Otto Piene - Sun and Moon Sculptor
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Otto Piene - Sun and Moon Sculptor German-born Otto Piene, a sculptor, painter, author and former director of the Center for Advanced Visual Studies at MIT, is a leading figure in kinetic and technology-based art. His works are included in nearly two hundred museums and public collections around the world including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; the Nationalgalerie Berlin; the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo to name a few. He was commissioned to design the lights for the Senate and House Chamber in the newly designed Hawaii State Capitol. While the koa-lined House and Senate chambers of the Capitol were completed in 1969 the two chandeliers which are light sculptures called the Sun and Moon, had to wait until 1971 to be installed. The Senate’s Moon is a silver ball of 630 chambered nautilus shells, and the Sun is a gold-plated sphere with 132 smaller golden orbs in the House. Piene’s artwork evolved from “Light Ballet” in 1959 to helium-lifted sculptures as operatic characters. One of his “Sky Art” projects was the 1972 “Olympic Rainbow” for the closing ceremony of the Munich Olympic Games. Through his artwork, Piene urges us to develop and experience a world of full existence. He seeks to advance the physical, elemental and technological features of art, and not attempt to reduce it to a purely internal activity. He idealizes art as a fusion of science and imagination: “When sociology conflict was not an issue - in Egypt 5,000 years ago - art-science-technology and religion together created a magnificent world of art, belief and make believe al ‘environmental’.” 2 Art at the Capitol ~ A Celebration of the People's Art Art at the Capitol began in 2008 as Senator Brian Taniguchi’s initiative to welcome the public to view the variety of art that is displayed not just in the open areas of the State Capitol, but in the legislative offices as well. The idea developed during a conversation with a Hawai`i State Art Museum docent about having legislators open their doors to the public to view the art collection – the people’s art. More than 900 pieces of artwork acquired by the “Art in Public Places” program of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts are on display at the State Capitol offices and open areas. In its inaugural year, the Senate opened its doors afterhours for the Art at the Capitol event -- which included participation by a number of the artists whose works are placed at the Capitol. With an overwhelming positive response, the House of Repre- sentatives joined Art at the Capitol the second year. In 2012, the Offices of the Gover- nor and Lieutenant Governor participated in the event, marking the first time that all six floors of the State Capitol were open afterhours for the Art at the Capitol celebra- tion of the people's art! Hawai`i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Art in Public Places Program In 1967, the Hawai`i State Legislature passed the Art-in-State-Buildings Law. Signed by Gover- nor John A. Burns, the law established the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Art in Pub- lic Places Program. Hawai`i became the first state to set aside one percent of the cost of state buildings to acquire and commission works of visual art, which are then placed in or around state buildings to beautify and humanize the built environment. Advancing the concept of a statewide “museum without walls,” comprised of site-specific commission works of art and porta- ble relocatable works of art, the program places art in publicly accessible state buildings to ex- pand aesthetic opportunities as part of daily life. Relocatable works of art, which can be seen throughout the Capitol, are intended to be rotated throughout Hawai`i at different display sites in order for all people of the state to have access to view visual arts in various styles, techniques and media. The acquisition and display of works of art enables people of all communities on each island to enjoy art in public places. It stimulates broader interest in works by local artists and recognizes the professional achievements of visual artists. The Art in Public Places Pro- gram’s collection is recognized as one of the most significant collections of late twentieth and early twenty-first century art in Hawai`i. Selections from the collection can also be seen at the Hawai`i State Art Museum. As a gathering place for the people of Hawai`i, the Capitol serves as one of the showcases for the Art in Public Places Collection—the people’s art. 3 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 4:30 Opening Program – 3rd Floor, Ewa-Makai Corridor Introduction of Artists 5:00 Self-guided Tour Starts Hawaii Youth Symphony String Quartet #1 performs in the Rotunda Justin Park (violin) Brent Ramos (violin) Jennifer