About

Emily Herb

Emily at the opening of the Sandhill Crane Festival show at The Artworks in Fairbanks, Alaska, August 2009. Photo by Fred Dean.

Emily was born in the Midwest, but has lived in diverse areas such as Utah, Alaska, Arizona, Seattle and Hawai‘i. Her work has always been inspired by the natural world, and by birds in particular. Since moving to Hawai'i in 1998, her work has focused mainly on birds and plants found in the Islands.

She currently makes her home in Volcano Village, with her husband, Dalyn and is a member of the Volcano Village Artists Hui. (Hui is the Hawaiian word for organization or association.) Just a few miles from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Volcano Village is located in the native rain forest at 3800' elevation. This forest is home to several native bird species that are still fairly common, including the ‘apapane, whose varied songs can be heard throughout the day from the pottery studio.

Hawai‘i is home to many unique species, found nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, many of the bird and plant species that evolved here, have become extinct over the last several hundred years, and many more are endangered. However, as more people become aware of the plight of native Hawaiian species, more efforts are being made by individuals, environmental groups and scientists, to save those species that are still left.

For more information about Hawai‘i’s beautiful birds, you may want to visit photographer Jack Jeffrey's website. One of Jack's ‘apapane photos appears on this website's front page. To learn about some of Hawai‘i’s native plants, check out botanical artist Jamie Gilmore’s site.

Although most of Emily’s current work is inspired by Hawaiian birds and plants, she still makes pottery inspired by the cranes of the world. These majestic birds are seen by many as symbols of peace and international goodwill, due to collaborative efforts between many countries in protecting the 15 species of cranes, world wide. For more information cranes and their conservation, visit the website of the International Crane Foundation. For information about Whooping Cranes, visit the Operation Migration website, the team that leads young whooping cranes on their first migration south from Wisconsin to Florida, flying with the cranes in ultralight air crafts.

Emily’s work can be found at the following galleries on the Big Island of Hawai‘i:

Of course, feel free to contact Emily directly with questions and comments, or to inquire about purchasing her pottery. Photo credits for this website Gallery: Ken Goodrich of Hawai‘i Photo Retreat