About Maui Arts League

…putting art in the hearts of people.

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.

Maui Arts League’s organization is an all volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit organization – TIN 99-0181159. Our Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational Committee is comprised of the 30 volunteers that dedicate innumerable hours to organize, manage the various activities throughout the 9-day art event.

Mission

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.

Vision

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.

Values

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.

"Watching the sensational plein air artists interpret the beauty of Maui on canvas or paper is a visual experience like no other. It’s an event we look forward to each year, and one we are proud to support."

The Makana Aloha Foundation

sponsor

Our Team

LOIS REISWIG

President & Secretary

Lois was a Maui resident 1999-2020. Recently moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. A retired executive from IBM, she’s been an active supporter of numerous nonprofits for decades. Before moving to Maui, she served on the board of the Austin Lyric Opera and the Austin Symphony. In 2015, she received the Maui Mayor’s Women of Excellence Award and has led the Hui Hoaloha Ladies Luncheon Group since 2002. She has been involved with the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational since 2006. She took over the President’s position of the Maui Arts League, formerly known as the West Maui Cultural Council, in 2009. She maintains management positions with both organizations. She is leading the effort to build a fine arts museum on West Maui. Her passions are art, cooking, reading and visiting galleries/museums.

BRYANT NEAL

Vice President

Bryant, originally from Arkansas, received his BA from Hendrix College in 1979. Since moving to Maui in 1982 he has served as Vice President of Lahaina Printsellers, is the founder of 501c3 Arts Education for Children Group and Jazz Maui, and owner of Story of Hawaii Museum Exhibit. He is known for his presentation on ‘Telling Hawaii’s Story’. He has a vast collection of vintage antique maps and documents used to present the Story of Hawaii in chronological sequence. He is a serious Jazz enthusiast and enjoys all musical and related art events.

KAREN DEFEO

Treasurer

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.

Becky Lennon

Director

Becky and her husband Jim lived on Maui from 1998 through 2023. They supported the Maui Plein Air Painting invitational from its inception, both on a corporate and personal level.

Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Becky is a Razorback at heart and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas. She subsequently earned a Masters in Accounting from the University of Texas at Dallas and worked as a CPA for a regional accounting firm.

After moving to Maui to operate the Pioneer Inn, she sought out ways to become involved in the community. She served as both Treasurer and then President of the LahainaTown Action Committee, an afterschool tutor at Kam III and on the board of the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation.

She is gratified that Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational has grown from its humble beginnings and survived the tragedies of 2019-2022 and 2023. She looks forward to moving into the future with Maui Arts League and an art museum on the west side of the island.

Laurie Lowson

Director

Born in Madison, WI to a mom who loved art and a dad who loved golf, Laurie’s early years were spent riding bikes, swimming, ice skating and creating ‘art’. When the rest of her high school classmates were old enough to have summer jobs, Laurie being underage could not be legally employed and spent her summer being a volunteer teaching assistant for her favorite art teacher. His advice was to go into teaching art as she was not talented enough to make a living doing ‘Art’.

Onto the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the turbulent Vietnam War years. Graduating in ‘Related Art’ (Home Ec on steroids), Laurie was onto warmer climates after graduation. Yearly spring breaks in Florida and Mexico had proved that you do not have to live life frozen for 7 months of the year.

When Newport Beach, CA ended up not being her dream location, Laurie & Julie, her best friend, headed to Lahaina, Maui on September 8, 1977. Jobs were easy to find. Laurie ended up substitute teaching at all three Lahaina schools. Purchasing real estate during the real estate boom of 1980, Laurie decided to get her real estate license determined to map out her Maui future.

In 1991, Laurie put her real estate license to good use becoming a full-time Realtor. A career in Real Estate turned out to be a rewarding, challenging, and a fulfilling lifestyle choice. Marrying Mac Lowson, a Lahaina Realtor in 1992 made a strong Lahaina loving family. Mac and Laurie invested in several commercial properties in Lahaina. They decorated their home with numerous pieces of art from local artists and were supporters of the ‘Arts’ and ‘Lahaina town’ activities.

Today, Laurie Lowson, lives at The Kapalua Bay Villas with her significant other, Jim Rund. In their spare time, they enjoy ocean swimming, yoga, dining out, traveling and being with friends and family. I look forward to working with Lois Reiswig and the Maui Arts League to bring back Lahaina as an Art Hub in the Pacific.

RONALDO MACEDO

Advisor

Ronaldo was born in Rio de Janeiro and has lived on Maui since 1989. He earned his BFA in Illustration, Cal State University Long Beach. He studied virtually all aspects of painting with George Allan after arriving on Maui. One of Maui’s best known plein air painters, Ronaldo is represented by Lahaina Galleries and is a co-founder of the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational event. He loves the outdoors and his paintings reflect his connection to nature. He lives with his wife and two children in Lahaina.

JEAN STERN

Advisor

Jean Stern was born in Casablanca, Morocco and came to the United States 1955. He is a recognized authority on California Impressionism. He is Director Emeritus, of The Irvine Museum. He has authored or written in over 25 books, appeared in 4 PBS art documentaries, presented over 250 lectures, and judged more than 75 art shows. Many here will know Jean from his long-standing participation in the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational as a Guest Lecturer and Juror. His extensive experience in the art community as a scholar will be a guiding force in helping Maui Arts League develop plans for the West Side Fine Arts Museum.