Description:
“Children are the ways the world begins again and again.” - June Jordan
Ignited by fires of creativity, young artists and their kumu embark on a quest to explore kīpuka, pockets of undisturbed land surrounded by younger lava flows–“islands” within seas of ʻaʻā and pāhoehoe. Each summer, the Donkey Mill Art Center transforms into a kīpuka, a protected oasis where young artists thrive as they play, build curiosity and express joy. With nature as their teacher, young artists imagine their own kīpuka through interdisciplinary art practices combining drawing, painting, fiber arts, mālama ʻāina, sculpture, music, and movement inspired by stories rooted in place.
Expect the unexpected in this celebratory exhibition of artworks by over 35 students between the ages of 6 and 18. Tap into your childlike sense of wonder and explore these magical visions of kīpuka—a place you can get lost in the moment, be immersed in expressions of aloha and inspired to spread joy—a new “forest” on the barren lava.
This exhibition was curated by Mina Elison and Gerald Lucena in collaboration with contributing teaching artists.
Contributing Teaching Artists
Akiceri Alejandra Carrillo-Estrada, Angaea Cuna, Puakea Forester, Tomoko Nakazato, Hunter Buck, Seb Choe, Gerald Lucena, Miho Morinoue, Paulina Castillo and Lilikoi Yod.
Participating Artists
Featuring the work of the young artists from the 2024 Summer Art Experience: Kīpuka
Exhibition on View: July 12 - August 3
Mahalo
This exhibition was made possible by the generosity of the Mary Silverwood Fund and Suzanne and Carl Merner and support from The Hiroaki Elaine & Lawrence Kono Foundation, Holualoa Inn, Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Biennium Grant and our community of individual donors.
Featured Artwork: Summer Art Experience Youth, 2024
About the 2024 Summer Art Experience: Kīpuka
ʻO ka makamae a mālama ʻia
The Precious and Protected
Imagine you are a great winged creature soaring above our island of Hawaiʻi, of lands untouched by humans. Stretches of barren lava, dark oceans of aʻa and pahoehoe for as far as the eyes can see. In the distance, islands of ancient forests emerge as olivine gems, an oasis, a kīpuka.
In this five week program, young artists ages 6-12 years old explore various ideas of kīpuka through the lens of self, ohana, our island community, and global awareness. Through interdisciplinary art practices, mixing drawing, painting, fiber arts, malama ʻāina, sculpture, music, movement inspired by stories rooted in place, young artists learn from nature and imagine their own sense of kīpuka. What can we learn by acknowledging and immersing ourselves in these protected places we call kīpuka?
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