LOCAL COLOR
"Surrealism": Pastel chalk by Sione Tau, Grade 7, King Kalakaua Middle School.
It's not unusual to see masks, paintings and exquisite blown glass occupying the space at The ARTS at Mark's Garage, home to artists' visions from the wacky to the sublime. Youngsters see world
through art
By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.comThrough mid-October, the work is just as whimsical and insightful. The only thing different is the artist's ages -- youths in grades 6 to 9.
"The best thing about the show is that kids get their work put in a different light. It's really encouraging to get them public recognition -- have their work in a public display," said Rich Richardson, assistant director at Mark's. "It's a unique reward for doing a good job."
The students were selected by the Hawaii Alliance for Arts education and received awards of excellence. The schools featured are: Clearview Christian Girls School, Kawananakoa Middle School, King David Kalakaua School, Halau Ku Mana PCS, Iolani School, Maryknoll Middle School and Mid-Pacific Institute.
More importantly, art provides a playful approach to serious studies. The show's aim was to demonstrate how the creative process assists students in learning about a variety of subjects. "While the students are doing the glass pieces, they are learning about the basics of physics. They are talking about why things glow, laws of motion, heat, why things melt, atomic theory -- it gets kinda heavy," said Richardson, also an artist.
Iolani students were instructed to create a "light and refreshing" work with mixed media, modeled after something very familiar, shoes.
“Octopus”: Block print by Mitsuhiro Matsuura, Grade 9, Mid-Pacific Institute.
"They took their own shoes off, and put them on their desks," he said. "They chose from a vast supply of art materials: cork, dried flowers, paper, string, wire, pompoms and made their own shoes."
Each pair is unique. Ninth-grader Michelle Fordice's "Mother Nature's Shoes" is an organic composition shaped out of soles and cork heels, festooned with dried flowers and living ivy. Eighth grader Miharu Toguchi's "Kailua Beach" sandals are made of handmade paper wrapped around wire sheets. The straps are the color of the sand, the heels represent the blue ocean and are detailed with delicate shell designs. Others classmates' work was decorated in patriotic, casual and glamorous like fashions.
Richardson said that among adults, art has always been treated as a frivolous trivial pastime. It is only recently that adults are learning to use it as a means to learn more about science, humanities and subjects that otherwise may be considered quite dry, to put it politely.
Each work of art in the exhibition demonstrates at least two of the following: integration into other subjects, imaginative learning environments, parental involvement, exploration into other cultures and respect for the community.
Cultural masks on display, for instance, relate to stories from different ethnic groups. "As they explore the different cultures, they also learn the visual symbolism," said Richardson.
Jane Leones created "The Dancers Mask" and Jocelyn Velasco, "Tribal Mask." Both girls are eighth graders at Kalakaua Middle School and made their detailed pieces using low-fire clay.
"Sudan Woman": Colored pencil by Donna Edades, Grade 7, King Kalakaua Middle School.
Marcia Leung, a sixth grader from Maryknoll, presented an interesting piece entitled, "The Great Turkey Walk," based on a story by Kathleen Karr. Leung built her hamburger with a variety of recycled materials including paper towels, coffee cup lids and parts of Styrofoam containers. The take-apart sandwich offers the artist's views on Karr's story, including character and plot descriptions, and touching on Leung's favorite parts and reaction to the story. So be sure to lift off the bun, lettuce, onions and burger and take a peek beneath each piece.
Some needlepoint pieces on display are based on Hawaiian mythology. Kelly Hee's needlepoint piece represents "Pele's Search for a New Home" and Travis Liu's is "The Puna Chief Who Boasted." Both artists are seventh graders at Maryknoll Middle School.
Rather than simply reading a myth or chant, working in conjunction with an art program is "a more thoroughly engaging experience -- they have to put their own slant on things," Richardson said. "It's more than memorizing or learning verses. They've grown to know the story well enough to draw a picture and tell you what it's all about."
On view: The ARTS at Mark's Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Ave. 'Underage Thinking'
Hours: On display 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays through Oct. 12
Call: 521-2903
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