Kapa art by three renowned artists, including Hawaii Island’s Roen Hufford, have been designated by the Art Acquisition Selection Committee of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) for purchase and will be added to the state’s Art in Public Places Collection.
The contemporary works of kapa artists from around the state of Hawaii were on display at Donkey Mill Art Center this fall as part of its “NA Kapa Ku‘ina” exhibit, which highlighted the continued resurgence of the practice of kapa making in Hawaii and the ways in which artists, like their predecessors, continue to innovate and push the medium.
Five of these beautiful pieces caught the attention of the Selection Committee when it visited the exhibition and were recommended to the SFCA for addition to the state’s Art in Public Places Collection. This collection is displayed in more than 640 sites statewide, including schools, libraries, hospitals, airports, state office buildings, the State Capitol and at the Hawaii State Art Museum.
“The successful sharing and subsequent acquisition of these pieces by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is in keeping with Donkey Mill’s strategic plan goal to support local artists,” said Maja Grajski, executive director. “As a place of convergence, we are an economic engine supporting artists through teaching and professional development opportunities. The Donkey Mill Art Center is committed to establishing West Hawaii as a model of a resilient, thriving community where art is considered a necessity, not a luxury.”
The artists and the art selected to join the collection are:
• Bernice Akamine’s “Huaka‘i,” 2021
• Roen Hufford’s “Ka papa honua” (Strata of earth), 2021; “Kumu lipo” (Source of life), 2021; “Pi‘i ka mauna” (Ascending the mauna), 2021
• Dalani Tanahy’a “He Kumu Wai ‘Ole,” 2020
“The Donkey Mill is so honored to have five artworks selected by the Acquisition Award Selection Committee of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts,” commented Curator Mina Elison. “This purchase demonstrates their commitment to supporting Hawai`i artists whose work is important to the visual arts of Hawaii. Recognizing the value of this culturally significant art form and labor-intensive process of kapa making, we can continue to elevate and celebrate innovative contemporary works emerging from these connections with ‘ike kupuna.”