Participate in Virtual Art Workshops or Watch Musical Performances with HiSAM From Home

The Hawai‘i State Art Museum’s socially distant programming continues with weekly lessons and twice-monthly pau hana concerts.

Editor’s Note: Through our partnership with the Hawai‘i State Art Museum, HONOLULU Magazine publishes a monthly blog written by Lisa Shiroma, correspondent for HiSAM.

Andrew Molina will perform on Sept. 18 as part of the HiSAM From Home series.

Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i State Art Museum

New coronavirus restrictions got you down? Add some free fun and inspiration to your life with HiSAM From Home.

The coronavirus shutdowns effectively wiped out the museum’s event calendar. One of the programs on hold is Art Bento; led by teaching artists trained in art education, it allows students to explore art through a guided tour of the museum’s exhibits followed by a session of hands-on art making. Also on pause are the family-friendly Super Saturday events with their festival-like atmosphere and make-and-take workshops with local artists, and First Friday, with its fashion shows and live musical performances. To fill the void, HiSAM From Home was created by Karen Ewald, director of HiSAM; Alyson Ishikuni-Sasaki, public programs coordinator; Alexander Skees, arts program project manager; and Danica Rosengren, arts program specialist in art education.

A different kind of animal from previous event programs, this virtual event series offers a variety of creative workshops and musical performances through Zoom, Instagram Live and Facebook Live, giving an opportunity to teaching artists and musicians to share their talents and for people to continue to participate in events—but from the comfort of their homes. Since the program began in April, HiSAM From Home has featured 31 workshops.

SEE ALSO: Check Out Hawai‘i Artists in Their Home Studios in This New Quarantine-Inspired Series

There’s something for everyone. Do you find painting kind of intimidating? Sara Knighton, the artist behind the Maidens of the Pacific brand, can help with that as you finger paint a pretty lei. Have you ever wanted to draw yourself as a cartoon character? Eric Beyer, teaching artist and member of local punk band Black Square, can teach you how to create your own DIY cartoon character. Enjoy the art of gardening and grow your own herbs and flowers with Heidi Salvador of Sustainable Farm and Brew. She’ll show you step by step how to reuse a plastic water bottle to make a cool self-watering planter. Most workshops have been uploaded and archived on the museum’s Instagram account and Facebook page for you to access at your convenience (all will be added, eventually).

Teaching artist Hannah Shun used to teach for HiSAM’s Art Bento and Super Saturday programs before they were put on hold. So far she has led two virtual workshops on how to create papier-mache and bas-relief sculptures inspired by works by John Koga and Satoru Abe in the state’s Art in Public Places collection. “I like HiSAM From Home because I can reach out to nearly anyone and share the art-making journey with them,” she says. Catch her next workshop on Sept. 10.

You can still have a taste of First Friday with HiSAM From Home’s musical performances that stream two Fridays a month. Special musical guests such as Izik, Keilana and Jabari Prevost join you for a virtual pau hana session right in your own home. Cozy up with a cold beer or glass of wine along with your favorite pūpū and unwind for the weekend.

SEE ALSO: What It’s Like for a Hawai‘i Musician During the Pandemic 

HiSAM From Home workshops are every Thursday at 10 a.m. In September, tune in to Shun’s visual art workshop on Sept. 10, Maia Lonergan’s conscious creativity workshop on Sept. 17 and Kea Peters’ illustration workshop on Sept. 24. Musical performances are on two Fridays a month at 6 p.m.; catch the next one with musical guest Andrew Molina on Sept. 18.

Follow Hawai‘i State Art Museum’s Instagram account to find out more about upcoming HiSAM From Home virtual events and other free public programs.

Lisa Shiroma is a correspondent for HiSAM and is an artist and art educator. Lisa is the former owner of the HiSAM Museum Gallery Shop, which she ran with partners Aly Ishikuni-Sasaki and Travis Sasaki from Mori by Art + Flea from 2017 to June 2020.