Winners Announced for National Arts Program® in Honolulu

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann presented awards today (Friday, July 17) to the winners of the fourth annual exhibit and contest of The National Arts Program® in Honolulu at a noon reception at Honolulu Hale.

Mayor Hannemann said, “The artistic creativity of our City employees and their family members never fails to amaze me.  For the fourth year, the courtyard of Honolulu Hale is adorned with an outstanding collection of original paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and crafts.  I would like to thank the National Arts Program Foundation for partnering with the City and enabling us to bring out the artistic talents of our City ohana.  Congratulations to the winners and mahalo to everyone who participated in our annual art exhibit.”

Chelsea Iwami’s painting, entitled “Fire,” was named the overall best-in-show.  Chelsea is the daughter of Captain Ronald Iwami of the Honolulu Fire Department.  She is the recipient of the $300 grand prize.  The painting depicts the burning of daruma dolls to bring good luck to a community represented by butterflies flying above.

Iwami's painting was selected from 83 works submitted by 56 City employees and family members.  All entries were judged by professional arts practitioners from the City’s Commission on Culture and the Arts.  Other winning entries in the exhibit’s various categories include:

Adult Professional

1^st Place – Carl “Jerry” Vasconcellos, Department of Parks and Recreation, sculpture “Fragment”

2^nd Place – Yasuko Abeshima, Department of Human Resources, painting “Croton”

3^rd Place – E. Tory Laitila, Office of the Mayor, hat entitled “Helmet, 1^st Continental Dragoon”

Honorable Mention – Carl “Jerry” Vasconcellos, Department of Parks and Recreation, sculpture “The Wind Blew Hard”

Adult Intermediate

1^st Place – Sean Nakazaki, Office of the City Clerk, sculpture “Fire & Water”

2^nd Place – Diane Uyeno, Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, craft sculpture “Hawaii: A Special Blend”

3^rd Place – Frodel Tolentino, Department of Design and Construction, drawing “Tribal Koi”

Honorable Mention – Chelsea Iwami, Honolulu Fire Department, painting “Flower”

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Adult Amateur

1^st Place – Lynel Rabago, Department of Facility Maintenance, photograph “Koimmotion”

2^nd Place – Bruno Heldt, Honolulu Emergency Services Department, sculpture “Helios the Bull”

3^rd Place – Ivan Kaisan, Office of Council Services, photograph “Shell Canyon”

Honorable Mention – Chrystal Wong, Honolulu Police Department, photograph “Hanabata Days”

Teen, 13-18 Years

1^st Place – Jovenard Mapanao, Department of Environmental Services, drawing “Music and Marble”

2^nd Place – Travis Kumano, Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, painting “Self Portrait”

3^rd Place – Caitlin Hood, Honolulu Police Department, sculpture “Coca-Cola Abstraction”

Honorable Mention – Jennifer Au, Department of Transportation Services, painting “E Pluribus Unum”

Youth, 12 Years and Under

1^st Place – Nicholas Siu-Li, Department of Planning and Permitting, drawing “The Radiant Ginger”

2^nd Place – Cassandra Tancinco, Liquor Commission, painting “Bark!”

3^rd Place – Jaclyn Bregman, Honolulu Emergency Services Department, painting “Jumping, Splashing Dolphins”

Honorable Mention – Lauren Baker, Honolulu City Council, drawing “Colorful Ant”

The artwork will be on display through July 28 at Honolulu Hale.  Exhibit hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The exhibit is free and open to the public.  For more information, call 768-6622 or visit www.honolulu.gov/moca.

The program was established in 1983 by The National Arts Program Foundation to identify the artistic talents of our nation.  The program involves employees and family members of municipal and county governments and businesses, and is gradually expanding to include the general public. 

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Contact:

Dymian Racoma, 768-6622