LIHU‘E — Over the years, Solomon “Kazu” Kauinana has built magnificent sculptures for a number of Hawai‘i’s schools. His works of art include a fleet of O’opu fish at Kapolei High School, sharks at James Campbell High School in Ewa
LIHU‘E — Over the years, Solomon “Kazu” Kauinana has built magnificent sculptures for a number of Hawai‘i’s schools.
His works of art include a fleet of O’opu fish at Kapolei High School, sharks at James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach and a 100-foot long dragon at Kuhio Elementary School in Honolulu.
Kazu has now been commissioned to design and build a sculpture for Kaua‘i Community College in Puhi. Following his Dec. 5 meet and greet with the community, Kazu will be offing a three-week sculpting workshop starting Jan. 12.
The “Communicating Through Figurative Sculpture” workshop will introduce basic instruction on armature construction, human anatomy and figure sculpting, with an emphasis on character development.
The workshop is Jan. 12, 19 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in KCC’s Art room 105. The cost is $20 for KCC students at $60 for the general public.
The class may be of interest to medical, animation, new media, advertising and art students, or anyone interested in how artworks begin, develop and end in fruition, according to the brochure.
Kazu is a Japanese/Hawaiian artist who grew up in Kaimuki on O‘ahu, just outside Waikiki.
“My art career began when I was 7 years old and I received a 2nd grade scholarship to the Honolulu Academy of Arts,” Kazu wrote in an Aug. 21 post on KCC’s blog. “I went to Kamehameha Schools from kindergarten through ninth grade before running away from home to California to surf and shape surfboards at age 15.”
After 25 years on the Mainland, including 13 years in New York City, Kazu returned to Hawai‘i in 1991. Through it all, he kept his passion for art.
“The driving force for my art always starts with an interest in a subject,” he wrote. “The range of subjects is endless. Once I have a subject, I gather information, and with that information develop a concept. The concept inspires me to create a tangible object (usually a sculpture or drawing for a sculpture) that communicates the idea to the viewer. I try to keep the intended ‘meaning’ of the artwork somewhat open so that many can have their own interpretations or version of the piece.”
During the workshop, Kazu will introduce others to “creativity as a way of life,” the brochure states.
For more information or to register for the workshop call the KCC Office of Continuing Education at 245-8319 or visit info.kauai.hawaii.edu/training. Registration is open through Jan. 4.
