Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 4, 1 April 2016 — Maoli Arts Movement commences in April [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Maoli Arts Movement commences in April

By Ka Wai Ola Staff

Over the past decade, Maoli Arts Month has grown into the Maoli Arts Movement, showcasing more than 60 native artists at venues on four islands with popular events like the Native Hawaiian Arts Market and the M AMo Wearable Arts Show. This September, MAMo artists will even be featured at the Lower Saxony State Museum in Germany. "Our mission for PA'I was to raise the awareness of Native Hawaiian art and artists and to be able to help promote and support that by providing a venue and our MAMo artist guide," says PA'I Foundation Executive Director Vicky Holtīakamine. That artist guide has been significant, leading to commissions for listed artists. Prior to MAMo, native artists were often overlooked for commission work, īakamine points out. For example, the state commissioned more than $ 1 million in artwork when the Hawai'i Convention Center opened and not one Native Hawaiian artist was represented. "The visual artists were upset," says īakamine, who is a kumu hula, but not a visual artist herself.

Photos: Kapulani Landgraf, courtesy ofPA'l Foundation "As a social justice advocate for Native Hawaiians, I was offended for our visual artists, and as a Native Hawaiian, I was offended that we had been overlooked again." īakamine and others realized that if they wanted to raise awareness about the diversity of artists and celebrate Native Hawaiian traditional and contemporary artists, they were going to have to do it themselves. "If no one is going to advocate for Native Hawaiian artists, we need to toot our own horns," she said. Holt said she's particularly excited about this year's juried art exhibit, whieh will be opening April 7 with an awards ceremony at OHA's Nā Lama Kukui. Artists were invited to submit recent work, then previous MAMo awardees and other artists selected whieh items to display. Both of this year's awardees - photographer Kapulani Landgraf and designer Nelson Makua - will have pieces on display at the juried exhibit, īakamine said. In addition, Makua, a Hawai'i Island artist, will be featured at the MAMo Gallery at the Wailoa Art Center in Hilo from April 8 to 29. Landgraf, of O'ahu, will be featured in a showing at the

ARTS at Marks Garage from May 3 to 28. There will be two opportunities to shop at the MAMo Arts Market this year, including one held during the April 16 Honolulu Night Market at SALT in Kaka'ako, between Auahi and Keawe streets. The market will have Native Hawaiian art for sale, a mini showcase teasing the MAMo Wearable Art Show and cultural demonstrations. On May 7, residents and visitors alike ean enjoy the MAMo Arts Market in the heart of Waiklkl at the Royal Hawaiian Center's Helumoa Grove. The popular MAMo Wearable Art Show will be held on two islands this year, featuring different artists at eaeh venue - May 18 at Hawai'i Theatre in Honolulu and June 25 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. With culturally-inspired designs, feather and shell work, tattoo art, kapa and lauhala, organizers say, "This is not your typical fashion show." ■

CULTURE

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Calendar of Events: . April 7, 2016 - MAMo Juried Exhibit and f Awards - OHA Nā Lama Kukui, Honolulu W April 8 - 29, 2016 - MAMo Gallery at the J Wailoa Art Center, Hilo April 16, 2016 - Kaka 'ako/SALT - MAMo at the Honolulu Night Market i May 6, 2016 — The ARTS at Marks Garage

- MAMo First Friday Gallery Walk, k Honolulu

iviay / , zuib - Koyai nawanan Center - MAMo Arts Market at l Helumoa, Honolulu E May 12, 2015 - Honolulu & Museum of Arts Doris Duke i Theater - MAMo Film Fest, | Honolulu k May 13, 2016 — Honolulu I Museum of Arts - Mo'olelo Y Storytelling Festival, Honolulu May 18, 2016 - Hawai'i

Theatre (Silent Auction and V Trunk Show) - 10th Annual MAMo Wearable Art Show, Honolulu June 25, 2016 - Maui Arts & j Cultural Center - MAMo at the MACC, :■ Wailuku

PW», 1 September 29, 2016 - Lower

Saxony State Museum - Aloha Aina Gallery, Hannover, Germany *Kaua 'i Exhibit and Kaua 'i Arts Market dates and loeaiion to be announced.