January 2012

New director to lead Hawai‘i State De c e m b e r Foundation on Culture & the Arts Fr e e Ev e n t s va Laird Smith is the new executive “Eva Laird Smith is an outstand- a t HiSAM director of the Hawai‘i State Foun- ing choice among many able candidates dation on Culture & the Arts, only who applied,” said Barbara Saromines- The public is invited to these free E events for January 2012 to be held the seventh person in the 46-year history Ganne, Oahu commissioner and chair of the arts agency to hold the post. She of the board of the HSFCA. “She joins at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum in the No.1 Capitol District Building follows Ronald K. our excellent staff at 250 South Hotel Street in down- Yamakawa who is and commission- town . See feature stories retiring after serv- ers to deal with and photos of these events in this ing as director for the challenges enewsletter. 10 years, capping a facing state gov- 35-year career with ernment and the First Friday the State Founda- arts community Open Galleries tion. today and we are Friday, January 6, 2012 Laird Smith is confident she will 6-8:45 p.m. Dayton Watanabe will be playing joining HSFCA do a great job.” Hawaiian slack key guitar, or ki ho from her position Smith has a alu, to soothe your senses and re- as director of the master’s degree lax your mind as you stroll leisurely USO of Hawai’i in museum through our Diamond Head, ‘Ewa and before that studies from and Sculpture Lobby Galleries. was president of the University Junior Achieve- of Manchester, Second Saturday ment of Hawai‘i, England; a dean’s Hats Off to Art! with Michael Wall executive director list bachelor’s Saturday, January 14, 2012 11 a.m.-3 p.m. of the Filipino Eva Laird Smith degree from the Celebrate the New Year together Community Cen- University of with your family on a Saturday ter of Hawai‘i and executive director of Washington in Seattle; and bachelor of guaranteed to put a new hat on Hawai‘i’s Plantation Village. She assumes fine arts from the College of the Holy your head and new ideas in it! her new duties on January 3, 2012. Spirit in Manila. Construct your own one-of-a kind hat before taking a musical safari in our galleries with percussionist and First Friday – Open Galleries Teaching Artist Michael Wall. Friday, January 6, 2012, 6 p.m. – 8:45 p.m., Art Lunch Hawai‘i State Art Museum, Free Why Sit When You Can Move? A Kinetic Connection to the Arts oin us for First Friday this Janu- Come to the Hawai‘i State Art Museum With Mimi E. Wisnosky ary 6th at the Hawai‘i State Art and play some of the board games you Tuesday, January 31, 2012 JMuseum. Dayton Watanabe will be may not have played for a while. The 12-1 p.m. playing Hawaiian slack key guitar, or ki second floor courtyard will be set up Explore the possibilities of re- ho alu, to soothe your senses and relax with tables and various games. Bring sponding to visual art through your mind as you stroll leisurely through your own game, a friend, or a group movement with professional dancer our Diamond Head, ‘Ewa and Sculp- and be with people. and Teaching Artist Mimi Wisnosky. She will explain and demonstrate ture Lobby Galleries. Hang out in our The Hawai‘i State Art Museum—a kinetic ways to “Respond to Art” Courtyard and watch the stars go by. center for the community. that draw upon the innate commu- First Friday in February will take us Galleries will be open from 6:00 PM nication potential within each of us back to a time before electronic games. until 8:45 PM. www.hawaii.gov/sfca HSFCA Enews | January 2012 | Page 1 Portrait of an Arts Administrator: Ron Yamakawa by Estelle Enoki hen Ron Yamakawa joined language of the law during many legis- As head of the agency, Yamakawa the State Foundation in 1976 lative sessions. “An attorney can appre- has also worked conscientiously to Was the first member