For Emily Du Bois, juror of Hawaii Handweavers’ Hui’s 28th Annual Biennial Exhibition, meaningful weaving extends beyond the literal positioning of threads. And she brought that sensibility to her work on the current show.

"I accepted work that was not technically handwoven," she says. "I wanted to stretch the definition a bit. There were a number of very good woven pieces in a variety of techniques. Other works have the spirit of weaving.

"Weavers pay attention, thread by thread, close up, while also keeping the big picture in mind," she says. "That’s what a weaver’s sensibility is about. At every level there’s something of interest."

Du Bois has been a textile artist and teacher since the 1960s and has been jurying shows for some 40 years. She’s been on the faculties of the University of California at Davis, San Francisco State University and the California College of Arts and Crafts.

She moved to Pahoa on Hawaii island 10 years ago and runs Dakini Gardens and Retreat center, where she teaches tai chi and qigong along with art classes. She says practicing tai chi supports her in producing art.

"It gives me the spirit to keep working," she says.

Du Bois calls weaving "very international" and says the works in the show reflect that.

"This wasn’t a show of traditional Hawaiian work, though I would have welcomed entries like that," she says. "These artists work pretty much in an international language."

The show, which accepts work in all media, comprises about 40 pieces selected by Du Bois from a pool of about 60. Entries came from as far away as New York.

"There was a nice range of works that illustrated the title of the show well: sublime, sensible and serendipitous works. It was a nice mix."