Young At Art 2021

Program type:

Dates:

Saturday, March 6, 2021 - 10:00am to Friday, March 26, 2021 - 4:00pm

The 33rd Annual Young At Art Juried Exhibit 2021

CommUnity: Finding Togetherness In Distance

Flickr album and Image Gallery at the bottom of the page!

The theme of the 2021 Young at Art Exhibit is CommUnity: Finding Togetherness in Distance. It offers an opportunity for students to express their thoughts and feelings about the world around them while exploring the “why” behind their creative process.

The past year has been unprecedented to say the least - a global pandemic, wildfires, a divided electorate, and more. Now it is more important than ever to create and use art as a form of expression. Creativity is essential in problem solving and facing challenges, a necessary tool for developing minds. At a time when uncertainty is prevalent and there are many worries and fears for the future, students are encouraged to make art inspired by the experiences and challenges they have faced or witnessed in the past year and to use art to explore their thoughts and emotions. We would like to challenge all young artists to explore topics and issues that are important to them.

Students were asked to create artwork that shows a current event or issue that they find important, including but not limited to equality, climate change, health, and being apart from loved ones and classmates. They were asked to pull inspiration from feelings and emotions experienced in the past year. There are people all over the world experiencing many of the same things at the same time, and even though we are physically apart, we are able to remain connected through a shared love of art.

In lieu of our annual opening ceremony celebration, which is cancelled due to the pandemic, we are finding new ways to supplement the exhibit and celebrate keiki throughout the month.

Exhibit On View: March 6–26, 2021

Gallery Hours:

Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Saturdays, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

Due to social distancing guidelines, only 10 people allowed in the gallery at a time- please plan your visiting accordingly. Mahalo for your cooperation and time!

Click the following links to see what else we have planned!

https://www.ehcc.org/yasspring21

https://www.ehcc.org/ehcckalakauapark21

Awards

Message from Hawai‘i County Mayor, Mitch Roth

Meet the Judges

Andrew Richard Hara

Bio

Andrew Richard Hara’s photography is relentless in the pursuit of capturing distinctive images of planet Earth. Marked by a strong play of forces between environment and human-made structures, his work is grounded in beauty and yet inextricably linked to the contemporary influences of technology. His photographs focus on the contrast of light and darkness, inviting the viewer to inhabit the indescribable, visceral presence between objects and moments.

Hara is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he earned a photography and digital imaging degree, with honors, in 2009. After architectural, forensic and fine-art photography work with mainland business, government agencies, and the American Institute of Architecture, he returned home to Hawaii Island to reconnect with his birthplace and to apply his education and expertise to serve the arts and progressive sciences, including environmental conservation and sustainability.

Hara’s current client list includes National Geographic Society, NASA, Department of Defense, CERN, Vanity Fair, BBC, Time Magazine, United States Geological Survey, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Arc’teryx, Alpa of Switzerland, Phase One Digital Camera Systems, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hana Hou! Magazine, Four Seasons Resorts, W. M. Keck Observatory, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, and the Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests.

As a Visual Media Specialist, Hara uses his skills in photography, videography, strategic marketing, and strategic partnerships to support thriving, responsible and compassionate communities within Hawaii. Andrew’s passion and focus are used to interpret and tell stories of culture, science, and environmental conservation throughout the diversity of Earth. He focuses on developing marketing content and strategies for small businesses, non-profits, and larger corporations to help create sustainable models of business in the State of Hawaii. A portion of his work is donated and/or volunteered to help private and government sectors to support community wealth and culture. And while his professional purpose leads him far and wide to explore the visual diversity of this world, Hawaii will always be his home and his priority.

Miya Tsukazaki

A Message for the Artists:

Congratulations to each and every one of you who entered and received awards in the East Hawaii Cultural Center’s 33rd Annual Young At Art exhibition! I was very impressed by the incredible level of talent, thoughtfulness and drive that each of you put into your artworks and felt that your efforts were absolutely stunning. I see a lot of potential in all of you and encourage you to continue practicing and honing your skills. I too was a part of this exhibition as a young student a long time ago, and the experience gave me a lot of confidence and has stayed with me as a happy memory of my youth. Your art skills will always be there for you, as a creative outlet or as a potential career as you grow older - so keep doing what you are doing! Congratulations again on a job well done. :)

Your statements of work are also an important reflection of our Big Island community at this time and your honesty will reach many others who share your thoughts and feelings. Thank you for your bravery and for bringing positivity into our lives through your art! I wish you all the best in continuing your varying mediums and in exploring new avenues that inspire you. Aloha nui!

Bio

Miya Tsukazaki was born and raised in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai’i. Her studies in environmental law, combined with her work

experience and travels worldwide - ranging from art media direction, artist relations and project management - culminated with the creation

of her brainchild, Temple Children.

Miya graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2005 with a B.A. in Psychology and the William S. Richardson

School of Law in 2011 with a Certificate in Environmental Law. Her life's passions are local/seasonal cooking, camping off the grid and spearfishing.

Gerald Lucena

Bio

Gerald Lucena (b. 1967), was raised in Kona and currently lives on a coffee farm in Captain Cook, Hawaii. He earned his BFA in drawing and painting from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He also attended the State University of New York at Stony Brook and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine. Since then, he has exhibited in Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts and has created public murals for the West Hawaii Community Health Center in Kealakekua and Innovations Public Charter School in Kailua-Kona. He also designed sets and costumes for the Aloha Performing Arts Company at the historical Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu, Hawaii. Gerald Lucena is currently the youth and fibers program coordinator at the Donkey Mill Art Center and has taught drawing, painting, fiber arts (papermaking, weaving, indigo/natural dye, floral design, and lei-making) and mixed media to all ages for over a decade.

MAHALO TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS YEAR’S EXHIBITION POSSIBLE!:

East Hawai‘i Cultural Center

Department of Education, Hawaii District

Akamai Art Supply, Inc.

Andrew Hara

Ben Franklin Crafts

Big Island Machine & Hydraulics

C&F Trucking

Cafe 100

CARSS, LLC

Dr. and Mrs. Don Matsuura

Emi Kobayashi