Supporting Art on Molokai

Molokai Arts Center News Release

Did you know that Molokai is the only Hawaiian island without a public arts center?   Even the small island of Lanai has a multipurpose community art center providing classes, workshops and studio access.

A group of artists believe there is a need for an arts center here on Molokai.  Their vision is to build a place where they can gather to share equipment, skills and knowledge; to create beautiful and useful art; to laugh and play and enjoy friendships based on mutual interests.

Molokai Arts Center, Inc. (MAC) has a mission to provide art classes, youth programs, and studio space for visual arts, music, dance and cultural arts for the Molokai community. In September, MAC signed a long term lease for a warehouse at the Coffees of Hawaii Plantation in Kualalpu`u.

MAC will be hosting its first major fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Coffees of Hawaii. It is free and open to the community. The artists will be hosting a silent art auction, and the Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band of Maui is donating a one-hour free concert for this event.

“Art is a vital part of any community,” said Emillia Noordhoek, president of MAC. “We know that children learn better when it is an active part of their lives. And adults are able to experience learning and growing new skills with a sense of wonderment – which we believe keeps one young  in spirit – by having lifelong access to the arts.”

Along with Noordhoek, the nonprofit organization was recently incorporated in August 2010 with Dan Bennett, April Torres, Betty West and Kim Markham. 

As funding and interest allows, MAC plans to offer painting, drawing, sculpture, glass blowing, fiber arts, and more for adults and afterschool and summer art programs for kids.

The art center plans to offer its first workshop in Jan. 2011 – a raku workshop. Raku is the ancient Japanese art of quick firing that creates bright and fantastic colors on ceramics. The cost of the two-day workshop is $50, which includes clay, instruction, glazes and firing time.

In addition to funding, MAC is looking for volunteers to help build the center and for in-kind contributions of art equipment, shelving, furniture, and tools. Art instructors who are willing to offer no-cost or low-cost classes to children and adults should contact Emillia Noordhoek at 808-216-3663.