of the ciate how clearly the law is written.” perpetuate the art of the host culture, fledgling Art in Public Places Program, Yamakawa administered the APP a goal initiated by Preis and Yokouchi, he had been teaching at a private school Program for 26 years, assuming duties which contributed to the renaissance in Honolulu for a year following his as planner, curator, commissions project in Hawaiian culture during the seven- return from active duty in the Vietnam manager, registrar, and conservation co- ties. Initiatives in Hawaiian music and War. Having obtained his degree in arts ordinator. He became the agency’s top dance were funded under Yamakawa’s education, he was eager to work with gun in 2002 and immediately worked direction and at his discretion. Nota- Alfred Preis, the agency’s executive di- to establish the Hawai‘i State Art Mu- bly, a three-year project in the art of rector and respected architect, designer seum, a vision of the Cayetano admin- kapa-making is currently underway, of the Arizona Memorial. with many cultural resources involved. “I guess you could call Alfred Preis Halau O Kekuhi opened this year’s fastidious; a workaholic. He put in long Merrie Monarch Festival dancing in the hours. Obviously, he had high aesthetic handmade kapa and a documentary film standards and could be extremely ana- about the project is in its second year of lytical, not because he was trying to be production. difficult, but because he could envision Yamakawa has also been an advocate so clearly what he wanted,” reflects Ya- for arts education, noting the initiation makawa. “He influenced my work ethic four years ago of the museum’s Art and I can honestly say even now that no Bento Program, which provides exhibi- one I’ve met has had a higher aesthetic tion tours and hands-on art workshops sensibility than Fred Preis.” for young students led by Artistic Preis and Masaru “Pundy” Yok- Teaching Partners. “We even fund ouchi, the agency’s first chairman, au- bussing for all of the schools that need thored the country’s first percent for art transportation,” Yamakawa points out. law for a state agency. The law makes “It’s so important for art to be part of a art an integral part of all new state student’s early learning experience.” buildings. Yamakawa later refined the Despite difficulties with travel due law by drafting legislation that estab- Ron Yamakawa to the lagging economy, Yamakawa also lished the Works of Art Special Fund, appreciates the need for the professional which helped to rework the mechanics istration, which opened in November development of his staff, sending them of the percent for art law, providing for of the same year in the No. 1 Capitol to regional and national professional a process that allowed for the proper District Building. development opportunities over the time in which to appropriate and en- “The importance of HiSAM is years. “It’s not a field for people who cumber the funds. that we now have a primary venue to want to earn a lot of money without “As long as the State adheres to exhibit our collection,” Yamakawa putting in long hours,” he says. “You the bond counsel advice (i.e., that the comments. The collection has grown have to love art. You need to be able to funds are to be used strictly for Capital to nearly 6,000 pieces. “We are able gain satisfaction from giving back to the Improvement Program projects to build to mount fully interpreted exhibitions community.” buildings) the law will thrive. This is with themes. I am most pleased for Invariably, Yamakawa’s legacy to a well written law,” states Yamakawa, Hawaii’s artists to be able to have their the public is in public art. “It’s a great who, as executive director, fought work shown in a high quality venue,” public process that ultimately reflects against compromising the intent and Yamakawa confides. continued on next page

