SpiritArt Studio: Spirit Art Studio chosen for finalist for National Park Sculpture

Spirit Art Studio chosen for finalist for National Park Sculpture

National Park Service Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park P.O. Box 52
U. S. Department of the Interior Hawai’i National Park Hawai’i 96718
Jim Gale, Chief Interpreter
808-985-6010 phone

National Park Service News Release

May 12, 2004

Three Finalists Recommended for Wahi Kapu Sculpture

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is one step closer to obtaining an outdoor sculpture for Kilauea Visitor Center. The sculpture will portray the concept of wahi kapu (sacred places) to give park visitors a sense of why Kilauea and Mauna Loa have long been revered by Native Hawaiians.
In the first phase of a two-part selection process, the park’s Kupuna Committee, a long-standing cultural advisory group, reviewed 17 proposals from artists across the state. Each proposal was judged based on a rendering or scale model of the proposed sculpture, a written description of the sculpture as envisioned by the artist, and samples of materials that will be used to create the sculpture.

Three finalists were recommended by the Kupuna Committee. They are Calvin Cook of Na`alehu,
Crystal Lockwood of Pahoa, and John Matsushita of Kailua-Kona. Each of these artists will receive a $1000 honorarium to further develop their designs.

Park superintendent Cindy Orlando said, “I am delighted with the recommendations of the Kupuna Committee. I believe the sculpture will make a big difference in raising visitor awareness of the sacredness of our volcanoes.”

In August, the three finalists will present their fully-developed sculpture designs to the Küpuna Committee. Based on the committee’s recommendation, the park will select one proposal and award a $38,000 commission to the artist to create the sculpture.

This artwork is funded through a collaborative project of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, the Volcano Art Center, The Mountain Institute, the Hawai`i Tourism Authority, and the Ford Foundation.

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