ʻKINDRED SPIRITs’ ARTIST RESIDENCy

In November of 2019, we completed our ‘KINDRED SPIRITS: Exploring Interrelationships Between People, Places and Planet Earth,’ artist residency and immersive group exhibition. This experimental residency united a diverse, global community of creatives to generate collaboration for positive change. Featured artists were: This experimental artist residency united a diverse, global community of creatives to generate collaboration for positive change. Featured artists were: Jarus (Toronto, Canada), Ellen Rutt (Detroit, MI), Emad Rashidi (Cincinnati, OH), David ‘MEGGS’ Hooke (Melbourne, Australia), Yoskay Yamamoto (Toba, Japan), Jonny Alexander (San Diego, CA), Patrick Ethen (Detroit, MI), Lauren YS (Los Angeles, CA), Louis Jensen (London, UK), and Aaron Glasson (Auckland, NZ). The Temple Children team included Miya Tsukazaki (Director), Lizzy Workman (Chef and Artist Assistant), Andrew Hara (Documentation), Ashley Kierkiewicz (County of Hawai‘i) and was supported by Keahi Warfield and Naomi Ahu of Keaukaha One Youth Program. Each member of this residency was selected to help challenge us to look inward and recognize our individual values, consumption and the interconnectedness between all living things.

The ‘Kindred Spirits’ theme addresses our collective global consciousness and commitment to permaculture as a critical tool in determining the future of our planet. Goals for this residency included connecting the artists to our island - by feeding them as close to 100% locally sourced foods as possible, connecting them to our Hilo community through the non-profits, business owners, and friends we work with, and encouraging abandonment of the ego to hold space for a collective, group consciousness for the time everyone was together. To further these goals, connections were made with various community groups — learning about the history of canoe voyaging and how to paddle a traditional wa‘a with Keaukaha One Youth Development’s RISE Program, volunteering with Waipi‘o Valley land stewards, Pōhaha I Ka Lani, to learn about protection of our natural resources by removing invasive ginger, hiking with Kīlauea EcoGuides for a guided educational tour of the recent eruption in Volcano National Park, hunting invasive wild boar on OK Farms with friends to source residency meals (!), and working closely with the Habitat for Humanity Hawai‘i Island ReStore to utilize and repurpose discarded items for the artists’ final artworks in the exhibition.

The two week residency culminated in an experiential collection of mixed-media installations, public murals and film at the East Hawaii Cultural Center and in Downtown Hilo. We are proud that our residency produced an exhibition and public murals that showcase artists of varying backgrounds and mediums to explore the points where art and environmentalism intersect, celebrating the diversity of ideas, cultures and people, and honoring our collective home, Planet Earth.

Mahalo to all of the artists, team, the Hilo community and over 30 local businesses for supporting this residency!

Film by Emad Rashidi.