Ha (viola) Kahler Suzuki (cello) 6:00 Hawaii Youth Symphony String Quartet #2 performs in the Rotunda Yung Chang (violin) Shin Chang (violin), Kevin Kwock (viola) Marlene Loui (cello) 7:00 Event Ends Video interviews will be shown at the following location throughout the evening: Room 423: A video interview – “Otto Piene - Illuminating the Legislative Process” Senate and House Galleries will be open to view the tapestries Senate Gallery: “Creation of the Capitol Murals by Ruthadell Anderson”, the Senate and House Chamber tapestry artist “Aquarius: Remembering Tadashi Sato”, Keiko Sato, Tadashi Sato’s sister, reflects on her brother’s art. Chamber Level, artwork are on display by students from the following schools: Kalaheo High School, Puohala, Maunawili Elementary Schools and the Children and Youth Day Creativity Contest Winners Mahalo! for attending ~ Drive home safely! 4 Room 201 Artist Title/Medium/Year Location Senator Mike Gabbard Pam Barton Mayu Reception bamboo, cane, 1993 Jean Charlot Tying Child to Chair Senator's Office oil painting, 1970 Vicky Chock Jurassic Chair Reception handbuilt ceramic sculpture, 1993 Vicky Chock Vegetarian Tang Figure Reception clay 20th Senatorial District Kapolei, Makakilo, portions of Vicky Chock Lychee Chair Reception Ewa, Kalaeloa, and Waipahu handbuilt ceramic sculpture, 1993 Vicky Chock Papaya Chair Reception handbuilt ceramic sculpture, 1993 Juliette May Fraser St. Francis and Maui Senator's Office fresco painting on canec, 1954 May Izumi Hey! Diddle! Jump! Reception clay, copper wire, polymer clay, fiber, 2002 Ron Kowalke Yellow Brick Road Beach Reception oil painting, 1975 Julie McIntyre White Birds in Paradise Reception watercolor, 2008 William Rodgers Kiawe Study Reception oil on linen Fred Roster Boat of Dreams Abandoned Reception wood, aluminum, lead, steel, glass, 2003 Hilario Aquilizan Mangoes Reception acrylic painting, 1977 Chonchanok Under Pressure Reception Chaiyatap steel and wood sculpture, 1996 Jean Charlot Woman Standing, Child on Back Senator's Office etching print, 1970 Geoffrey Fricker Cane Harvest Reception silver gelatin print, 1989 Jeera Rattanangkoon Political Chair Senator's Office woodcut, 1999 Room 204 Artist Title/Medium/Year Location Senator Clarence Nishihara Fabienne Blanc Bananas Senator's Office watercolor painting, 1995 Franco Salmoiraghi Pu`umoiwi Adze Work Site, Reception Kaho'olawe 1993 black and white photograph, 1994 Geraldine King Tam Mango (Mangifera indica 'Haden') Reception watercolor on paper, 1996 17th Senatorial District Geraldine King Tam Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Reception Waipahu, Crestview, Manana, Pearl watercolor on paper, 1996 City, Pacific Palisades 5 Artist Title/Medium/Year Location Geraldine King Tam Pua kenikeni (Fagraea berteroana)/ Reception watercolor on paper, 1989 Geraldine King Tam Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Reception Watercolor on paper, 1996 Brett A. Uprichard Na Kanakaole Senator's Office black and white photograph, 1990 Paul Yardley Durian Tree Reception oil on canvas, 1995 Room 205 Artist Title/Medium/Year Location Senator J. Kalani English Kit Gentry Backlight Senator’s Office pastel, 2000 Francis Haar Iolani Luahine Reception photograph (triptych) Curt McClain Old Man Bent Over Senator’s Office black and white photograph 7th Senatorial District JoAnne Hanson Adama Hana Morning Reception Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, oil on canvas, 2000 Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe Dixie Crichton Samasoni Traditional Samoan Tapa-board Painting Senator’s Office tapa cloth, 1974 Various Artists Lei Hulu Papa Senator’s Office feather leis, 1930 James Koga Haipo at Kapapa Haunaumoku Reception etching print, 1975 Pam Barton Kilipue Reception black bamboo, sea grass, 1996 Todd Campbell Tall Open Vessel, Pagan Hawaii: Senator’s Office Priestess of the Volcano Norfolk pine, 2008 Juliette May Fraser Goddess Reception stone lithograph print, 1951 Juliette May Fraser December Seven Reception oil painting, 1961 Pam Kramer Lidded Puahala Senator’s Office Milo wood, 2011 Philip Markwart Nani Ka Hala, Ka Wehe O Ka ‘Aina Reception Hand stamped washi (Japanese paper Made from mulberry), 2012 6 Artist Title/Medium/Year Location Tadashi Sato Captain’s Chair Reception oil on canvas, 1961 Levan Keola Sequeira Wa’a Kaulua Senator’s Office koa, yellow cedar, ebony, lauhala, 2008 William Tuthill Berkeley Madrone Grove Reception lithograph—aluminum plate, 2005 Ray Yoshida Untitled Reception oil on canvas, 1990 Room 206 Artist Title/Medium/Year Location Senator Ronald D. Kouchi Peggy Chun Birches Reception watercolor on paper Isami Doi Grove Reception oil painting, 1946 Francis Haar Iolani Luahine and Tom Hiona Reception black and white photograph, 1976 8th Senatorial District Take Hama Banana and Croton Reception Kauai, Niihau oil painting Phyllis Kunimura Kapaa