Artist Lam Quang crafts pieces in his Astoria barn studio.
Astoria studio craft s
handmade lighting
HiiH Lights features unique, nature-inspired creations
BY LINDA HOARD
HiiH Lights
Inspired by the Vietnamese fall festi-
vals and temples he visited with friends
and family growing up, Lam Quang started
making paper. Then the artist wondered
what it would look like illuminated.
In his Astoria studio, called HiiH Lights
(pronounced “hi hi,”) he’s now been craft-
ing unique, nature inspired lamps from
paper and wire since 1997.
His wife, Kestrel Gates, joins him in the
work. “We met in Portland in 2005 , it was a
time when there was so much creative com-
munity, lots of art parties and artistic col-
laboration,” Quang said. “She does all of
the painting and contributes to the design
process.”
From preparing the paper to the fi nished
lamp, Quang uses a variety of natural mate-
89120 Lewis and Clark Rd., Astoria, studio
open by appointment
On view at Imogen Gallery, 240 11th St.,
Astoria, and Luisa Mack Jewelry, 177 How-
erton Way SE #4, Ilwaco, Washington
www.hiihlights.com
rials, including cotton, pulp, beeswax, resin,
bamboo, walnut and indigo dyes, wires and
steel, wood and ceramic bases. He uses an
abaca and cotton blend for paper, forming
sheets with a mold and using an 8-ton press
to bind the fi bers without glue.
See Page 6
ORIGINAL FINE ART
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THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022 // 5