Students give new meaning to “lost and found” at annual MACC exhibit.Creativity and imagination have been unleashed in Maui schools over the past few months, and the results are in! Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s annual exhibit of student works, “Celebrating the Artist In Us,” features creative, collaborative, two- and three-dimensional theme-based artworks constructed by students in Maui schools—kindergarten through eighth grade, all using “found” objects: scraps, recycled materials, old toys, broken jewelry, bottle caps, bits-n-pieces of packaging materials—you name it, they’ve used it! The pieces range from a walk-in “cave” made of giant cardboard pieces, where everyone is invited to make their own markings reminiscent of ancient cave paintings, to animals made from plastic jugs, to tableaus of political commentary.
Some of the works in this exhibit come from the classrooms of teachers who participated in a special January workshop conducted by renowned artist Christopher Reiner and Schaefer Gallery’s exhibit programs’ manager Neida Bangerter, coordinated through The MACC’s arts education department. Titled “Collecting, Collaborating, Creating,” the workshop helped teachers learn how to work with students to create group artworks and how to use the mixed media Reiner calls “obtainium,” which is, essentially, “found” objects and recycled materials used in surprising and creative new ways. This charming exhibit is guaranteed to have viewers’ own imaginations soaring and fingers pointing!
As a special activity related to the exhibit, there will be a “Gallery Play Day” on Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parents are invited to bring their children to the gallery to see the exhibit and make their own piece of art. This event is free and open to the public. (Children must be accompanied by adults, and vice versa.)
“Celebrating the Artist In Us” will be open every day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, April 27 (closed on Friday, April 25) in the Schaefer International Gallery. Admission is FREE! The gallery is also open before performances in the Castle Theater and during intermissions.