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Murals

Murals reflect the community they exist in, representing the lives of the people who interact, create, and flourish there. I believe a mural needs to tap into the spirit and values of those people, past, present, and future. Physical attributes of the location coupled with the voice and energy of its community, guide my design choices.

I've been designing and painting large-scale murals at public schools and libraries on Maui since the mid-1980's. My permanent mural paintings are at Kamalii Elementary School (2012), Pomaika'i Elementary School (2013, 2011), Kihei Elementary School (2010, 2004, 2003, 1985), and Kihei Public Library (1996).

The murals have been commissioned and funded by various public and private sources. I work with the community members of the mural's location to understand their vision. After gathering this information, I make preliminary studies and sketches. Once a design is approved, the painting begins!

Sometimes a school wants their students to participate in the painting process. If this is the case, I work out the background and important design elements of the mural first, and then, under my guidance, the students draw and paint their additions to the mural. This activity involves preparatory planning; I go into the classrooms (I'm a Teaching Artist Partner with the Artists-in-the-Schools program) and teach drawing and painting techniques to the teachers and their students before they work on the mural. This method of collaborative painting was been very successful, as the students are extremely proud of their contributions to the mural. In fact, the students often return years later, to revisit their paintings long after they've left the school (Kihei Elementary School, 1985). A recent example of this process is at Pomaika'i Elementary School.

Other murals (Kihei Public Library and Kamalii Elementary School) are painted and completed primarily by myself. It's always an interesting challenge when working in a public location, as one's work is under constant scrutiny as the painting develops. This interaction is important in the creative process, as the community's input is vital to the mural's statement.