Art

Visual and performance arts stories on Molokai

Bennett Pottery Annual Show and Sale

Sunday, November 17th, 2013

Bennett Pottery News Release

One of the first human technologies was the creation of fire-hardened clay.  In pre-industrial societies artisan/craft people and their families, and then craft guilds created items of daily use.  Goods were produced locally and the household had direct contact with the creator.  In some cultures, due to the reverence for the marriage of earth and nature, ceramics is esteemed as the highest form of art.  The trade of valued items such as ceramics influenced early geo-politics.

Today, archaeologists trace the development of cultures through the remnant pieces of ceramic ware.  The introduction of the English and Japanese folk art movement into the universities of the 1950s rekindled ceramics as an art form in the U.S.…

Arts Show

Wednesday, November 6th, 2013

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) will present its Second Annual Art Show from Nov. 13 through Dec. 2 at the Molokai Public Library.  Featuring works in ceramics and other media by members of the Arts Center, the exhibit will be curated by local resident Roshani Nash.  The show will also include works from University of Hawaii Maui students currently enrolled in Art 105 and Art 244.

The public is invited to join the artists at the library for the exhibit’s opening on Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.  Refreshments will be served.  Many pieces in the show will be for sale, with 10 percent of the sale price benefiting the Friends of the Molokai Public Library.…

Inspired and Fired

Wednesday, October 9th, 2013

Inspired and Fired

Ceramic Show a Hoot

A lively mix of music, talk and laughter radiated from The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) last Saturday night as artists, art lovers, friends, and families gathered to celebrate the opening of MAC member Kathleen Mendes’ first solo exhibition of ceramic works entitled, “Inspired and Fired.” Live jazz music as well as hors d’oeuvres and a wine bar set the stage for the warm evening.

The exhibition, which features an array of ceramic techniques and subject matter, will run from Oct. 5 through the 18 at the He `ike Lihi Showroom, behind Coffees of Hawaii. Mendes’ work will also be available for purchase until the last day of the exhibition.…

Aka`ula Art Show

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

Aka`ula Art Show

Friends, family, community, students and staff of Aka`ula School gathered last Friday evening to celebrate art as the sun set over Kalae`s cool hills. The annual event, held for the past seven years at the home of Bronwyn and Rikki Cooke, featured a lively display of student work as well as pieces donated by Aka`ula staff and board members and local artists — all on sale to support the school.

Dara Lukonen, teacher and head of school, said the show represents the work of about two dozen of the school’s 35 students in grades five through 12. This year’s theme was sand art, guided by art teacher Paul Riel.…

Inspired and Fired Art Show

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) will present an exhibition of new works by local artist Kathleen Mendes from Oct. 5-18 at the He `Ike Lihi Showroom. Called “Inspired and Fired by Kathleen Mendes,” the exhibit will feature ceramic pieces composed with a variety of techniques, including slab, coil, and wheel.

When Molokai’s master potter Dan Bennett opened his studio doors in 2007 to those eager to explore ceramics, Mendes had the opportunity to pick up a ball of clay and turn it into a useful object.  Since then she has been working with this medium, discovering all the exciting possibilities it holds for the artist. …

Local Business, International Success

Wednesday, September 11th, 2013

Local Business, International Success

Molokai local Suzette Kahana has collected vintage fabrics, buttons and jewelry for decades. She never dreamed it would evolve into an international venture through the business she created with her daughter Amber Andrade nine months ago.

Kahana said she has always sewed for her family — from Halloween and dance costumes, to prom dresses, wedding and beauty pageant gowns. After 30 years of collecting and cramming storage rooms of vintage material, one of her dresses, made for Andrade, caught the eyes of passersby in Oahu.

“So many people stopped her that day saying, ‘Beautiful dress, where did you get that,’” said Kahana.…

Intro to Drawing

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

UHMC Molokai News Release

ART 113 Intro to Drawing is being offered at University of Hawaii Maui College (UHMC) Molokai campus this fall semester. It is structured as a beginning level class and focused on exploring a variety of media from charcoal to marker, pencil to pastel, ink to conte crayon.  You will discover more techniques and styles for how to draw what you see three dimensionally as well as how to express your feelings, culture and knowledge visually. Most importantly, you will learn how to see as an artist and realize that everyone can learn to draw.

The class is held on Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.…

Rooted in Wellness

Sunday, July 7th, 2013

Rooted in Wellness

Molokai returned to its roots July 5 as moms and their supporters empowered the community to live healthy lifestyles. Keiki made recycled art while moms prepared local organic food. Performers sung along to the spirit of the evening as families and organizers shared how they love the land. Besides being a night of fun and aloha, the Grassroots Benefit Concert aimed to provide a path for youth to one day be restorers of health.

“The spirit behind [the event] is to promote an awareness of health and wellness on the island and be able to offer the upcoming generation support,” said Ehulani Kane, a member of the Mom Hui, the group that organized the event.…

Teaching the Universal Language

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

Teaching the Universal Language

Bob Underwood brings music education to Molokai

 

At the end of the day, when students have left and the halls of Kaunakakai Elementary School are quiet, first grade teacher Bob Underwood picks up his violin and continues educating. He does not get paid for it, and he welcomes anyone with a desire to learn. But why would someone who spends all day in the classroom, constantly teaching, want to volunteer his free time doing that same thing?

“There’s one reason, and it’s very simple,” Underwood said. “I love music.”

Underwood shares that love with budding musical artists each week. Keiki are joined by their parents and other community members as they take on some of the toughest instruments to learn.…

Thanks for the Memory 2

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

Thanks for the Memory 2

Community Contributed

By Dara Lukonen, Aka`ula School

For six decades, Bob Hope brought the USO’s famous “touch of home” and a string of smiles to millions of GIs. Bob Hope is remembered from generation to generation for the wonderful memories he and his Hollywood “band of gypsies” gave to U.S. troops through the years.

Aka`ula School continued this tradition last week with its econd USO-tribute show, “Thanks for the Memory 2,” performed entirely by Aka`ula students. One singer felt “the performances lacked energy during Tuesday’s dress rehearsal, but performers were pumped up and ready to go for Wednesday’s dinner theater.”

Joining Bob Hope on stage were comedians Abbott and Costello with a new take on “Who’s on First?”…