Kahilu Theatre will host two exhibits, “A Climate of Change” and “Dance of the Bees,” opening next Friday in Waimea.
Kahilu Theatre will host two exhibits, “A Climate of Change” and “Dance of the Bees,” opening next Friday in Waimea.
“A Climate of Change” is a multimedia juried exhibit while “Dance of the Bees” is an invitational group exhibition in conjunction with the Kahilu Performing Arts Classes original multimedia dance show “Dance of the Bees” on May 6.
Opening receptions will be held next Friday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. for “A Climate of Change” and from 5 to 7 p.m. for the “Dance of the Bees” in the Kahilu Galleries in Waimea.
“These are really relevant exhibits, especially with our president rolling back the EPA and different climate change regulations, and this is the way that these artists are responding especially in the climate of change to these very pressing issues of our times,” said Exhibits Coordinator Margo Ray. “It’s an important exhibit to hear those voices.”
“A Climate of Change” features 28 works by 19 artists selected by juror Michael Marshall, who is the art department chairman for the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Marshall was born in St. Louis and attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts before attending Yale University where he earned a master’s degree in fine arts. He has taught at UH-Hilo since 1984 and is also the executive director of the East Hawaii Cultural Center.
For the exhibit, artists were asked to enter work that responds to the title of the exhibit. Responses dealing with environmental, political and social change were encouraged.
Participating artists are Keoki Apokolani, Mary Babcock, Yvonne Yarber Carter, Michael Cromwell, Danielle Feliciano, Shelley Hoist, Britney Kalawaia, Valerie Y O Kim, Wayne Levin, Tamara Moan, Calley O’Neill, Joseph Ruesing, Ginger Sandell, Laurel Schultz, Christina Skaggs, Myrna Smeeth, Jay West, Helen White and Scott Yoell.
The top three entries will be awarded cash prizes, which will be announced at the opening reception on April 7.
In addition, the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Arts Advisory Selection Committee has approved and scheduled a visit to review works from the exhibit for possible purchase for the Arts in Public Places Collection.
“Dance of the Bees” examines the life and plight of honeybees. The invited artists were asked to create works of art inspired by honeybees.
Participating artists include Epic Origami, Garnett Puett, Sally French, John Mydock and Shelley Hoist.
Epic Origami are creating a new origami installation with sunflower and honeycomb motifs while nationally acclaimed artist and beekeeper Puett will be exhibiting one of his sculptures in which he collaborates with honeybees to sculpt with wax honeycombs.
French, a Kauai artist, has used bee imagery in her artwork throughout her career, she will exhibit two large works on paper, one created as a reaction to 9/11 and a new piece for this show.
Mydock, an artist and woodturner who utilizes pyrography to intricately embellish the surface of his vessels is creating new, honeybee inspired work for this exhibit and fiber artist Shelley Hoist is taking inspiration from stories of honeybee goddesses in Greek mythology.
The Kahilu Galleries are free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as during all theater performances. Both exhibits run April 7 through June 2. “A Climate of Change” will be in the Kohala Gallery while “Dance of the Bees” will be in the Hamakua Gallery.
Info: www.kahilutheatre.org/exhibits. ■