LIHU‘E — Hundreds of young artists submitted paintings to vie for a spot in the 23rd Mokichi Okada Association Museum of Art Children’s Painting exhibition. Among the 213 entries submitted last February, 21 were selected to be on display as
LIHU‘E — Hundreds of young artists submitted paintings to vie for a spot in the 23rd Mokichi Okada Association Museum of Art Children’s Painting exhibition.
Among the 213 entries submitted last February, 21 were selected to be on display as part of the exhibit “Beauty Through The Eyes of Our Children.” The entries are available for public viewing March 21–26 at the Children of Culture & Arts Gallery located in the lobby of the County of Kaua‘i Pi‘ikoi Building in Lihu‘e.
A panel of three judges will select one piece as Best in Show during an awards ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m., March 26.
The Best in Show piece will be sent to Japan to be entered in the international competition and select entries will be forwarded to Honolulu to be included as part of the Hawai‘i State Exhibition at the Honolulu Academy of Arts Linekona Art Center.
The contest was open to elementary school students from kindergarten through the fifth grade. The young artists were asked to use paint, crayons, color pencils, chalk or ink to create a scene depicting a positive island-style life. Scenes ranged from a a colorful sunset to family gatherings to hula dancers to a biker riding along the coast.
“As far as MOA is concerned, we put a lot of priority on the arts and the beauty of nature,” said Wes Shoda, MOA Kaua‘i Branch Manager. “We try to not only bring beauty in our lives, but bring the children and parents together. We see how proud the parents are of their children.”
Shoda, who has been involved with Kaua‘i division of MOA for the past two years, hopes to bring in more community involvement during next year’s art contest.
“We hope that more time can be spent on the arts. Not only visual arts, but spending time in nature and do things like start a garden.,” he said. “That is something you want the children to understand.
According to Shoda, more than 5,000 submissions were submitted to MOA worldwide, including paintings from South America, Asia and Europe. Shoda said that 1,700 students in the state of Hawai‘i submitted paintings.
MOA is an international organization founded by Okada Mokichi. The organization aims to create healthy lifestyles for individuals that is harmonious with nature.
Sponsors of the art contest include MOA Museum of Art, MOA Hawai‘i, Japan-Brazil Art League, Kaua‘i Academy of Creative Arts, County of Kaua‘i and the Department of Parks and Recreation.
“Beauty Through The Eyes of Our Children” will be on display March 21–26 at the Children of Culture & Arts Gallery located in the County of Kaua‘i Pi‘ikoi Building in Lihu‘e. An awards ceremony will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 26.
For more information about MOA or the exhibit, call Wes Shoda at 245-4577.
• Andrea Frainier, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or afrainier@ thegardenisland.com.
