Mālama Wao Akua Exhibition Announces Call to Artists

2014 Mālama Wao Akua People’s Choice Award winning-piece by artist Lisa E. Kasprzycki. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

The Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center will collaborate with the East Maui Watershed Partnership to present Mālama Wao Akua—a fine art exhibition at the hui’s Makawao gallery.

This will be the exhibition’s first year at Hui No‘eau after a 10-year history at Viewpoints Gallery in Makawao.

The juried exhibition celebrates and raises awareness about the native species of Maui Nui—Maui, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i and Kaho‘olawe—merging the worlds of art and conservation with works of art that honor its native plant and animal species.

The Hui No‘eau invites Maui artists working in any medium to create work depicting only those species native to Maui Nui, a landscape showcasing only native Maui Nui species, or people working to protect Maui’s native species and native habitats.

Mālama Wao Akua entry categories include adults, and elementary, middle and high school students residing in Maui Nui.

Artists may submit up to three entries at $10 per piece for hui members and $20 per piece for non-members.

Entries (no photos) must be submitted in person on Aug. 24 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to be eligible for the exhibition.

The exhibition will be on display from Sept. 5 to Oct. 30.

Throughout the exhibition, Hui No‘eau and East Maui Watershed Partnership will engage the community with a collection of accompanying educational opportunities that will raise awareness about the native species of Maui Nui, including classes and workshops, artist hikes and “Talk Story” Thursdays with environmental experts.

The opening celebration will be held on Friday, Sept. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. Jurors Freeland-Cole and Keahi Bustamente will offer a free public walk-through of the gallery at 4 p.m. followed by a blessing, awards ceremony and hula performances beginning at 5 p.m.

The prospectus and entry forms are available online.

For more information about exhibition entry, contact Hui No‘eau Programs & Exhibitions Manager Lana Coryell via email or call (808) 572-6560, ext. 22.

For more information, visit the Hui No‘eau website and the Mālama Wao Akua website.

For information about artist hikes, contact East Maui Watershed Partnership via email.

Go online to learn more about the East Maui Watershed Partnership.

The Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center is located at 2841 Baldwin Ave. The Center is open to the public daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. with free admission.