CONTACT ZONE: THE FIFTH ANNUAL CONTACT EXHIBITION
FEATURING CONTEMPORARY ART MADE IN HAWAI‘I
On view April 6–21, 2018 at Honolulu Museum of Art School
and in Waikīkī, Kaka‘ako, Kalihi, and Chinatown (O‘ahu, Hawai‘i)
CONTACT ZONE is the fifth installment of CONTACT, an annual exhibition of contemporary art made in Hawai‘i. On view at the Honolulu Museum of Art School, April 6–21, 2018, CONTACT ZONE will expand its reach to include additional exhibition venues in Waikīkī, Kaka‘ako, Kalihi, and Chinatown. The exhibition and its accompanying public programming are FREE to the public.
“CONTACT ZONE offers a comprehensive survey of contemporary art in Hawai‘i, with a critical focus on what it means to live, coexist, and be from and transplant to Hawai‘i,” says Josh Tengan, exhibition manager of CONTACT.
Curated and juried by Keola Naka‘ahiki Rapozo (designer at FITTED Hawai‘i) and Michael Rooks (Wieland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta), CONTACT ZONE features artwork that explores the notion of ‘Contact Zones,’ or spaces of cultural exchange and mitigation in Hawai‘i. Over the years, the partially juried format of the show has supported and offered emerging local artists an exhibition pathway.
An exciting addition to CONTACT are a number of site-specific art installations in Waikīkī, which is itself a significant ‘Contact Zone’ on O‘ahu. Installations include a sand sculpture by artists Jill Harris and Thomas Koet at Sheraton Waikiki (lobby), artwork by PARADISE COVE and Jan Becket in the window display and store at Saks Fifth Avenue, and a new photography series by Taiji Terasaki at T Galleria by DFS, Hawai‘i. See a full list of exhibition sites. Download a map of Waikīkī installations.
CURATORS + JURORS
Each year, two visual arts professionals are chosen to jury, curate, and commission selected artwork for CONTACT. The collaboration and exchange between these independent curators creates a contact dynamic that is essential to the development of the exhibit.
KEOLA NAKAʻAHIKI RAPOZO is the creative director and co-founder of FITTED, the iconic Hawaiian streetwear brand. With strong support from the local community, FITTED has established itself as a world renowned and respected brand, fusing Rapozo’s interests in aloha wear, street culture, and contemporary art. His diverse design resume spans multiple industries — streetwear, fashion, surf/skate, footwear, restaurants, development and interior design — and includes large branding projects with Hawaiian Airlines, POW! WOW! Hawaii, and Polynesian Voyaging Society. Rapozo is inspired by the rich Hawaiian culture that he embraces and fuses it into everything he designs.
MICHAEL ROOKS has served the High Museum as the Wieland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art in since 2010. He was appointed Commissioner and co-curator of the U.S. Pavilion at the 12th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia in 2010. Prior to joining the High Museum, Mr. Rooks held curator positions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, The Contemporary Museum Honolulu, and the Honolulu Academy of Arts. As curator at The Contemporary Museum Honolulu, Rooks curated more than 15 exhibitions including projects by Michael Lin, Paul Morrison, and Yoshitomo Nara.
SPONSORS
CONTACT ZONE is made possible by funding from the Atherton Family Foundation, The Charles Engelhard Foundation, DAWSON, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, and Nā Mea Hawai‘i.
PARTNERS
CONTACT ZONE receives support from Best Printing, Bishop Museum, Bevy, City and County of Honolulu, Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, FLUX, Hawaii Theatre, Honolulu Beerworks, Pacific Edge Magazine, Royal Hawaiian Center, Saks Fifth Avenue, Shaka Tea, Sheraton Waikiki, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, T Galleria by DFS Hawai‘i, and Waiola.
