The Hawaiʻi Artist Collaboration (Collab) creates unique opportunities for artists and arts organizations to come together, integrating their collective knowledge, experience, and resources to benefit communities and society as a whole.
For more than a decade, master artists from Hawaiʻi and around the world have gathered annually for a five-day intensive, producing remarkable artworks that are then sold at Collab’s annual charity auction. Proceeds from these art sales and event tickets support classroom art supplies, scholarships, and future educational and collaborative events.
Last year, Donkey Mill Art Center’s Program Director, Miho Morinoue, participated in Collab, working closely with artists like Benoit Averly, KIra Kamamalu, Alex Gupton, Peter Underwood, Adare, and Kate Jacobson. The experience was an adrenaline-filled journey of inspiration and discovery, sparking ideas on how such collaborative energy could be brought into the classroom or the Mill itself.
These insights led to conversations about expanding access, enabling teaching artists to experience the collaborative process and consider how Collab could adapt to different learning environments.
We’re thrilled to announce that this year, two teaching artists from Donkey Mill Art Center will join Collab: Metalsmithing Instructor Theresa Lovering-Brown and Teaching Artist Angaea Cuna, the latter participating through a special Collab scholarship as part of their “Teach the Teacher” initiative.
When asked about her experience so far, Angaea shared, “It feels like art boot camp—if art camp was fun and you willingly challenged yourself with incredible and nearly impossible projects. What I love most is that I have so many ideas in my head I can’t realize alone. Being surrounded by masters of their craft, who are also kind and generous people, makes collaboration feel inspiring rather than intimidating.”
Additionally, this past summer, Collab generously provided a full scholarship for a young artist, Mahea Hill (age 17), to participate in our five-week Summer Art Experience. We look forward to deepening our relationship with Collab to empower students and teachers alike, demonstrating how the power of collaboration can be a catalyst for positive change.
Mahalo nui loa to Tai Lake, founder of Hawaiʻi Artist Collab, his ‘ohana, and the Collab Board for the invitation to participate and for the continual momentum of these inspiring initiatives.
The artwork produced during the week at Collab (happening now!) will be offered for sale at a Silent and Live Auction on Saturday, November 9. Proceeds from the auction and ticket sales help fund art supplies for Hawai‘i Island art teachers and support future events.