Tapestry art to be shown at WCC, KCC

Some 400 pieces of tapestry art from Japan will be exhibited on Oahu at Gallery Iolani at Windward Community College and Lama Library at Kapiolani Community College, running through mid-August.

The collection of works by more than 250 artists include sumi paintings, calligraphy, Western painting, sculpture, crafts and prints, all presented on tapestries.

The Japanese nonprofit Heart Art Communication organized the show, which has traveled throughout the globe to cities such as New York, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Beijing, Vienna, Barcelona, Moscow, Athens and Budapest.

Gallery Iolani’s show, "Japanese Art Tapestry Festa in Hawaii," runs through Aug. 16, with an opening reception on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. The gallery is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Call 236-9155.

Lama Library’s display, "Nami: Japanese Art Tapestry in Hawaii," runs through Aug. 17. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Call Koa Gallery at 734-9374 or the library at 734-9268.

‘Kokua for Japan’ nominated for award

"Kokua for Japan," the Honolulu benefit concert held in April for the American Red Cross to support earthquake and tsunami relief efforts, has been nominated for a 2011 Do Something Award, a national awards show for social action.

The show will be hosted by "Glee" actress Jane Lynch in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Palladium and will air on VH1 Aug. 18. "Kokua for Japan" supporters can vote online at vh1.com until Aug. 14.

The Hawaii-based radio, television and Internet fundraising event — coordinated by Clear Channel Radio Hawaii — took place April 10 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa. Some of the performers at the five-hour event included Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson, Henry Kapono, Michael McDonald, Mick Fleetwood, Jake Shimabukuro and the Brothers Cazimero.

Other benefit nominees include Taylor Swift’s Speak Now Tour to Benefit Tornado Victims; the Oklahoma Tornado Relief Concert featuring Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton; CMT Presents Jimmy Buffett & Friends: Live from the Gulf Coast; and Music Builds: The CMT Disaster Relief Concert.

For a complete list of nominees and to vote for "Kokua for Japan," visit www.vh1.com/shows/events/do_something_awards/2011/concert.

Moanalua grad competing on ‘DesignStar’

Tyler Wisler, an East Coast designer who graduated from Moanalua High School in Honolulu, is a contender on HGTV’s "DesignStar," which airs Monday at 9 p.m.

Wisler, 35, moved to the East Coast to attend Marymount University. He now lives in South Orange, N.J., and is working as a professional interior designer in the New York City area. He is one of 12 designers contending for the "Design Star" title and his own show. The designers will compete in design challenges, trying to dazzle the judges with creativity and ingenuity.

Season one winner David Bromstad will mentor the competing designers. Judges include Genevieve Gorder, Candice Olson and Vern Yip, along with celebrity guests.

Wisler says in his HGTV profile that he enjoys the latest design trend of "industrial chic," which includes the use of recycled materials and dark metals paired with wood, and called his son Paolo "his most difficult client."

Viewers can vote for Wisler as the fan favorite at www.hgtv.com/design-star-fan-vote/package.