PUHI — Hector Perez, the lead instructor of Art in Public Places for the Kaua‘i Academy of Creative Arts, helped unveil six picnic tables revealing the artistic accomplishments of student artists. A moment of silence, interrupted by the quiet swishing
PUHI — Hector Perez, the lead instructor of Art in Public Places for the Kaua‘i Academy of Creative Arts, helped unveil six picnic tables revealing the artistic accomplishments of student artists.
A moment of silence, interrupted by the quiet swishing of fabric in the wind, revealed the work of student artists before the heart-touching thumps of taiko opened a night celebrating student achievements at the Summer Arts 2012 open house.
Perez said he instructed the students: “This project is your turn to tell the world.”
“And the response was amazing, the students saying they wanted culture, history, peace, wanting to be an example to the world, and the majority talking about caring for the ‘aina,” he said.
The work can be enjoyed throughout the years as the six picnic tables were delivered and placed Saturday at Lydgate Park, said Peggy Lake, who said she had her “Academy of Creative Arts hat” on for the Friday event.
While one classroom on the Island School campus was set aside for the numerous pieces created by students in a variety of artistic disciplines, the main tent, similar to a circus, housed the entertainment.
There, student performers opened with the 450-year-old “Miyake,” a lumberman’s song from Tokyo, under the direction of Aki Conquest who teamed with Mia Chan and Kaimi Beatty in leading the taiko drummers.
The traditional Japanese number transported the audience to the contemporary scene with “Wassho,” a number about harvesting rice and carrying the rice bags.
The back-and-forth in time theme carried throughout the night in performances of dance, hip hop, ‘ukulele and piano performances, drama, “funky jazz” and Broadway songs and steps.
Patrons were free to roam and browse, pulled by the riveting performances from the food offerings, and browsing through the variety of artwork including ceramics, collage, photography and more.
Sheri Majewski served as the program director for the Kaua‘i Academy of Creative Arts with Ryan Gingerich as assistant director. Staff included Heather Lee, Shaina Nacion, Paris Tennberg, Emma Majewski, Michaela Sullivan and Georgialynn Degracia.
Faculty members include Perez, Derek Glaskin, Donia Lilly, Tara Arume-Nitta, Mel Bell-Grey, Julia Getty, Kim Tennberg, Estee Vasquez, Jennifer Bell Grey, Rose Alfiler and Aki Conquest.
• Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
