gallery on Front Street in Lahaina and Totally Hawaiian Gift Gallery in Whaler’s Village in Kāʻanapali. She also has had solo art shows in Clarkston, Washington at the Valley Art Center.
Janis has studied in oil, water color, zinc plate etching, bronze sculpture and several other mediums. She studied art at Washington State University and with a number of nationally and internationally recognized artists including Leon Holmes (Australia), John Wilson (Australia), Joe Paquet, Suzie Baker, Jane Hunt, Michele Usibelli and Morgan Samuel Price. Subject matter has varied over the years but Janis’ favorites are people, animals, landscapes and local folk.
Janis moved from the Northwest to Maui in 1979 and resides in Lahaina with her husband, Jeff and their two cats.