East Hawai‘i Cultural Center in Hilo chickens out during Youth Art Month

If you stroll by Kalakaua Park in Hilo, you may notice the “egg-cellent” installation of chicken automata accompanied by fluttering flags decorated with egg themes.

The automata (moving mechanical devices made in imitation of human beings — or in this case chickens) were designed with the Hawai’i Science and Technology Museum.

They were decorated by students from Connections Public Charter School, Honoka‘a Elementary afterschool program, keiki attending the the February Youth Arts Saturday event, kids and teens from the Hilo High School Art Club, Waiakea Intermediate School Art Club and the Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Also on view in March is the 35th annual Young At Art Juried Exhibition, which recognizes the
brilliance and creativity of K-12 students on Hawai’i Island from public, charter, private or home
schools.

The judges — Shane Molina (local artist/illustrator), Mina Ellison (curator, Donkey Mill
Arts Center) and Brandy Alia-Serikaku (local artist) — were tasked with reviewing more than 400 entries. They selected 231 artworks that for the first time are showcased at 26 locations around the island. See the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center website for a full list of locations.

For more information, visit www.ehcc.org, call 961-5711 or visit the cultural center at 141 Kalakaua St. in Hilo. Current gallery and office hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays. The gallery also is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.