Hawai'i is losing a leader in the arts community. George Ellis and his wife, Nancy, leave the Islands tomorrow. They are moving to Florida to be closer to family.

Ellis served as director of the Honolulu Academy of Arts for more than two decades. He is respected for his leadership qualities, artistic vision and astute financial pragmatism. During his tenure, the academy grew substantially in image as well as size and programs.

Ellis oversaw two major fundraising campaigns to establish the Academy Art Center at Linekona and the Luce Pavilion. He also directed the renovation of the Asian Wing as well as numerous back-of-the-house projects such as improving art storage, preservation, conservation and security.

Under Ellis's leadership, land around the academy buildings was purchased with an eye on future growth. He raised money to bring major international traveling exhibitions to Honolulu, including "Mystery of the Nile" from Egypt and "Tomb Treasures" from China.

The Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education recognized his commitment to arts and arts education in 2002 with the Alfred Preis Award. After his retirement, the Academy of Arts named a new gallery for him and his wife: the George and Nancy Ellis Gallery for the Art of the Philippines.

Before Ellis's tenure, the Academy of Arts sometimes was perceived as an institution catering to the privileged. That changed dramatically as Ellis and his staff introduced ethnic festivals, celebrations of diverse cultures, foreign films and the popular Na Mele o Hawai'i, a showcase for Island musicians.

In addition, he oversaw the creation of numerous programs to bring in thousands of students through tours and classes, in cooperation with the state Department of Education.

As the Ellises packed up their house full of beautiful belongings, including an eclectic collection of contemporary art and Asian antiques, we talked to George Ellis about what he has been doing since his retirement in February 2003, as well as reflecting on his past in the Islands and his future on the Mainland.

THE PRACTICE OF ART

It is a little-known fact that George Ellis has an MFA in painting. However, he gravitated to the world of museums. "I got involved with administration right away," he said, and it wasn't until his retirement that he picked up paintbrushes again.

For the past two years, he has been working on large canvases splashed with bold colors, mainly abstract works relating to the ocean and its creatures, real and imagined.

Ellis spoke highly of art originating in the Islands: "There are so many great artists working here. Exposure for the artists is the problem, because there is not a major urban center where they can show. The talent is here, but not the exposure."

Two years ago Ellis was the juror for the Artists of Hawai'i show, held annually at the Academy of Arts. The experience offered him an opportunity to see work by artists, both well-known and emerging, from around the Islands.

As an artist who struggles with the pain of producing art, Ellis has this message for Island artists: "Don't lose sight of the fact that you are good — no, wonderful — and your art is as good as, or better than, anything on the Mainland. Keep getting it out there like the artists on the Mainland do. Take enormous pride in how good you really are."

ADVENTURES AHEAD

An avid fisherman, Ellis has done as much deep-sea fishing as possible since his retirement, going after 'ahi, mahimahi and marlin. In Florida, he plans to pursue shallow-water fish such as trout and redfish. A fishing boat awaits him there.

Ellis also loves long road trips, something he has missed while living in Hawai'i. In a recent visit to the South, he proudly reports, he put 8,000 miles on a rental car in one visit, a trip that included fishing (of course) as well as tours of museums.

His retirement has been punctuated with meetings, as Ellis serves on the boards of the Bishop Museum, the East-West Center Foundation, the Urasenke Tea Group (dedicated to perpetuating the Japanese tea ceremony), the Manoa Heritage Society, the Japan-American Society and the International Arts Society.

While Ellis said there are no major museums in Florida yet, the St. Petersburg Museum hopes to double in size and is planning a major fundraising campaign. The Tampa Museum also had started a major project, but because of cost overruns, it had to cease. It sounds as though Ellis may be continuing his involvement with museums.

"They're just now beginning to develop museums in Florida," Ellis said. "Yet here in Hawai'i a woman like Mrs. Cooke could have a vision to build a museum that can hold its own with any museum anywhere and is one of the most beautiful museums in the world." He referred to Anna Rice Cooke, founder of the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Asked if he will continue to paint in Florida, Ellis answered, "I enjoy it. It's sometimes excruciating and sometimes enjoyable. I'll continue it, but it all depends on how the fish are biting."

Reach Paula Rath at prath@honoluluadvertiser.com.