Courtney Kaye

I first came to Hawaii in 1968 after an engagement in the 2nd Avenue Theater in New York. I was the star of a burlesque revival there. At the same time in New York, I was also modeling for artists Salvador Dali and Bob McGinnis. Bob put my image on the cover of Mickey Spillane and Carter Brown mystery books, also movie publicity for "Barbarella" starring Jane Fonda. Dali taught me to paint, he said he didn't mind me watching him work because "history has proven that women can't paint."

When I first came to Hawaii, I worked at the "Dunes" for Jack Cione. I followed "Tempest Storm" who had a back injury at the time. When I retired from dancing in 1972, I purchased a photography studio in Miami Shores, Florida. I spent 7 years there doing all aspects of portrait photography, candid, wedding, schools, models, product display and location. Large format camera being my specialty. I attended Winona School of Photography and served on the board of the Professional Photographers of Florida. In 1976, I decided I didn't want to stay away from Hawaii any longer, so I sold my studio and moved to Honolulu with the intention of buying a boat. In 1978, I purchased a 47foot Alden Yawl, built in 1937. Needless to say, I spent the next 10 years learning the boat-building trades, discovering that I liked wood-working much more than sailing.

From 1982-1984, I worked for Treasure Island Publishing (The Downtown Planet in Honolulu) doing camera work and film- stripping for publications and advertising agencies. In 1984, I went to work for Abraham and Dunn Ltd. in Honolulu as a producer in audio-visual product. I was instrumental in development of their photographic stock library, also conversion to computer systems for them. Throughout the years I have painted, I prefer oil, but have used all media. Most of my commissions have been portrait. I consider my art as always in development and I am self-taught (except for that Salvador Dali thing). In 1989, I developed a unique art form, hand-painting small bits of matte board and finishing them to create jewelry, mostly earrings. I became successful selling these in select craft fairs and galleries. Over the years these have evolved into a lot of different types of jewelry. My work was displayed in the Academy of Arts' second floor galleries in 1992. I won the Award of Excellence in the Ala Moana Exhibit in 1991. I have been painting old suitcases and furniture, found objects and greeting cards. I paint very small miniature oil paintings. Lately I stumbled into textile design, discovering a reverse-resist method of painting clothing. Turns out my "discovery" is the ancient Japanese art form of "Shibori" and I have been successful in painting recycled clothing for craft fairs and galleries. twigajet@yahoo.com

This many Giraffes have visited us