The East Hawai‘i Cultural Center and its collaborators are celebrating Youth Art Month with an island-wide exhibition of student artwork and a novel installation in Kalākaua Park.

Now through March 29, the park will showcase more than 400 artworks cut from recycled aluminum cans, which are shaped into Hawaiian native plants naupaka, kupu kupu fern, koa leaves and flowers,  painted by island children and youth.

Some of the painting was done by students from Mt. View, Nāʻālehu and Kohala Elementary Schools during EHCC-sponsored “Art Nights,” free family fun events that included dinner and a take-home art activity along with the native plant painting.

Keiki who attended EHCC’s free art activities (held each second Saturday of the month) in January and February also contributed to the painting, as well as students from Hilo High School Art Club, Konawaena High School National Art Honor Society, and Haʻaheo Elementary School.

The native plant art in the Park is accompanied by signage and native birds, also fashioned from recycled aluminum cans, made by the Waiākea Intermediate School Art Club under the direction of advisor Carrie Edgil.

This month’s celebration also includes the 36th annual Young At Art satellite exhibition. Young At Art is a juried exhibition that recognizes the brilliance and creativity of K-12 students on Hawai‘i Island from public, charter, private and home schools. This year’s judges are: artist, muralist, and arts educator Boz Schurr; founder and director of Laulima Nature Center Danya Weber; and PangeaSeed Foundation’s founder and executive director Tré Packard and director of operations Akira Biondo.

The judges selected 221 artworks that are showcased at 22 locations around the island, including the Mayor’s office, the Palace Theater, Queen’s Marketplace, the West Hawai’i Civic Center, Keaʻau Public Library, and more.

For more information visit EHCC at ehcc.org  or call 961-5711.

 

Photo credit: EHCC