Honolulu, Hawaii
Welcome to Downtown Art Center!
Second Floor Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat 11 AM to 6 PM, Sun 11 AM to 4 PM
DAC Art & Gifts Shop Hours: Tues-Sat 11 AM to 4 PM
Current Main Gallery Exhibition
DAC presents
ARTISTS OF HAWAI'I BIENNIAL 2024
On Display November 1-December 21, 2024
Downtown Art Center presents the return of the much-anticipated Artists of Hawaiʻi Biennial 2024, an updated version of the state's largest, longest-running all-media juried exhibition, designed to showcase the best of Hawaiʻi's contemporary art. This year’s juror is Tom Klobe, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Art Department professor emeritus and founding director of the University of Hawaiʻi Art Gallery.
Artists of all ages living in the state of Hawaiʻi, working in all media, regardless of experience level, were eligible to apply for the exhibition. Out of nearly 2,000 works submitted by 576 artists, the juror chose 356 pieces in a blind digital jurying (with the names of the artists removed) in the first round, then narrowed it down in the final in-person jurying round to 202 works by 159 artists from across Hawaiʻi to be accepted into the exhibition. Visitors may see the exhibition, which is free and open to the public, during regular gallery hours, in two galleries at DAC: the upstairs Main Gallery and the downstairs Studio C Gallery, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that on the first day of the exhibition, Friday, November 1, the galleries will open at 5 p.m.
Artists of Hawaiʻi prize money to be given out this year adds up to $55,250 in awards to artists, with eight DAC Artist Awards, including a $10,000 Best In Show Award, and seven awards generously provided by The Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA), from its Artists of Hawaiʻi-related endowed funds. All awards are exclusive of each other; each artist may only win one award. For a full list of awards and accepted artists, plus the full Juror’s Statement, visit downtownarthi.org/artistsofhawaii.
“For decades, Artists of Hawaiʻi served as the premier all-media juried exhibition in the islands, selected by artists of renown from within and outside our community who brought keen personal perspective, helping us see ourselves with fresh eyes,” says prominent Honolulu-based artist, author, arts writer and critic, and arts educator Marcia Morse. “The exhibitions included those established artists we expected to see, but they also always included new artists with new visions. The recent return of Artists of Hawaiʻi to Downtown Art Center has re-opened an important door to the art world of our islands.”
EXHIBITION EVENTS:
First Friday, November 1 from 5:30 - 8 p.m.: Exhibition opens with a First Friday Reception
Saturday, November 2 from 5:30 - 8 p.m.: Artists’ Award Ceremony and reception
Saturday, November 9 at 12:00 p.m. Public Juror's Walkthrough with Tom Klobe
Sunday, November 17 at 12:00 p.m. Public Juror's Walkthrough #2 with Tom Klobe
Saturday, December 21 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.: Public Artists’ Closing Reception
Current Courtyard Gallery Exhibition
The Flow: Fire & Water
Paired Elemental Photography by PF Bentley and Leslie Gleim
On View in the Courtyard Gallery November 1 - December 21, 2024
First Friday Opening Reception: Friday, November 1 from 5:30-8 p.m.
The Hawaiian Islands are the result of elemental forces: Fire, which takes even as it grows the islands; and water, which gives life while it returns formerly molten ores into elemental particles. This interplay, the stuff of Gods and Legends, is the inspiration for an exhibit by two multi-award-winning photographers who make their home in the Hawaiian Islands. The Flow: Fire and Water pairs PF Bentley’s awe-inspiring photography of waves crashing against the shoreline with Leslie Gleim’s breathtaking aerial photography of the life of a land fed by rivers of molten lava. In their exhibit is encapsulated the Alpha and Omega of life itself in the Hawaiian Islands.
The Exhibit: The Flow: Fire and Water is comprised of pairs of framed, matched photographs by PF Bentley and Leslie Gleim.
Upcoming Classroom Exhibition
Steven and William Ladd’s National Scrollathon®
On View November 15-December 21, 2024
EVENTS:
FREE Community Workshop: Tuesday, November 12 from 5-6 p.m., RSVP at bit.ly/scrollathonhi.
First Friday Reception: Friday, December 6 from 5:30-8 p.m.
