Patrick Dougherty, Ho‘ololi & Fall Session

September 30, 2011September presented the extraordinary 2011 Artist-in-Residence program with world-renowned environmental sculptor Patrick Dougherty. During his 3-week stay, the artist worked directly with the community to develop, plan and create a site-specific installation using saplings of invasive tree species. The final sculpture entitled On the Wild Side (a piece with a projected lifespan of 3 years) marks the launch of Ho‘ololi: The Environmental Art Garden, a new public art program which aims to cultivate community and raise awareness about Hawai‘i’s endangered ecosystems by inspiring conversation, encouraging public participation, and creating fellowship between artists and environmentalists. The project represented 2 years of research and guidance under the Maui Invasive Species Committee and the Hawai‘i State Department of Land & Natural Resources and was supported by a record-breaking 107 donors, due largely in part to our first-ever Kickstarter “friendraising” campaign, and 137 volunteer crewmembers. During this time, we also hosted 150 youth from Montessori Schools in both Makawao and Kihei, Horizons Academy and the Roots School in Explore & Discover field trips; donor-subsidized arts & science programs developed in partnership with the Maui Invasive Species Committee. Additionally, the Hui launched its fall session with 43 new classes & workshops with a cumulative attendance of 487 students and studio users of all ages, welcoming 4 visiting artists to the Hui roster from California (Dalani Tanahy and Sandy Delehanty), neighbor Hawaiian islands (Stephen Freedman), and Oregon (Dory Kanter).

More info: "Sticking Together", "Positive Spin on Invasive Species," and "Interwoven Art/ Community" at the Maui News, "Twigonometry" at On Maui, "A Well Intended Tangle" at Maui Nō Ka ʻOi, and 17 days of Dougherty on the HuiBlog, Artist-in-Residence page, "Twigonometry" at Hana Hou, The Magazine of Hawaiian Airlines [hr top]