Every March the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center celebrates youth art.  Now in its 34th year, the “Young At Art” exhibit (YAA) offers Big Island keiki a chance to submit artwork for a juried exhibition, complete with prizes and awards for the best submissions in several categories.  The theme of this year’s exhibit is “Place: Spaces That Shape Us.” In order to create their artwork, students were invited to reflect on settings and spaces that help shape who they are.

Nearly 200 paintings, drawings and sculptures will be on display at EHCC and in satellite locations.  Additionally, the YAA exhibit will have satellite exhibitions at the Hilo Public Library and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center.

In conjunction with the exhibition, EHCC is collaborating with several partners to celebrate Youth Art Month by offering free art activities culminating in a display in Kalākaua Park. This year features a community-generated kinetic art installation of pinwheels and windmills (made almost entirely from recycled materials) that were created by youth participating in “YAS2,” a program of free Saturday art activities on the EHCC lanai, or taking part in activities at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center and the Hilo Public Library.  After School All Stars and the Hawai’i Science and Technology Museum helped children to assemble windmills from recycled plastic bottles, which are now installed on beams above the Park walkway. Wind-spinners grace the banks of the pond, and were designed by keiki at EHCC along with the Hilo High School Art Club, assisted by local woodworker Jerry Moulton.

For more information, visit EHCC online at ehcc.org, call 808-961-5711, or visit EHCC at 141 Kalakaua Street. Current gallery and office hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photo credit: East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center