Moxie opens November 19 and is on view through December 29 2023 at the Hawaii Pacific University Gallery, Kaneohe campus. This exhibit explores the spirit of Moxie as these kūpuna showed their grit as the Covid19 pandemic unfolded in 2020. Palama Settlement is the sponsor for the artwork produced by members from January 2020 until the present. This painting, Something Fishy by Yvonne Fong, shows the creative power art has to evoke many emotions and surprising stories. The exhibit features works by beginners, more experienced students, and art journaling done by the kupūna of Palama Settlement.
Click on these links to browse the artist journals on display in Moxie.
Black and White by Judy Y. “The Black and White who add the light of life!” The tale of Judyʻs three cats and how they came to be a part of her family and together bring harmony and joy into her life.
The 1970s by Kay S. “Since its approval in 1972 I started using the Ms. title and kept my maiden name as a middle name. Womensʻ rights continued to strengthen so I raised my daughter differently from how I was raised…I felt privileged to have Patsy Minkʻs daughter as a classmate for a short time because she was instrumental in passing Title IX legislation. Today I enjoy watching womensʻ sports competitions.”
My Watercolor Journey by L. Chin “My art journey may have started back in the 5th grade when my poem “Funny Space Creature” was published along with this drawing in the local newspaper. Fast forward to retirement and lessons on watercolor from kumu Dawn Yoshimura and hopefully my skills have improved a little! My collection of class assignments provides a backdrop for jotting down, sketching or painting my reflections of lifeʻs special moments whenever they come to mind!”
Switzerland and Portugal by Connie S. “A journey home after many years, a reunion with friends, family and the landscapes encountered captured in daily sketches as part of reflection each evening while on the trip.
Liliana and Yuki by Daryl C. “This is my first attempt at producing an art journal. It was focused specifically on the struggle of a 4-year old trying to understand the concept of life and death. Unfortunately, death struck twice in this young girlʻs life within a couple of weeks of each other. Due to her age, it has been a difficult couple of months. Because of the emotional aspect of this project, it was a real challenge to produce this journal. I hope to be able to do another chapter in her life that will be on a happier note. Until then…thank you for taking the time to read my journal. “
De Colores by Frances W. “When people ask me if I remember something, I donʻt. They will tell me about something, what happened, what it looked like, who said what, I donʻt remember. But I remember colors.”
Sumo by Judy K. “Why Sumo? In spring 2021 I took my first art class with Dawn. It was ONLINE due to COVID restrictions. Beginner Drawing. I was surprised to learn that I could draw! When we taught portrait sketching I was watching Sumo Spring Tournament for 2 weeks. Takakeisho was my first portrait attempted! Whenever I am on podcasts or webinars, I often am sketching faces now.”
I wanted to be a superhero by Dawn Yoshimura. This sketchbook All I Want to Be is a Superhero was done in 2021 and then disaster struck. Ironically I did it to document the pandemic in my own way, but it was just another of many casualties of the the COVID19 pandemic. This was part of a project called the http://Sketchbook Project and part of a collection of over 30,000 sketchbooks in the Brooklyn Art Museum. During the pandemic they planned to move the collection but the trailer caught fire en route and many of the volumes were lost, including this one. The remaining sketchbooks were divided and are now housed in three separate collections in the country. I did an earlier sketchbook during the first year of the pandemic in 2020 which was digitized but the digital collection is no longer accessible when the museum closed its doors. Stuck at home, I had sent away for the sketchbook and filled it with ‘ōlelo hawaiʻi and sketches of daily life and while a conscious decision not to draw the corona virus focused on the simple pleasures instead.
Click on the link below to see a slide show of the paintings in the Moxie exhibit:
List of works for sale. Contact Elizabeth Vang at evang@hpu.org