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Contemporary Museum
"Remembering Pool" performance during last year's
ArtSpree at the Contemporary Museum.

Dive into
ArtSpree 2000

Here, they want you to
touch the art through
hands-on festivities

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

The Contemporary Museum on Saturday throws open its doors to visitors and locals alike in a mass celebration of contemporary art and artists for the 7th annual ArtSpree 2000.

The event features hands-on participation, demonstrations and performances of contemporary dance, music, visual art and storytelling, meant for exploration and discovery by individuals and families with children of all ages.

"This is a people event designed to broaden public awareness of contemporary art and appreciation and understanding of contemporary art," said Georgianna Lagoria, the Contemporary's director.

For the first time, ArtSpree has a sponsor. The Honu Group is underwriting the event and providing free parking and shuttle service from King Kalakaua Plaza in Waikiki.

Events include:

Kristin Pauka's "Dragon Dance": A hybrid dance with a mythological multiethnic dragon, accompanied by live percussion, 10:45 to 10:55 p.m.
Naoko Maeshiba's "Tender Meat," a creative drama and movement, 1:45 to 2 p.m.
Quala-Lynn: "Laundry," a large ensemble piece about women and their relationships with each other and the ways in which even simple things like doing laundry can be poignant and funny. It will be performed in the museum's reflecting pool, 1:15-1:45 p.m.
Tangentz: "Petri Dish," a performance by Lori Ohtani's dance group demonstrating humans' individuality and commonality when buffeted by the forces of nature, 11 a.m. to 11:30 on the tennis court.
Monika Lilleike: "The Snake That Ate Its Own Tail," 12:15-12:30 p.m.

Also scheduled to perform are musicians Greg MacDonald on steel drums; Jake Shimabukuro of Pure Heart; Corey Funai of Bluzilla, performing "Da Blues" and with lots of harmonicas; Pierre Grille and L'Escargot, giving old world beat a French twist; Steve Dinion with late 20th century classical/avant-garde music in the galleries; Cajun-spiced fare from Manny's Bones, performed in the cafe; and African primal percussion from Michel Lufty.

Artists scheduled to demonstrate their work include Jeff Chang, with a wheel thrown pottery demo; Carl Fieber and Rochelle Lum, demonstrating hand-building with clay; Ken Kang showing the how-tos of raku firing; Cheri Keefer doing face and body painting; David Landry with a hands-on demonstration of wire self-portraits; Ellen Leo and Kate Whitcomb with a hands-on recycled assemblage session; environmental weaving with Suzanne Marinelli; sculpting with Frank Sheriff; and hands-on printmaking with Laura Smith.

Contemporary Musuem
David Ward performs during ArtSpree1999 at the
Contemporary Museum in Makiki.

In addition, there will be expression sessions for children ages 5 and up. The sessions involve the making of collage jewelry, brooches and magnets. These will be assembled from matte board, puzzle parts, old calendars, beads, buttons and miscellaneous recycled stuff glued together to create one of a kind works of art.

Artist facilitators for the day are ceramic artist and teacher Gail Hazelhurst; etched glass artist and Lanikai Elementary teacher Linda von Geldern; TCM educator and Artist in the Schools teacher Liz Train; and TCM educator and Honolulu Academy of Arts teacher Lena Ching.

"We have many demonstrating artists that will allow people to take part in the creative process," Lagoria said. "We want everyone to feel the creative spirit and to associate it with the Contemporary and come back."

Art celebration What: ArtSpree 2000 When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Where: The Contemporary Museum, 2411 Makiki Heights Drive Cost: Free Call: 526-1322 Notes: Free shuttle service will be offered from Roosevelt High School and Waikiki every hour to/from King Kalakaua Plaza; free parking for ArtSpree in King Kalakaua Plaza garage from the Kalaimoku Street entrance.

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calendars and events.