“7 Degrees North: The Arts of Micronesia” is believed to be the first exhibit on Oʻahu to highlight the work of contemporary and traditional artists of Micronesian ancestry who live in Hawaiʻi. The groundbreaking display opened in February at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu’s James & Abigail Campbell Library and runs through June 16.
The works of art featured in the exhibit draw upon both traditional Micronesian motifs and the multi-cultural environment of Hawaiʻi.
The curators of “7 Degrees North” are Floyd K. Takeuchi, a writer and photographer who was born and raised in the Marshall Islands, and Margo Vitarelli, a teaching artist and museum educator who grew up on Palau.
“It’s a unique opportunity…for the community at UH West Oʻahu to get a feeling for the contemporary Micronesian community in Hawaiʻi,” Takeuchi said.
Among the featured artists are Lissette Yamase of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), a portrait artist who uses charcoal; Eric Cano, a graphic artist from Chuuk in the FSM, who designs Micronesian and Pacific Island inspired clothing; and Ruth Truce, a Palauan coconut basket weaver. Also on view are photographs by Takeuchi, who travels extensively in the Pacific region.
Takeuchi noted that the timing of the exhibit connects with the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC), which will be held June 6–16 in Honolulu. UH West Oʻahu is one of the official venues of the festival, the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders, according to the FestPAC website.
“7 Degrees North: The Arts of Micronesia” is free and open to the public Monday–Friday (except for state holidays) during the library’s regular spring semester hours. Contact the library at (808) 689-2700 or uhwolib@hawaii.edu.
Works in the exhibit may also be viewed on Flickr.
For more visit Ka Puna O Kaloʻi.
—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman
