Waikiki Parc Features Momoe Nakajima

June 8, 2017 - September 14, 2017
Waikiki Parc Hotel, 2233 Helumoa Road, Waikiki

Momoe Nakajima芒鈧劉s sculptures are highlighted as part of an expanded arts partnership of the University of Hawai芒鈧渋 at M脛聛noa (UHM), the Halekulani and its sister hotel, the Waikiki Parc.

Momoe Nakajima, a Hawai芒鈧渋-based artist, is inspired by her connections to Japan and Hawai芒鈧渋. She states, 芒鈧揂s the saying goes, 芒鈧淗ome is where the heart is.芒鈧劉 Being born in Japan, yet raised in Hawai芒鈧渋, this sentiment holds special relevance. The distance between me and my Japanese heritage has grown, and while at times I experienced feelings of rootlessness, I芒鈧劉ve come to identify Hawai芒鈧渋 as my home.芒鈧

Her recent works include several pairs of a ceramic figure and a jar. The jar accompanies and grounds the figure while providing guidance like an "芒鈧渁umakua," a Hawaiian personal or family god. Each pair reflects its bond through matching surface designs that feature plants and flowers from Japan and Hawai芒鈧渋. For Nakajima, they represent home, old and new, and past and present, as she continues to explore and define where she belongs.

Nakajima, the recipient of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Department of Art + Art History, UHM (2017), concurrently attended both UHM and Windward Community College (WCC). Since 2014 she has held two art-related jobs at WCC芒鈧漦iln and glaze technician at the ceramics studio and exhibition installation assistant at Gallery 芒鈧淚olani.

In 2017 Nakajima was honored with the UHM Ceramic Faculty Book award. Her artwork has been presented at The Art Gallery, UHM, in "SYSTEMS: 2017 Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition;" and at Gallery 芒鈧淚olani, WCC, in "Confluence 4," (2016); "Ka Waiwai Mohala," (2014); and "Confluence 3," (2011).

On June 8, Guitarist Christopher Hopper will provide music at the opening reception in this series of up-and-coming young artists芒鈧劉 exhibitions at the Waikiki Parc. In 2016, he received a Bachelor of Music degree in performance from the Department of Music, UH M脛聛noa. He has also studied with guitar virtuosos Carlos Barbosa Lima, and the Brazilian Guitar Duo芒鈧劉s Douglas Lora and Jo脙拢o Luiz.

http://www.hawaii.edu/art/exhibitions+events/exhibitions/?p=3118

SPONSORS: University of Hawai芒鈧渋 at M脛聛noa Department of Art + Art History, College of Arts + Humanities, and Waikiki Parc Hotel 芒鈧 Hospitality Sponsor for the Arts at UH M脛聛noa

Image: "Put Down Roots (Chrysanthemum x Monstera)," 2017

stoneware

dimensions vary

Photographer: Chris Rohrer

Courtesy of the artist.


Ticket Information
Daily operational hours of the hotel. Admission is free. Complimentary parking with hotel validation.

Event Sponsor
Art + Art History, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Sharon Tasaka, 808-956-8364, gallery@hawaii.edu,

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