LĀNAʻI
As part of our summer 2022 call-to-artists, we partnered with Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center to capture the talk-story audio recordings below. Professional artists were then asked to submit a proposal bringing the excerpts to life through a work of visual, performance or experiential public art. Upon selection by a community jury, artist Richard O'Connor entered a period of project development to infuse his developing artwork in the history, culture and sense of place of Lānaʻi -- ultimately resulting in freely accessible artwork created through community engagement.
Led by artist Richard O'Connor and his Brooklyn-based animation team Ace & Son Moving Picture Company, these Lānaʻi talk-story audio recordings have been interpreted as short, animated films that were unveiled in December 2022, as part of the Center's observance of 100 years since Lānaʻi was purchased by the Dole Corporation (1922). They were painted by Taisiya Zaretskaya, with compositing done by Natalie Greene.
Led by artist Richard O'Connor and his Brooklyn-based animation team Ace & Son Moving Picture Company, these Lānaʻi talk-story audio recordings have been interpreted as short, animated films that were unveiled in December 2022, as part of the Center's observance of 100 years since Lānaʻi was purchased by the Dole Corporation (1922). They were painted by Taisiya Zaretskaya, with compositing done by Natalie Greene.
ARTWORK
These public artworks premiered at Dole Park on December 10, 2022 for the Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center Holiday Festival, and were later shown at Wailuku Town's ʻĪao Theater on December 20, 2022 for SMALL TOWN * BIG ART Story Festival: Hui Mo'olelo.
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: Maikaʻi ka hana a ka lima, ʻono nō ka ʻai a ka waha. (When the hands do good work, the mouth will have good food to eat).
Artists' statement: We connect with one another in the space we share and the actions we take to build that space. These works reflect the voices who once labored in those spaces. They echo to current generations. Through these reverberations we create ties to the past and a path to the future. People. Places. Work.
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: Maikaʻi ka hana a ka lima, ʻono nō ka ʻai a ka waha. (When the hands do good work, the mouth will have good food to eat).
Artists' statement: We connect with one another in the space we share and the actions we take to build that space. These works reflect the voices who once labored in those spaces. They echo to current generations. Through these reverberations we create ties to the past and a path to the future. People. Places. Work.
ARTISTS
Richard O'Connor (Producer/ Director) has been making animated things for a quarter of a century. He writes about things -usually animated things, but not always. He has taught at Parsons School of Design, NYU, University of the Arts, and Rhode Island School Design. Currently, he serves on the steering committee of Our Next 4 Years, an organization dedicated to producing progressive work for a better future.
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Taisiya Zaretskaya (Painting) I'm a nonbinary, Russian-Ukranian NYC based animator who graduated from Pratt Institute in 2014. Currently living on Coney Island, with my partner, a cat and a little parrotlet.
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Natalie Greene (Compositing) Natalie Greene is a multidisciplinary artist interested in traces, in-betweens, edges, and kaleidoscopic color palettes and graphics. She uses rhythm and pacing to tell a story. She is currently at work on a short animation about starfish fossils. Originally from Oregon, she now lives in New York City in an apartment with a window facing a black ash tree.
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PROJECT TIMELINE
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In November 2022, we partnered with the Maui Satellite Job Corps Center for a free Hui Mo‘olelo workshop. Art Corps' Kelly McHugh-White shared kūpuna audio recordings with students and encouraged them to interpret one as a work of visual art. Under the guidance of teaching artist Jana Ireijo, Maggie A. created this piece inspired by Soon Yai and Diane's recording, which will be on display at the December 20 ʻĪao Theater event. CLICK to hear the artist statement, which was presented to the larger JobCorps group. |
PHOTO SUBMISSIONS
Above: "Aloha, my name is Janice Peterson Hill, formerly Janice Kaopuiki. I lived on Lanaʻi from 1978-1982. I read in todayʻs Maui News that you have a project to include images of Lanai. I have a few photos from then. (Image 1): This is the burial of Tutu Papa, Daniel Kaopuiki. In the photo are Lydia and Sol Kaopuiki with granddaughter, Keala Kaopuiki in June 1983. (Image 2): I taught Title I Preschool from 1978-1979. This was my class on a field trip at “The Ranch” before Koele Lodge was built. My dogs, Arrow and Puna, always accompanied us on our excursions. (Image 3): This shows Tutu Mama, Hattie Kaopuiki, in white in center with her ohana surrounding her."
Below: From the archival collections of the Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center