JON HAMBLIN Monks Crossing a River II, 2007 enamel on metal 3 panels, 30 x 16 inches each Price: $1,800 Courtesy of the artist

Jon Hamblin continues to enliven the art scene in Honolulu, where he teaches at Mid-Pacific Institute. Monks Crossing a River II, created as a triptych, provides lively evidence of several aspects of Jon Hamblin’s distinctive style. Several large stylized figures are shown in animated poses, intent on their task of leaping from stone to stone in a tumultuous river—a physical challenge that serves as a metaphor for an existential quest as well. The work demonstrates Hamblin’s interest in using unconventional materials (enamel paints on metal sheets) and in the creation of highly detailed surfaces in which every square inch seems to come alive.