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New show celebrates resiliency, creativity of Micronesian artists in Hawaii

New show celebrates resiliency, creativity of Micronesian artists in Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – There are a variety of cultures in Honolulu, but several community spaces celebrate Hawaii’s vibrant Micronesian communities.

A new show positioned in the historic Chinatown Arts District is altering that. A selection of classic and contemporary arts and crafts of the Micronesia location are at present on display at the Downtown Artwork Middle.

The show, titled “7 Degrees North – The Arts of Micronesia,” is no cost and open for the public to attend.

The show will run until eventually July 27, and is co-curated by Floyd Takeuchi, a writer and photographer born and lifted in the Marshall Islands, and Margo Vitarelli, a Palauan artist and photographer.

The collection is amid the to start with ever to highlight the operate of modern artists of Micronesian ancestry residing in Hawaii. The exhibit characteristics artists doing a bit of all the things — from t-shirt layouts to laptop or computer art to old-fashioned charcoal portraits — to give readers a nuanced being familiar with of the Micronesian group.

Takeuchi also highlighted the assurance the exhibit would give to artists of Micronesian ancestry to be ready to share their perform with some others outdoors of their group.

“Micronesia’s inventive group can make a contribution just as perfectly as anyone else,” mentioned Takeuchi.

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

The region’s nations consist of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, which encompasses 4 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.

According to DAC Government Director Sandra Pohl, the Micronesian group in Hawaii faces financial and social challenges, including prejudice and discrimination.

Pohl hopes this exhibit will assist to transform destructive perceptions the group is at this time dealing with.

“We think by sharing their loaded cultures and showcasing the function of neighborhood artists of Micronesian ancestry, Downtown Art Heart can aid to make this local community feel welcomed and superior appreciated,” Pohl stated.

Takeuchi agrees, stating he sought to curate the exhibit in a way that will teach folks who are unfamiliar with the area what Micronesia really is.

“When some men and women see Micronesia, they just never know wherever it is and so I attempted to target on matters that universally, men and women would understand — Micronesia as an idea, a hope, expectations.”

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

In the exhibit by itself, jurors Margo Vitarelli and Lissette Yamase selected artists and artwork generally 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 utilizes charcoal
  • Anthony Watson of Palau
    • A carver of Palauan ancestry
  • Eric Cano of Chuuk in the FSM
    • A graphic artist who patterns Micronesia and Pacific Island-influenced clothes
  • Carolann Carl of Pohnpei in the FSM
  • Daniel A. Kelin II, used numerous several years in the Marshall Islands
    • Hawaii playwright who designed the regional enjoy, “x Other: A Microstory,” which speaks about the issues the Marshallese confronted hoping to in shape into their new lives in Hawaii after moving from their homeland.
    • Video courtesy of Oahu local community theater, Kumu Kahua Theatre
  • Kalany Omengkar of Palau and Saipan and now resides in Honolulu
    • An artist and designer who takes advantage of charcoal, oil paints and computer-created art
  • Mona Mersai Lomongo Kom of Weno, Chuuk
    • A self-taught artist who produces lei, funds crafts, marriage ceremony cakes, pastries and much more
  • Olivier Koning of Honolulu
    • Honolulu-based photographer who took photos on Majuro Atoll

Escalating up on Palau and then transferring to Hawaii, Vitarelli shares a identical sentiment to the other exhibit artists whose art is motivated just as substantially by their genetic roots as it is by their encounters in Hawaii.

“They are adaptable individuals of two worlds, at household in their individual islands and but, gracefully altered to life in Hawaii,” claimed Vitarelli.

Aside from up to date artwork by artists, the exhibit also showcases regular more mature artifacts this kind of as carvings and photographs from the islands of Micronesia, together with navigation maps and lei.

These artifacts are aspect of a larger sized selection held by Hawaii Pacific College.

Several woven handbags and jewellery parts are also displayed around the show ground.

The pieces were being established by gals of Marshallese ancestry at the Waipahu Harmless Haven, a resource heart offering social, economic and academic products and services to folks and people.

In addition to the show, DAC will also be holding supplementary activities at their key gallery in July to carry on celebrating the resiliency of the men and women of Micronesia.

One particular of the activities 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 quite a few artifacts to the exhibit.

The next event, on July 22 at 2 p.m., will be a fashion clearly show that capabilities common apparel from the locations of Micronesia.

The two activities and the show will be held in DAC’s primary gallery, positioned at 1041 Nuuanu Ave.

To study extra about the show or other DAC events, click on in this article.