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Hello. How is the art scene in Honolulu? Or Hawaii in general? Is there an interest in a certain genre or a more diverse interest? I know there is an MFA program in Honolulu. I found a few museum links online. Is art considered important to locals? Some cities art is highly prized and others it is simply not. Just wondering about it. Thanks!
I don't know whether it's true, but I've heard it said more than once that Hawaii is one of the few places in the US where it's possible to make a full-time living as an artist. Granted, it's no doubt a modest living for most who do make it, and most probably live in more rural (and affordable) places than Honolulu. On the Big Island, Volcano Village has an arts community, and Puna attracts artists and other counterculture types. Last summer, my wife and I stopped in an art gallery in the very small town of Hawi. Few towns of that size on the mainland would have an art gallery.
Hawaii has a thriving arts scene, and I'd say that the arts are very important to locals. Based on what I've seen in the art galleries and public installations, the vast majority of it is Hawaiian-themed. I don't know whether there are other diverse "scenes" the way there are in NYC, or even in Portland, OR where I live, but my guess is that Honolulu wouldn't be the place to go if your muse tells you to paint, say, angst-ridden neo-German Expressionist works. Hopefully someone who lives in Honolulu and is close to the arts scene can give you a more-informed answer.
Hello Dundermifflin, I'm an amateur artist myself and have been slowly looking in this very same topic. My very limited experience so far agrees with what HonuMan has said. But I don't think this means you can't be an artist here, it just means that the majority of the art is focused in a certain direction. Are you considering checking out the MFA? Or were you asking more in general as far as being able to make a living here as an artist? After a year or so here I'm considering returning to school myself to try for a BFA.
Also-
I was planning on visiting the Honolulu Academy of arts and the Hawaii State Art museum this week. I can get back to you on my take of it in a few days if you are interested. I have also been told by some people that I should check out Pa'ia on Maui because there are a lot of artists there. I haven't been island hopping yet, but it is something you may want to look into as well.
Thanks for both of your replies and all of the great info!
I am also wondering how accepting locals are to mainland artists...
Usually if there is an MFA available in a city/town it is a good sign for at least a somewhat decent art scene. I will maybe consider it in the future...
HaolefromCa - please keep me posted on everything you find out. Are you considering the University of Hawaii?
Yea I was looking into UH Manoa, not sure if I'm going to go the traditional art route or maybe do something more digitally inclined. I've been teaching myself both traditional methods and CG style art (both 2d and 3d cg art). I will have pictures and details for you about the museums later this week.
The Contemporary Museum used to be free on Thursdays and they had a lovely cafe, too, but we haven't been there in years since we've moved to different island.
So I visited the Honolulu Academy of Arts Museum today. It's a museum befitting any large city. It's got a good sized collection. I spent over two hours there today and I don't think I saw more than half of the stuff there (I do tend to move through museums slower than the average person though). They do not allow pictures inside so I can't provide you any images. Sketching is allowed, but only on standard sized paper (8 1/2 x 11)
The museum has an extensive asian art collection, grouped into Indian, Chinese, Japanese, South East Asian and Korean galleries. A lot of the pieces were really amazing. There was stone work, pottery, wood work, furniture, everyday items (food storage, hair pins, mirrors) as well as triptychs scrolls and sculptures. I particularly enjoyed the "Tea Houses of Edo" series that are currently on display in part of the Japanese Gallery.
There was also a large section for Buddhist art and statues as well as tomb statues and shinto deities. Other than those galleries I only saw the Artists of Honolulu exhibit, and the Art of Hawaii gallery. The Artists of Honolulu contained a nice array of contemporary art and some really well wrought pieces. Figurative work, abstract, sculpture and installation art was all present as well as one video piece. The Art of Hawaii had some amazing oil works and taught me about the "Volcano School" which was an art movement here in Hawaii that I had never known about before. There was also an installation piece by a visiting artist called "Forest Eater" that was interesting as well.
You can also read a little bit about these exhibits at the Honolulu Weekly Magazine website (Honoluluweekly.com)
All in all it was a great museum and I will be back. It was a little sad that it seemed very empty when I was there, I only say maybe 10 other people besides the docents but then I suppose the majority of people come to Hawaii for the outdoors.
Despite this I will definitely be recommending this to all my friends who come visit, they can go check it out after they get sunburned or need a break from the beach and strenuous physical fun.
I'm going hiking tomorrow so I won't be going to the Hawaii State art Museum until next week. I'm also going to try and visit the Contemporary Art Museum as well.
So I visited the Honolulu Academy of Arts Museum today. It's a museum befitting any large city. It's got a good sized collection. I spent over two hours there today and I don't think I saw more than half of the stuff there (I do tend to move through museums slower than the average person though). They do not allow pictures inside so I can't provide you any images. Sketching is allowed, but only on standard sized paper (8 1/2 x 11)
The museum has an extensive asian art collection, grouped into Indian, Chinese, Japanese, South East Asian and Korean galleries. A lot of the pieces were really amazing. There was stone work, pottery, wood work, furniture, everyday items (food storage, hair pins, mirrors) as well as triptychs scrolls and sculptures. I particularly enjoyed the "Tea Houses of Edo" series that are currently on display in part of the Japanese Gallery.
There was also a large section for Buddhist art and statues as well as tomb statues and shinto deities. Other than those galleries I only saw the Artists of Honolulu exhibit, and the Art of Hawaii gallery. The Artists of Honolulu contained a nice array of contemporary art and some really well wrought pieces. Figurative work, abstract, sculpture and installation art was all present as well as one video piece. The Art of Hawaii had some amazing oil works and taught me about the "Volcano School" which was an art movement here in Hawaii that I had never known about before. There was also an installation piece by a visiting artist called "Forest Eater" that was interesting as well.
You can also read a little bit about these exhibits at the Honolulu Weekly Magazine website (Honoluluweekly.com)
All in all it was a great museum and I will be back. It was a little sad that it seemed very empty when I was there, I only say maybe 10 other people besides the docents but then I suppose the majority of people come to Hawaii for the outdoors.
Despite this I will definitely be recommending this to all my friends who come visit, they can go check it out after they get sunburned or need a break from the beach and strenuous physical fun.
I'm going hiking tomorrow so I won't be going to the Hawaii State art Museum until next week. I'm also going to try and visit the Contemporary Art Museum as well.
Thanks for the update!!! Interesting about the lack of visitors... Please keep us posted!!
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