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 organization. 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

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

Assistant Director

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 and Secretary

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 casco blayer

Director

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.

Peggy Lyn Speicher

Director

Peggy Lyn Speicher is Managing Director and one of the top real estate Agents with Coldwell Banker Island Properties specializing in luxury homes in Kapalua. Additionally, she owns and continues to lead the Speicher Group of Long & Foster Real Estate, an award-winning real estate firm operating in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Peggy Lyn was the recipient of the 2013 ATHENA Award. The ATHENA Award is presented to an individual who is recognized for professional excellence, for providing valuable service to their community and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

Peggy Lyn served on the Board of Directors of Success In Style/Charity’s Closet. Success In Style’s mission is to assist women and men in crisis become employed and self-sufficient.

In addition, Peggy Lyn Speicher was a featured speaker at the inaugural WIRE – Women Influencing Real Estate event held in Huntington Beach, California, in September 2016. The event aimed to help female real estate agents to enhance their industry knowledge and grow their professional networks, and she was honored to be among the experts selected to share their insights at the conference.

She is married to Chris Speicher, a successful sales and marketing executive who is also a broker with Coldwell Banker Island Properties and Co-Founder of the Speicher Group. They have a 26 year old daughter who graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, then graduated from Naval OCS in 2018, and is now an Ensign in the United States Navy based in San Diego, California.

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.