KALIHIWAI — A fashion designer who moved to Kauai to get a way from the hustle and bustle of New York found what she was after. “I’m not a city person, so it was a rough 25 years in New
KALIHIWAI — A fashion designer who moved to Kauai to get a way from the hustle and bustle of New York found what she was after.
“I’m not a city person, so it was a rough 25 years in New York,” said Kathryn Letson. “I was called to Kauai, it’s my home.”
Letson left the big city behind, but not her creativity. She started Art Tribe Kauai, a community outreach program that aims to expand the creative consciousness through art.
“I wanted to share my skills and knowledge, and give back what I gained in New York,” she said.
The program, which started in November, is open to people of all ages who meet to work on simple art projects.
“So far, it’s been mostly adults,” Letson said. “It’s about getting people into a playful state of mind and emphasizing the importance of imagination and creativity in solving problems.”
Creativity is the “skeleton key” to problem solving because it allows people to think freely, she said.
Participants meet on the last Sunday of the month at the Anini boat docks.
Every project has a different theme, Letson said.
During the first meeting, attendees made glass-tip jars that were handed out to local businesses. At the second meeting, they made flower and fauna mandalas, an Indian symbol for the universe, in the sand. In January, participants made dolls, which serve as self-spirit guides.
The dolls look like the people making them, Letson said.
“We bought them from thrift stores, stripped them down, and re-built them,” she said. “So it’s like building yourself up into what you want to be.”
Participants kept the dolls, but left three on the beach.
“Like little fairies, for people to find,” Letson said.
The program has grown since November, she said.
“Three people came to the first one, then seven, now 12, so it’s starting to pick up,” she said.
Letson likes to use recycled or up-cycled art supplies.
February’s program will take place at 11:11 a.m. on Feb. 28 at the Anini boat docks. Participants will learn how to weave using native ti and hala plants.
The program is free and open to everyone.
“It’s not a competition, it’s a gateway to creativity,” Letson said.
