Program areas at Honolulu Museum of Art
The essential character of the Honolulu Museum of Art has always been grounded in three foundational elements: Art of the highest quality, a firm belief in the power of Art education, and a commitment to accessibility. Art of the highest quality knows no geographic boundaries or time parameters-it emerges from places both familiar and unfamiliar, and it can be found in the present moment and the distant past. Regardless of their origins, Art works of the highest quality are united in that they embody incredible craftsmanship and express themes and ideas that are both timely to the moment in which they are created and convey a universal and lasting relevance. Similarly, Art education does not have one mode of expression but is multi-faceted and dynamic; it spans a spectrum of engagement which ranges from the cerebral to the hands-on. Homa's long standing championship of Art education has always sought to acknowledge and facilitate the broad range of ways that people are drawn into a life that is enriched by the arts and creativity, whether that be through intellectual engagement or hands-on Art making. A commitment to accessibility is also a core characteristic that defines homa, and carries with it an inherent embrace of community and a celebration of diversity and inclusion. This commitment to accessibility has been with the Museum in one form or another since its founding. During the fiscal year ended 2022, around 69,000 people visited homa to; view Art in the galleries, participate in studio classes, attend a tour, watch a film, watch a performance, or engage in a variety of programming activities, which included workshops and panel discussions.the Honolulu Museum of Art possesses an encyclopedic collection of works ranging from eastern and western antiquities up through contemporary 21st century artwork, with a special emphasis on works of Art that reflect the diverse communities that call Hawaii home. The considerable collection includes the third largest collection of japanese woodblock prints in the united states, a textile collection ranging from ethnographic objects through contemporary clothing and costumes, and western Art by some of the most influential modern masters and artistic movements: picasso, matisse, gauguin, van gogh, monet, seurat, whistler, and cassatt, to name a few. Homa has an active exhibition program that is culturally diverse and relevant to local, national, and international audiences. With exhibitions spanning time and place, the Museum has strived to engage current conversations and narratives through visual language. The Museum has worked with institutions, artists, and lenders both domestically and abroad to present exhibitions that are comprehensive and promote thought and dialogue. In 2023, homa presented the following exhibitions. Rebecca louise law: awakeningnoah harders: moemoeaanimals in japanese artsharon guirguis, a'aru, field of dreamsreframing the landscapes of Hawaii big heads: portraits by kitagawa utamaro kitagawa utamaro: three beauties of the yoshiwarasalmon toor: no ordinary lovetransformations: modern japanese artlauren hana chai: the five sensesthe exquisite corpses of takayangi yutaka hard edge: geometric abstraction on paper navigating a minefield: a manga depiction of japanese americans in the second world warnavid sineki: the infinite gardendisasters of war: then and now perspectives should be reversed: david hockney prints from the jordan d. schnitzer collection and his family foundationshining prince: the tale of genji a commitment to accessibility has been part of the Honolulu Museum of Art since its founding. The Museum's charter described an institution where all people, regardless of background, can feel celebrated and immersed in creativity, and where, moreover, they are invited to partake in the celebration and creativity of others as well. If accessibility is the aim, Art education is the key that unlocks that door, and it begins with children. The visual arts integration program harnesses the power of Art to enhance the learning experience in title i schools. Each student in the program participates in Art immersion classes in school and attends academically aligned field trips at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Their teachers attend museum-directed workshops on how to use Art for effective teaching. All activities are designed to support learning goals as defined by the state of hawai'Hawaii'i department of education. During the covid pandemic, certain in person activities were postponed so homa expanded its virtual Art making offerings and implemented and at home Art kits program for youth.homa is a Museum that has grown stronger through the generations and carries a storied history. While it is rooted in its foundational legacy, the Museum continues to look towards the future with fresh ideas and new energy to continue to fulfill its mission of creating relevant and transformative experiences through the study, preservation, presentation, and creation of Art.