EHCC Adds New Spin to Youth Art Month Activities

It it’s March, it’s time for “Young at Art” at the East Hawai‘i Cultural Center in downtown Hilo.

Now in its 34th year, “Young at Art” offers keiki from around the island in grades K-12 a chance to submit artwork for a juried exhibition, complete with prizes and awards in several categories. Nearly 200 paintings, drawings and sculptures are on display at EHCC and in satellite locations.

This year’s theme is “Place: Spaces That Shape Us.” According to a press release, students were invited to reflect on settings and spaces that help shape who they are. Young artists were urged to explore their emotional connections to locations, real or imaginary.

And for the first time, the exhibit has moved into the community, with satellite locations at the Hilo Public Library and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center.

In conjunction with the exhibition, EHCC collaborates with several partners to celebrate Youth Art Month by offering free art activities culminating in a display in Kalākaua Park. This year features a community-generated kinetic art installation of pinwheels and windmills — made almost entirely from recycled materials — that were created by youth participating in “YAS2,” a program of free Saturday art activities on the EHCC lanai, or taking part in activities at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center and the library.

According to the release, After School All Stars and the Hawai’i Science and Technology Museum helped children to assemble windmills from recycled plastic bottles, which are now installed on beams above the park walkway. Wind-spinners grace the banks of the pond, and were designed by keiki at EHCC along with the Hilo High School Art Club, assisted by local woodworker Jerry Moulton.

The “Young at Art” exhibits and the park display will be on view throughout March.

For more information, visit EHCC online, call 808-961-5711 or visit the cultural center at 141 Kalākaua Street. Current gallery and office hours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.