Join the Friends of HiSAM We invite you to join the Friends of the Hawai‘i State Art Museum (HiSAM). By simply joining, you can help maintain a free, public institution dedicated to the art and people of Hawai‘i. You can join by phone by calling 536-2644, or you can download an application form by clicking on Friends of HiSAM Application Form.

www.hawaii.gov/sfca HSFCA Enews | January 2012 | Page 2 Portrait of an Arts Administrator: Ron Yamakawa (cont’d) the aspirations of a community,” he an educational resource. He believed wall of the building. explains. “I have many memorable everyone should have access to art After 35 years, Yamakawa’s name experiences that contributed to the and that art is universal.” The MACC may not be a highly visible imprint on growth of the APP Program.” Among was Yokouchi’s dream for Maui’s arts the landscape of State government. them are Sean Browne’s sculpture at community. “Pundy would be pleased Nevertheless, as a public servant and Kapiolani Community College (“The with the MACC’s progress,” Yamakawa through his creativity and leadership, first monumental sculpture project that reflects, confiding that his visit to the Yamakawa has significantly contributed I managed.”); and Ma- Center served as a sort of pilgrimage to to the quality of life in the state, an taumu Alisa for their systematic process honor his friend and mentor. achievement not many can claim. By and diligence in working through a Late in the day, Yamakawa sits at his his own philosophy, his reward will be project; ’s ability to effec- desk, intently working at his computer in knowing that he departs the State tively explore variations on a theme; and while staff members on flex time depart leaving it a positive influence for genera- George Segal’s willingness to adapt his over a period of two hours. Typically, tions of Hawaii’s residents and visitors sculpture for the UH campus Yamakawa is the last to leave the office. far into the future. using directional signs in Hawaiian. At dusk, he locks the door behind him, “I believe the arts are the strongest Yamakawa recently traveled to exiting past the sculptures in the lobby educational tool there is, as well as the Kahului where he viewed a statue of and the magnificent sculpture gar- bridge that connects human beings at Yokouchi on the grounds of the Maui den, near completion; its photovoltaic the most basic level of understanding,” Arts and Cultural Center. “Pundy stood canopy of a reef triggerfish casting a he says. “I’ve tried my best to serve for art and the common man and art as sprawling colorful reflection on the rear those interests.” Second Saturday – Hats Off to the Arts! Saturday, January 14, 2012, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Hawai‘i State Art Museum, Free elebrate the New Year with a day at HiSAM guar- anteed to put a new hat on your head and new Cideas in it! Construct your own one-of-a kind hat and proudly wear it as you take a musical safari in our gal- leries with percussionist and Teaching Artist Michael Wall. Come and spend the day with art! Gallery Hours for the museum are 10 am to 4 pm. The hands-on art activities are free and open to the public from 11 am to 3 pm while supplies last. Downtown streets aren’t crowded on the weekend, so walk, bike, take The Bus or drive to HiSAM on Sec- ond Saturday ($3 flat-rate parking across the street at Ali‘i Place; enter at 1099 Alakea St. Free parking available at City & County underground lot at Beretania and Alapai). Come see—it’s your art! Hats off to the Arts!

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www.hawaii.gov/sfca HSFCA Enews | January 2012 | Page 3 Art Lunch Lecture: Why Sit When You Can Move? A Kinetic Connection to the Arts With Mimi E. Wisnosky Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 12 Noon – 1 p.m., Free xplore the possibilities of responding to visual art through movement with professional dancer and ETeaching Artist Mimi Wisnosky. A graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Mimi has studied ballet, modern dance, improvisation and creative movement with teachers including Betty Jones, Gregg Lizenbery, Peggy Gaither Adams, Marcia Sakamoto Wong and Joe Goode. Inspiration and encouragement came from her mother (MiMi Wisnosky), a commit- ted professional dancer and teacher at Kapiolani Community College for 30 years. Her father, painter and UHM professor John Wisnosky, provided an environment rich with visual art. Mimi successfully brings the two Mimi Wisnosky disciplines of creative movement and visual art together as a Teaching Art- ist for HiSAM education programs. She will explain and demonstrate kinetic ways to “Respond to Art” that draw upon the innate communication potential within each of us. Audience members will be invited to join in. No experi- ence required! Creative dance with Mimi.

HiSAM Facilities Rental Program Hold Your Special Event or Party at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum he Hawai‘i State Art Museum is available for rentals for special events and parties. The rental options include: TOption 1 - Front Lawn, Option 2 - Second Floor Court- yard, or Option 3 - Front Lawn and Second Floor Courtyard. The rental brochure is available for download here HiSAM Rental Program Brochure. Anyone interested in rent- ing the facilities may request a HiSAM Rental Information Packet which contains a Rental Handbook, Rental Request Form, and HiSAM brochure. For more information or to request the packet, contact the HiSAM Visitor Services Manager via email at hisamren- [email protected] or call 586-9959.

Showcase Hawaii Visit Showcase Hawaii, the museum gift store. The store features Hawai‘i-made art, gifts, and goodies. It’s the perfect place to find a unique gift for that special someone. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On First Friday, Showcase Hawaii opens again from 6 to 9 p.m. and is on the ground floor of the Hawaii State Art Museum.

www.hawaii.gov/sfca HSFCA Enews | January 2012 | Page 4