11-night Society Islands & The Tuamotus Cruise

Art in Tahiti

Hosted by Hawai'i and the South Pacific’s pre-eminent artist, Kim McDonald, who, according to a friend, "Eats, sleeps and breathes the tropics, and then somehow magically transforms her experience into art". It's true; whether paddle boarding in Maui, outrigger canoeing, diving for pearls, or journeying up jungle trails to Tahiti’s breathtaking waterfalls, she revels in the lush beauty and excitement of the islands — both as an acute observer and enthusiastic participant. Perhaps that is why her works resonate so deeply. Because she doesn't just paint what she sees, she paints what she knows.

Kim has spent decades exploring: the uncanny light and shadows, the liquid moon, the impossibly lush colors and fragrances, the rich, strange music of the surf and the reef, the exhilaration of being an active part of it all--Kim knows her islands. And she has created a gift of them, through her art, just for us. Kim will be joining the m/s Paul Gauguin, providing fellow enthusiasts with a fascinating multimedia exploration of Paul Gaugin’s artistic love affair with Tahiti, and 120 years later, her own. Part history, part art theory, part poetry, Kim’s talk will explore the unparalleled allure of the islands—and the artistic challenge involved in evoking that beauty on canvas. (For a lucky few, you will be invited to join Kim at her artist table to continue the conversation!)