HILife Cover Story: ARTafterDARK

ARTafterDARK returns

Courtesy ARTafterDARK

‘ARTAFTERDARK’ » Where: Honolulu Academy of Arts, 900 S. Beretania St. » When: 6 to 9 p.m. today » Cost: $10 (free for HAA members) » Info: 532-8724 or www.artafterdark.org 2010 Schedule: >> March 26: “Noruz,” a celebration of Persian New Year >> April 30: “Camelot,” a tribute to the iconic Kennedy Cape Cod lifestyle of yore. >> May 28: “About Face, Forward March!” — a shout-out to Memorial Day, with an ambience that evokes the Andrews Sisters and “From Here to Eternity” >> June 25: “Bali High,” spotlighting the exhibition “Four Thousand Years of Southeast Asian Art” >> July 30: “Plaza del Toro,” a Spanish night that pays tribute to Pamplona’s running of the bulls, with focus on Sanit Khewhok’s Catherine E.B. Cox Award exhibit. >> Aug. 27: “The Wonder Years,” art through the eyes of a child. >> Sept. 24: “Silk Road,” featuring Chinese snuff bottles and a fashion show of Tori Richard’s new line. >> Oct. 29: “Seven Deadly Sins,” a spotlight on Halloween

By Joleen Oshiro
joshiro@starbulletin.com

It might seem like an odd fit at first: Victorian portraiture as part of the lineup at “Mad for Modern,” the inaugural ARTafterDARK for 2010.

The Honolulu Academy of Arts’ monthly party is themed; this time, it’s built around the museum’s big Spring show, “From Whistler to Warhol: Modernism on Paper,” and the event’s other entertainment easily fits the bill: a live video installation by Joseph Pa‘ahana, figure sketches by artist Lauren Roth, DJ Nicky Savage and a performance by local indie rockers Clones of the Queen. Town and Downtown restaurants will provide food and drinks.

So how and where does artist-in-residence Elizabeth Curtis’ photographic project fit in?

“The idea of portraits has changed over the years,” said academy staffer Aaron Padilla, explaining how in the recent past the medium seemed outmoded. “But today, social networking sites are relying on portraits again.”

Curtis will shoot portraits of attendees in the Banyan Courtyard; interested groups of up to five people can sign up at the museum entrance.

As the old adage goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

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Do It: Slow Art Friday

Chinatown mellows with Slow Art Friday

With Chinatown’s First Fridays generally being louder and more event-driven, Slow Art Fridays is being introduced as the slower-paced alternative, with artist receptions and opportunities to foster a deep and fulfilling appreciation of the arts. It will repeat every third Friday of the month.

Featured at this weekend’s inaugural event:

>> Hawaiian food, music and dance to compliment the ARTS at Marks Garage’s (1159 Nuuanu Ave.) cultural exhibit from the Bishop Museum, “Hui Panala‘au,” exploring the occupation of isolated Pacific islands in the years proceeding World War II.

>> At the Peggy Chun Gallery (1161 Nuuanu Ave.), the opening of Arna Johnson and Geralyn Camarillo’s show “Ulawena: Light from Within,” which will run through Feb. 13. Also in honor of the new year and the start of Slow Art Fridays, a special sale of Peggy Chun originals and giclées, up to 50 percent off.

>> The Hoku award-winning Hawaiian duo of Kupaoa will be playing new music from their forthcoming CD and signing copies of their latest release, “Pili o ke Ao” at the Bethel Street Gallery (1140 Bethel St.). Ten percent off sales of any original art will also be happening during the event.

Other confirmed participants include Louis Pohl Gallery (1111 Nuuanu Ave.), Bambu 2.0 (1144 Bethel St., the former rRed Elephant location), Studio of Roy Venters (1160-A Nuuanu Ave.), Chinatown Boardroom (1160 Nuuanu Ave.), Hank’s Cafe and the Dragon Upstairs (1038 Nuuanu Ave.), the Art Treasures Gallery (1136 Nuuanu Ave.), the Manifest (38 N. Hotel St.), thirtyninehotel (39 N. Hotel St.) and Soul de Cuba (1121 Bethel St.).

>> Where: Chinatown Arts District, Downtown
>> When: 5 to 9 p.m. Jan. 15
>> Cost: Free
>> Info: 521-2903 or www.hawaiiartsalliance.org

Inside HILife: Rich Richardson

Curator has his day

Courtesy Rich Richardson FIRST FRIDAY ‘Cartoon Boys Invade Chinatown’ artwork by Rich Richardson » Where: Bar 35, 35 N. Hotel St. » When: Today through Jan. 29 » Cost: Free » Info: 537-3535

By Joleen Oshiro
joshiro@starbulletin.com

It’s not often that Rich Richardson plays the role of exhibiting artist. While it’s true the creative director of the ARTS at Marks Garage has opportunities to show the occasional piece of artwork, he mostly spends his time curating the exhibits of other folks, presenting performing arts shows and grant writing, managing and promoting for Marks Garage and the larger Chinatown community.

Through Jan. 29, however, patrons of Bar 35 will have the chance to contemplate Richardson’s artistic sensibilities through the collection of his latest work, “Cartoon Cowboys Invade Chinatown.”

“I took something iconic from Western culture, the cowboy, and juxtaposed rugged individualism with Eastern philosophy buzzwords,” he explained. “I had friends translate the (Chinese characters) for me.

“I thought the visual impact would be funny. Basically, it’s an elaborate joke, a conceptual joke. I’m interested in that kind of collision of two different forces.”

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Inside HILife: ‘repurpose’ at town

Craig T. Kojima /ckojima@starbulletin.com

‘REPURPOSE’ Part of the “art@town” series featuring the work of local artists Where: town, 3435 Waialae Ave. When: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, through June 6 Cost: Free Info: 735-5900 or visitwww.townkaimuki.com

By Joleen Oshiro / joshiro@starbulletin.com

Those looking to succeed in the new order of resourcefulness and economy can look to two local artists for their lead.

A joint art show by Maikai Tubbs and Otto, “repurpose,” on display at town restaurant, presents their perspectives on materialism, waste and reuse.
“I like to use things that normally would be trashed,” says Otto, whose pieces at town include paintings of killer ants and sculptures of orbs. “People like to buy something that ‘looks cute,’ but when it gets old and isn’t cute anymore, they throw it out. I like to recycle things in my art and give it another life.

“You can papier-mache almost anything and make it your own,” he continues. “I usually use layers of newspaper to cover old canvases … and they become brand new.”

Tubbs says he’s been “a junk collector for as long as I know.” It’s a habit he believes is rooted in the thrifty values of his Chinese grandmother.

“My Nana is always saving stuff. You know those slabs of wood from the kamaboko? She keeps all of those. She says we could use them as bookmarks,” he says with a hearty laugh. “And she’s into containers. Coffee cans: saved. Mayonnaise jars: saved. My Nana has like five typewriter stands which she piles more junk on. Sometimes when she’s cooking, my auntie (tries to get rid) of things … but if Nana sees her stuff at Goodwill or Salvation Army, she buys it back!”

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