In 2009 I moved my gallery to a studio and began working with various arts education programs.
I returned to the Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center as an instructor, teaching in their spring and summer childrens' programs.
In
one class we created an artwork showing the ecosystems and native
plants and animals of Maui. This painting is by a young girl who had
a very hard time integrating with the other students and maintaining
focus. With this project, however, she became very focused on
drawing the birds and plants of Maui, and created this beautiful
piece showing the top of the volcano, Haleakala. She continued
drawing these elements once the project was done, demonstrating a
strong connection to the experience.
With
my older elementary students I challenged them to create a comic
expressing the plight of Hawaii's native forest birds. I brought in
an expert from the East Maui Watershed Partnership to share her
knowledge while I shared with them the basics of the comic medium.
This
painting was entered into the Malama Wao O Akua art show, an exhibit
of professional and student work on the theme of native plants and
animals of Hawaii. It won the Art of Conservation award, awarded out
of all work in the show, professional and student. It beat out my own painting!
