A new tv program ”HI on art”produced by former Hawaii State Senator and arts advocate Wil Espero will premiere on Saturday July 20, 2019 on Oceanic Cable Channel 11@11pm. It is a weekly program that will focus on local Hawai’i artists of all media and practices in various stages of their career. The program seeks to bring visibility to artists working in the islands and to showcase the wide array of talent and issues being tackled by these creators and makers.
The initial season premieres with introducing five artists: Jodi Endicott a sculptor working with issues of the economy and climate change; Estria Miyashiro mural and graffitti artist, promoting youth development, arts education, cultural preservation, and community-building through the creation of Mele Murals; Richie Lucero tatttoo artist of Black Cat Tattoo helping others find their expression through his artistry; Anne Namba, Fashion Designer giving validation and empowerment through presentation and adornment; Dawn Yoshimura creator/storyteller uses art to learn about ourselves and others in order to build community and environmental care.
Tell friends and family and if you have a story to share with Hawai’i contact HI on Art at www.hionart.com! Contact Wil or Fred to tell them how much you enjoy the show or tip them off on talent they should showcase on 11@11.
I sincerely hope this show is a sustained success, not just because I was fortunate to be one of the early guests, but because I think there is a certain amount of invisibility of artists, despite claims that Hawai’i has a higher than national average of artists than other parts of the country. Maybe this show will help bridge that gap and help open the processes behind the creative process and artistic practice so appreciation can build and support the continued work of artists working in Hawai’i.
Everyone living here knows how hard it is to make a living and support one’s family–so choosing to be a practicing artist means an added level of challenge and commitment when sometimes the value of an artist to society is not so well understood or appreciated. Artists are valuable because they are the ones who create, reflect and comment on our culture. They are on the fringes because they are the ones who look ahead, or in the thick of our daily life, reflect on our existence and whether a pleasant affirmation or an uncomfortable question that they raise in their making of art, without artists, we are just existing, consuming without purpose and disappearing into dust when our lives on this earth is spent.
What do you think? Feel free to leave a comment or your review of the show after July 20th.