The National Scrollathon®, a project by celebrated New York-based artists Steven and William Ladd, commemorates America’s 250th anniversary by engaging participants from all 56 U.S. states and territories in creating a massive series of textile art collages. Over the next two years, the Ladd brothers will collaborate with museums and art centers nationwide to build this artistic tribute to American unity, culminating in a stunning exhibit of personal and collective expression.
Downtown Art Center, as a Hawaiʻi host site for the Scrollathon, has teamed up with three local schools—Hanahauʻoli School, Island Pacific Academy, and Farrington High School. Supported by local funds raised by organizers Lauren Okano and Allison Wong, students from these schools will contribute unique scrolls to this extraordinary artwork.
The Scrollathon invites participants of all backgrounds to share their personal stories by crafting scrolls from fabric. Each participant creates two scrolls—one to keep and one to contribute to the larger piece—symbolizing both individuality and connection within the diverse tapestry of American life. This powerful, multidimensional piece will be displayed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2026 (May 26 - September 7, 2026).
For more details, visit scrollathon.com.
Special thanks to Hanahauʻoli School, Diane Chen KW, Judy Pyle and Wayne Pitluck, Sharon Twigg-Smith, Island Pacific Academy, and the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA) for their support of this project.
Upcoming Events & Exhibitions
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DAC Walking Tour: Art, History & Architecture in the HEART of Honolulu
Saturday, November 16 and Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., $20 per person
Downtown Art Center (DAC) offers a unique way to experience the historical and artistic heritage of the HEART district of downtown Honolulu with this NEW walking tour, led by Historian Gary R. Coover, author of "Pocket Walking Tour of Honolulu's Royal Mile,” and veteran artist and educator Susan Hogan.
Your guides will lead you on a lively 90-minute (1.5 hours) walk through streets layered with cultural, architectural and historical backstory. Pivotal events, locations and commemorative artworks will be pointed out and discussed. Participants will engage with the vibrant stories that shape this area and receive a complimentary copy of Gary’s insightful book. Don’t miss this chance to experience the artistic and historical heritage of Downtown Honolulu!
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Color Your Heart Wellness Workshop
Sunday, November 17, 2024 from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m., $10 per person
At November's Color your Heart Wellness Workshop, led by Su Atta, join us in exploring your heartfelt experiences through colors and shapes. Our aim is to help you connect with your spirit, body, and heart, and discover new ways to express yourself creatively. We will guide you through a series of activities starting with breath and body movement, followed by exploring the personal meanings of colors and symbols, culminating in creating your own personalized painting. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, we invite you to embark on this journey of self-discovery. Get ready to be surprised, delighted, and rejuvenated!
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DASL (Dine Art Shop Love) Chinatown
Saturday, November 23 from 2 p.m.- 9 p.m. at various venues on Bethel, Nuuanu, Smith, Pauahi, and King
Save the date, Saturday, November 23, for the Dine, Art, Shop, and Love (DASL) event, led by the City and County of Honolulu's Office of Economic Revitalization! This one-day event will close Bethel Street to vehicle traffic and showcase the vibrant arts, culture, and local businesses that make Chinatown special, with performances at Hawaii Theatre, live music in Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park, and activities at DAC, including:
-Open house in our galleries all day, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drop in and see the Artists of Hawaiʻi Biennial 2024 exhibition in the upstairs Main Gallery and downstairs Studio C Gallery!
-FREE public Make & Take tote bag printing sessions with DAC teaching artist Su Atta, from 1-4 p.m. in the second floor DAC Classroom.
- A fashion show that will wind its way through the downstairs portion of Chinatown Gateway Plaza.
-FREE public storytelling session with former drama instructor/local theatre legend Eden Lee Murray from 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the second floor DAC Classroom.
Come and see what the Chinatown/Downtown Honolulu district is all about! FREE PARKING available at the former Walmart & Macy’s building, entrance located on Bethel Street. -
DAC Storytelling Night with Eden Lee Murray
Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.
FREE with RSVP and Open to the PublicEden Lee Murray is a celebrated performer, director, and artist-educator based in Honolulu, known for her deep passion for Shakespeare and her extensive work in Hawaii's theatre scene. Since arriving in Oahu in 1992, she has directed or performed in every major venue, earning sixteen Po‘okela Awards. Eden Lee has served in various educational roles, including directing the Kaimuki High School Shakespeare Festival and serving as Education Director at Hawaii Theatre Center. Her career includes notable roles in the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival and featured performances in TV shows like Magnum: P.I. and Rescue: HI Surf. Additionally, she is a published author and ghostwriter.
