New show celebrates resiliency, creativity of Micronesian artists in Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – There are a range of cultures in Honolulu, but few community spaces celebrate Hawaii’s lively Micronesian communities.

A new show situated in the historic Chinatown Arts District is modifying that. A assortment of traditional and modern day arts and crafts of the Micronesia region are currently on screen at the Downtown Art Centre.

The exhibit, titled “7 Degrees North – The Arts of Micronesia,” is totally free and open up for the public to go to.

The exhibit will operate till July 27, and is co-curated by Floyd Takeuchi, a writer and photographer born and raised in the Marshall Islands, and Margo Vitarelli, a Palauan artist and photographer.

The assortment is amid the initially ever to emphasize the operate of contemporary artists of Micronesian ancestry residing in Hawaii. The exhibit features artists accomplishing a little bit of anything — from t-shirt designs to computer art to aged-fashioned charcoal portraits — to give website visitors a nuanced knowing of the Micronesian local community.

Takeuchi also highlighted the self-assurance the exhibit would give to artists of Micronesian ancestry to be able to share their perform with others outside of their community.

“Micronesia’s resourceful neighborhood can make a contribution just as very well as any one else,” explained Takeuchi.

Micronesia is a cultural and geographic area in the northwestern Pacific.

The region’s nations include things like the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, which encompasses four states — Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae — and about 607 islands, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati, the U.S. territory of Guam and the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

In accordance to DAC Govt Director Sandra Pohl, the Micronesian group in Hawaii faces financial and social challenges, which include prejudice and discrimination.

Pohl hopes this show will enable to alter destructive perceptions the community is at present going through.

“We consider by sharing their loaded cultures and showcasing the function of nearby artists of Micronesian ancestry, Downtown Artwork Center can assist to make this community really feel welcomed and greater appreciated,” Pohl mentioned.

Takeuchi agrees, saying he sought to curate the exhibit in a way that will instruct people who are unfamiliar with the region what Micronesia really is.

“When some people see Micronesia, they just don’t know the place it is and so I tried to aim on items that universally, individuals would recognize — Micronesia as an thought, a hope, expectations.”

The opening reception for “7 Levels North – The Arts of Micronesia” transpired Friday with a lot of of the exhibit’s artists, gallery volunteers and website visitors across the island in attendance.

Inside the show alone, jurors Margo Vitarelli and Lissette Yamase chose artists and artwork mainly from the Marshall Islands, the FSM and Palau.

Amongst the highlighted artists are:

• Lissette Yamase (also a juror) of Pohnpei in the FSM
  • A portrait artist who uses charcoal
• Anthony Watson of Palau
  • A carver of Palauan ancestry
• Eric Cano of Chuuk in the FSM
  • A graphic artist who layouts Micronesia and Pacific Island-motivated garments
• Carolann Carl of Pohnpei in the FSM
• Daniel A. Kelin II, invested lots of yrs in the Marshall Islands
  • Hawaii playwright who designed the regional perform, “x Other: A Microstory,” which speaks about the problems the Marshallese faced attempting to fit into their new lives in Hawaii following relocating from their homeland.
  • Video clip courtesy of Oahu neighborhood theater, Kumu Kahua Theatre
• Kalany Omengkar of Palau and Saipan and now resides in Honolulu
  • An artist and designer who utilizes charcoal, oil paints and pc-produced artwork
• Mona Mersai Lomongo Kom of Weno, Chuuk
  • A self-taught artist who results in lei, income crafts, wedding ceremony cakes, pastries and additional
• Olivier Koning of Honolulu
  • Honolulu-centered photographer who took photographs on Majuro Atoll

Escalating up on Palau and then moving to Hawaii, Vitarelli shares a similar sentiment to the other show artists whose artwork is affected just as substantially by their genetic roots as it is by their ordeals in Hawaii.

“They are adaptable men and women of two worlds, at house in their possess islands and still, gracefully altered to everyday living in Hawaii,” reported Vitarelli.

Apart from contemporary artwork by artists, the exhibit also showcases standard older artifacts this sort of as carvings and images from the islands of Micronesia, including navigation maps and lei.

These artifacts are component of a much larger selection held by Hawaii Pacific University.

Many woven handbags and jewellery pieces are also displayed all over the exhibit flooring.

The pieces were being produced by females of Marshallese ancestry at the Waipahu Safe and sound Haven, a resource center offering social, financial and instructional expert services to folks and family members.

In addition to the exhibit, DAC will also be holding supplementary gatherings at their major gallery in July to continue on celebrating the resiliency of the individuals of Micronesia.

1 of the events is a presentation on July 15 at 2 p.m. with artwork historian and professor emeritus at Hawaii Pacific College Jerome Feldman, who also contributed various artifacts to the show.

The second event, on July 22 at 2 p.m., will be a trend exhibit that characteristics common attire from the areas of Micronesia.

The two situations and the exhibit will be held in DAC’s most important gallery, situated at 1041 Nuuanu Ave.

To study a lot more about the show or other DAC activities, click here.

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