VIGNETTES

Tongan artist showcases craft

Tongan artist Sopolemamalma Filipe Tohi, known across the globe for his mastery of the ancient Tongan art of lalava, or lashing, will take part in “;Fakataha Pasifika,”; a series of lectures, presentations and workshops starting Wednesday.

Tohi works with a range of media, including wood, stone, steel and digital images, to expand on the traditional Pacific island art form that originally employed coconut sennit as a wrap for beams of fales and canoes.

Yet lalava had more than a utilitarian purpose. The lashings served as a means to record scientific, cultural and environmental knowledge.

Tohi will discuss how lalava patterns were a mnemonic device for representing philosophy and served as metaphorical and physical ties to cultural knowledge. The schedule:

» 6 p.m. Wednesday: Lecture, University of Hawaii-Manoa art auditorium, call 956-7700 or visit www.uhintersections.blogspot.com.

» 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday: Sculpture demonstration and workshop, UH-Manoa art building. Preregistration required; e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

» 4 p.m. April 12: Lecture, UH-Hilo, Room UCB 127, 974-7472 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

» 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 14: Seminar, East-West Center, visit www.hsblinks.com/291.

» 9:30 a.m. to noon April 18: Workshop, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park in Kona, 329-6881, ext. 1329.

Don't miss

» ”;Artfest: Promoting the Arts,”; a day of exhibits, presentations and performances, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the state Capitol rotunda and third-floor lanai.

» ”;ConTempo 2010: UNconventional Views,”; The Contemporary Museum's annual fundraiser on Saturday will feature fine art by local artists, entertainment, dinner and a silent auction. Sales benefit the museum's art education programs and participating artists. Tickets are $500; tables start at $5,000. Call 237-5210 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).