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Quirky Crafter's Winter Mini Charity Craft Show
Sunday, November 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FREE and open to the publicAt this one-day special event, shop a curated collection of handmade crafts and help support local charities at the same time! A portion of sales from each artist will be donated to non-profit organizations in Hawaii.
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DAC the Halls Black Friday Art & Craft Faire
November 29-30, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What do you get for the person who has everything? Something local and handmade! Save the date on Black Friday weekend for the return of DAC the Halls, our annual holiday craft faire featuring local artisans selling ceramics, artwork, textiles, housewares, crafts and collectibles. This year, Hawaii Pacific University students in the Arts and Markets program will be joining us too, selling their very own handprinted cards and other paper products as part of a hands-on class project. Mahalo for supporting
local artists! -
The DAC Holiday Extravaganza!
Date: Friday & Saturday, December 13 and 14
Time: 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Downtown Art Center, The ARTS at Marks Garage, Honolulu Printmakers, and the streets of Chinatown!
Tickets: FREE with RSVP at downtownarthi.org/eventsThe DAC Holiday Extravaganza is our FREE holiday gift to the community, featuring two evenings of exciting events in three HEART district venues, all within a block of each other. On their way around the area to see special attractions at each venue, guests will see roving entertainers, including barbershop quartets, choral singers, and beautifully costumed dancers and elves. For a full lineup of performers and nightly schedule, check the link below!
DAC Special Projects & Community Action
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Vacant to Vibrant
Downtown Honolulu and its historic Chinatown Arts District are in trouble. Once the vital heart of the Pacific business community, multiple circumstances, including economic downturns and the COVID pandemic, has changed a once-vibrant area into a struggling historic arts, entertainment, and restaurant district with blocks of abandoned real estate and rising crime and vandalism.
However, with change comes opportunity. The time is right to start the conversation about how Downtown Honolulu and the Chinatown Arts District can be transformed into a vibrant community that attracts both locals and visitors alike. Downtown Art Center’s Vacant to Vibrant project, with several phases planned, aims to prove that these vacant spaces can come alive again, as valuable hubs of art, creativity, and community involvement.
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Public Art WORKS!
The objective of DAC’s telephone kiosk painting project was to beautify Chinatown’s Fort Street Mall area by transforming its five obsolete, damaged telephone kiosks into works of art. The selected designs, by local artists Su Shen Atta, Yvonne Manipon, Sergio Garzon, Kahi Ching, and Charles Valoroso, are simple, colorful, fun, photogenic, and uplifting. The painting started on Saturday, October 22 and covered five telephone kiosks stretching the length of Fort Street Mall, from Beretania to Merchant Streets.
Find out more about this and other DAC initiatives to put art in public places!
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HEART of Honolulu Street Festivals
Celebrate the arts, culture, and good food as you walk, shop, and eat your way around the Chinatown Arts District. Downtown Art Center is proud to present the HEART of Honolulu Street Festival, a family-friendly, daytime art festival that closes Nuʻuanu Avenue, from King Street to Chaplain Lane, to showcase local art, live local music, food, crafts, and more. The last festival took place on Saturday, October 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - stay tuned for the next street festival in April 2023!
HEART is an acronymn that stands for Heritage, Entertainment, Arts & culture, Restaurants, and Theatre & Performing Arts. Together these elements make up the core of our vibrant creative community.
Visit Us
1041 Nu’uanu Ave., 2nd Floor, Honolulu HI 96817
Exhibition Gallery Hours:
Tues-Sat
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday:
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
First Friday Hours:
5:30 - 8 p.m. every First Friday of the month!
Downstairs DAC Art & Gifts Shop Hours:
Tues-Sat
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Phone
(808) 773-7339
PARKING INFORMATION
Parking for DAC is located at nearby municipal parking lots (onsite at Chinatown Gateway Plaza, parking entrance off Bethel Street) or at Mark's Garage (entrance at 22 S. Pauahi St.). On-site parking is by credit card only, and costs $0.75/half hour, with no grace period.
DAC is easily accessible by public transit as well; get directions, routes and timetables at www.thebus.org.