New MACC Exhibit Focused on Social Change

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center will soon present its newest exhibit, Art and Activism: An Exhibition About Change, in its Schaefer International Gallery. 

The exhibit, which is slated to run from Aug. 25 to Oct. 31, will feature new work from six nationally selected artists who address contemporary topics such as education, discrimination and equity, and land use. 

“The overall focus of this exhibition will enhance public awareness and encourage thoughtful process and engagement in social and civic discussion for a better understanding of the complex issues that humans face today,” gallery director Neida Bangerter said.  

Below is a list and description of the exhibiting artists: 

Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet are a husband-and-wife team from Los Angeles. Their print project entitled “American Procession” is the anchor work in the exhibition. The piece depicts lesser-known figures who made remarkable contributions to their times from 100 years of American history. 

Orly Corgan is a New York-based artist who refers to her work as an “update on female stereotypes and struggles.” Organʻs work involves embroidering, painting, and drawing contemporary feminist imagery onto vintage fabrics. 

Kanani Miyamoto combines large scale woodblock prints, screenprints, cut paper, and hand-painted elements to illustrate the complexity of intergenerational trauma and impacts of colonialism. Her imagery draws from Japanese Buddhist folklore, riffing on issues of her European, Hawaiian, and Japanese heritage. 

Paul Mullowney, a master printer and print publisher, runs Mullowney Printing in the Mission District of San Francisco. Well known for his time spent on Maui as Founder of The Hui Press, his work in the exhibit reflects the traditions of eastern and western printmaking. 

Abigail Romanchak is a Maui-based artist who sees her prints as a way to empower and assert a Hawaiian sense of identity and culture through art. Her recent collagraph prints offer an environmentally driven commentary on Hawai‘i‘s native birds, climate change, and causes of their endangerment and extinction. 

The artists will also host events for the Maui community throughout the duration of the exhibit. 

Here is a list of exhibit-related events:

Artists Talks: Sunday, Aug. 25 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. A discussion with Sandow Birk, Elyse Pignolet, and UHMC American History professor Liana Horovitz, followed by a walk-through with the artists and audience Q&A. This event is free to the public and will be videotaped. 

Walkthrough with Abigail Romanchak: Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Maui artist Abigail Romanchak will give a walkthrough in the gallery to talk about her ideas and approach to printmaking. 

Discussion: Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kanani Miyamoto and Paul Mullowney will discuss their work in the gallery, followed by a demonstration at the UHMC campus art department. 

Discussion: Thursday, Oct. 17 from Noon to 1:15 pm. Kanani Miyamoto will discuss her work along with Paul Mullowney, who will give a talk on his own work and that of Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet. 

According to the MACC, parts of the exhibition contain mature content for young children. Parents are advised to preview the exhibit first. 

The gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., before select Castle Theatre shows and during intermissions. Admission is free. 

The gallery will be closed on Sept. 27 and 28.