Willie Nelson

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The Maui War and Peace Art Exhibition 2007 opening night was a mind blowing huge success. I was teaching that evening so could not make it until late. But I am certainly glad that I made the drive up to Makawao town the night of June 8.

I saw a miracle in Makawao.

Makawao town is a very small town by any standard. Originally just a few stores that served the local cowboys it has since experienced a bit of gentrification. Now it also has quite a few galleries and even a health food store. But it is still a very small town.

So I was not really prepared for what I found when I drove down Makawao Avenue. At 9:00 P.M. there was a crowd of people in front of the old Elan Vital Gallery. This was shocking of itself. The sidewalks are usually rolled up at sunset even on a Friday night.

But the Maui War and Peace Art Exhibition created an art scene.

An honest to goodness art scene was merrily bubbling away in Makawao. And this art scene was all about war and peace. It wasn’t about art for tourists. And this was a second shock because normally that is all you find in the Maui galleries.

The reality of making a living being an artist includes getting your work displayed in galleries. And the mantra of the Maui galleries is, “something pretty in a tropical theme that doesn’t ruffle any feathers.” If it isn’t totally safe art it isn’t displayed.

The Maui War and Peace Art Exhibition displayed dangerous art.

The biggest art event on Maui is the annual Art Maui show at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. This year several well-known Maui artists felt compelled to create work that addressed real issues. This year these artists who are usually shown had their work rejected.

The connection between making relevant art and getting it rejected was not lost on these artists. And not only did they conspire to make art in the face of life, they wanted it shown publicly. So they started hunting around for a space they could use for a month to show their work.

Michelle Sewell and Tim Garcia relentlessly pursued commercial landlords hoping to find a place in Paia town. It was a bit discouraging when nothing was found. But they did not give up. And in the end the space they sought was found in Makawao.

The art community responded.

Artists from all over Maui had been making art expressing their feelings about war and peace but it languished. No gallery would hang it. The artists had done the work because they were moved to do it with no expectations of any rewards.

Even the reward of a public display had been denied.

But because of Michelle Sewell and Tim Garcia they now had the opportunity to show the work that mattered deeply to them. Michelle Sewell and Tim Garcia offered them a chance. And they took it.

The response by Maui artists was mind blowing.

The old empty gallery on Makawao Avenue is a large space. Michelle Sewell and Tim Garcia didn’t know that they could fill it. After all, it was all on a very short notice. They put out a call for art. Maui artists responded in mass.

In less than a week they filled the gallery.

More work is still showing up. And this is the type of art that one could only see in a big city art scene. This was art that moved you. Powerful pieces, one after another, filled the walls. Art that wasn’t produced for the tourist galleries or for a show announced months in advance.

This art already existed.

Art made from the heart by artists who were honestly compelled to make it for its own sake. This art addressed the contemporary circumstances of life that galleries were afraid to show. Art that was painfully profoundly meaningful and moving was rescued from the corners of isolated studios all over Maui.

And you can still view this art until June 29, 2007. Free admission (donations accepted). Open every day from noon to at least 6:00 pm. Closing time is variable because of films, plays, performances, lectures, salons, symposiums, classes, poetry slams and other related events that will take place during this exciting three week exhibition.

See it while you can.

This exhibition is an important event in art history. It has brought together a community of concerned artists and peace activists from all over Maui. It has shown that there are more of us who want peace than mainstream media and tourist art galleries are willing to admit.

The Maui War and Peace Art Exhibition is a public display of solidarity for peace.

Read the War and Peace Art Exhibition 2007 Prospectus and Call for Entries.

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Tags: Peace

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