PUHI — Evidence of previous Art Day Celebrations can be found on various parts of the Island School campus. Students added to these creations last week when 27 visiting artists hosted 66 workshops for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. “When you
PUHI — Evidence of previous Art Day Celebrations can be found on various parts of the Island School campus.
Students added to these creations last week when 27 visiting artists hosted 66 workshops for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
“When you have 362 students doing art, there will be a lot of art at the end of the day,” said Joan Shaw of Island School.
Carol Bennett, working with Wayne Zebsda, had one of her murals decorating the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten buildings.
On Friday, the pair of visiting artists worked with high school students to create a mural which would eventually frame the west entrance to the Hawaiian Studies building.
“We’re so lucky to have Carol,” Shaw said. “She is known around the world and to have her work with our students is a real treat.”
Fred Tangalin — known for his work with ‘Ele‘ele Elementary School and the murals he created for kupuna Janet Kahalekomo’s
Hawaiiana program, as well as other pieces, such as the one decorating the Hanapepe Post Office — switched his medium for the Island School celebration. He worked with students in creating a larger-than-life paper sculpture created from rolled-up sheets of paper.
Other artists included Island School teachers who do art as a pastime, such as Kerith Edwards who led the mandalas and zen tangles section.
“She’s one of our teachers but does art as well,” Shaw said. “Today, she’s working with the students in mandalas.”
Shaw said the Art Day Celebration started about 15 years ago, inspired by her daughter’s preschool.
Since those days, the annual celebration has grown to incorporate a variety of art forms for all students in the primary group through high school.
Painting coconuts and basic shapes for use in a mural to more sophisticated techniques involving drawing chiaroscuro, surfboard resin painting and pinhole photography kept the students busy throughout the day.
“We even have about 40 parent volunteers who baked things for the visiting artists,” Shaw said.
During the break, Shaw said there were entertainment stations set up around the 38-acre campus offering a variety of unique music and presentations, culminating with a performance by the Rakudo taiko group.
She said during the lunch break, students were welcome to an Art Walk, enjoying the products of the different classes in the main hall.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
