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Honolulu Museum of Art offers visitors tour of past and present Pacific culture and insight into local and new artists

The Honolulu Museum of Art.

 

Learning about Pacific cultures through art and walking through the open-air museum and gardens are why two BYU–Hawaii students said they enjoyed visiting the Honolulu Museum of Art.

Roxanne Murdock, a freshman from Utah studying peacebuilding, said, “I am really into art, and so it was a lot of fun being able to go to a museum in Honolulu that gave me an entire new appreciation to art both local and from around the world.”

Murdock continued by saying, “You never really understand or appreciate how hard artists work and what they do until you see it first hand.”

Alexia Kaley, a freshman from Texas studying secondary history education, said, “I went to the museum for a class assignment and it was the cheapest museum at only $10. I was expecting some small room with local art. I was disproved. Each room I went to was a new era and a new culture. Like a European museum, I was taken around the world and exposed to ancient sculptures and modern art. I also viewed local art in its Hawaiian exhibit that is one area comprised of two stories.”

She added, “They really chose art that, while created in the past decade, reflected many of the deep cultural emotions and expressions across out beautiful chain of islands. I also loved walking around this open-air museum. In between each exhibit was a beautiful garden representing its surrounding cultural exhibits. All in all I would have paid more. The experience I had there was almost priceless.”

What exactly is the Honolulu Museum of Art?

The Honolulu Museum of Art is a cultural hub in Hawaii, said Kathleen Wong, the communications manager at the museum. She said it reflects Hawaii as a melting pot of many different cultures with an emphasis on those from the Pacific.

Wong said, “We seek to create relevant and transformative experiences through the study, preservation, presentation and creation of art and have a wide-range of programs, exhibitions and events to help us achieve this mission.”

Who does it attract?

Wong said, “The Honolulu Museum of Art caters to both the local community and tourists. Our community and the keiki are so important to us. They’re the reason why we have school tours, Soundshop (a music education program that connects kids to local artists) and Bank of Hawaii Family Sundays on every third Sunday of the month.” These events are free of charge.

The Honolulu Art School is also a place where local artists—young and old—can learn a new skill or refine an existing one, said Wong. The programming and exhibitions draw in large amounts of tourists—especially from Japan—too, she added.

What are the three parts—school, theatre, and museum?

There are two museum locations, HoMA’s main location is on South Beretania Street and Spalding House up in Makiki Heights, which was originally a residence built by the museum founder, Anna Rice Cooke, said Wong. It currently serves as the contemporary art museum.

At the main location, there is the Doris Duke Theatre, one of Hawaii’s last art houses, said Wong.

“We have many film festivals here as well as concerts and lectures. The third part of the museum is our Art School, where adults and keiki can hone in on their artistic skills.”

The Honolulu Museum of Art School offers classes for children, youth, and adults. There are classes offered in several mediums of art. These include painting and drawing, glass, wood working, ceramics, metal and jewelry making and botanical art.

“Those interested in our art school can look at the website for classes there are interested in and can sign up,” said Wong.

What are the most popular exhibits/ fan favorites?

Wong said, “With our diverse collection, we have several highlights that delight our guests. A few favorites off the top of my head include Monet’s ‘Water Lilies,’ Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’ and a human-sized, wooden Guanyin (Buddhist statue) from the year 1025. We also have some lush, abstract Georgia O’Keeffe paintings from her trip to Maui.”

Any new exhibits coming soon? If so, what?

On March 2, Lisa Reihana’s exhibit “Emissaries” opens. It asks guests to examine historical narratives and challenge stereotypes about the Pacific through a large-scale panoramic video installation.

Reihana, a Māori artist who represented Aotearoa/New Zealand in the 2017 Venice Biennial, reinterprets a French 19th-century wallpaper and complicates idyllic images of the exotic with moments of social tension, customary practices and more, said Wong.

The Honolulu Museum of Art is also participating in the Honolulu Biennial 2019. It will have four artist/groups presented: Kapulani Landgraf, Marie Watt, Nicholas Galanin and the art collective Postcommodity, according to Wong. These artists work will be expanding over two art galleries.

Wong said, “I feel like more people should visit our Southeast Asian Art Gallery and Indian Art Gallery. I feel they are some of our most underrated exhibits. They tend to be overshadowed by our Impressionist Gallery and Japanese Art Gallery. They are interesting because not a lot of people visit these exhibits but they offer a lot of fascinating pieces.”

The Honolulu Art museum is located at 900 S Beretania St, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814.

Hours: Monday: Closed

Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Writer: Mackenzie Beaver