The Public Art Podcast

TALK STORY #7: Soon Yai Amaral & Diane Preza

Recorded at Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center on May 31, 2022, Soon Yai Amaral, Elder kamaʻāina of Lānaʻi and Diane Preza, Kamaʻāina of Lānaʻi, met to record a 40-minute "Talk Story" session, with the goal of capturing an authentic moment of connection through stories that are embedded in a Lānaʻi sense of place. This recording will become part of a collection from which artists will base a proposed work of public art through the upcoming SMALL TOWN * BIG ART 2022 RFP (request for proposals). Learn more at smalltownbig.org/talk-story.

TALK STORY #10: Hōkūlani Holt & Cody Pueo Pata

On June 7, 2022, Hōkūlani Holt, PhD, Kumu Hula, Pā’ū O Hi’iaka, Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, University of Hawaii Maui College and Cody Pueo Pata, Kumu Hula, Halau Hula ʻo ka Malama Mahilani and cultural advisor to the Maui County Mayor, met at Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House / Maui Historical Society to record a 40-minute "Talk Story" session, with the goal of capturing an authentic moment of connection through stories that are embedded in a Maui sense of place. This recording will become part of a collection from which artists may base a proposed work of public art through the upcoming SMALL TOWN * BIG ART 2022 RFP (request for proposals). Learn more at smalltownbig.org/talk-story.

TALK STORY #9: Annadele Yahiro & Michael Bursack

In May 2022, Michael (Mick) Bursack completed a storytelling training alongside 12 extraordinary individuals, led by SMALL TOWN * BIG ART artist Leilehua Yuen. Our team paired each participant with an intergenerational partner to engage in a 40-minute, audio-recorded "Talk Story" session, with the goal of capturing an authentic moment of connection through stories that are embedded in a Maui sense of place. Here, Mick speaks with Annadele Yahiro, a fellow docent at Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House / Maui Historical Society, about an hour before their volunteer shift for the day. Please enjoy. 

Episode #10: John Rowehl

Trained in classical piano from the age of seven and a competition-winning pianist as a teenager, John originally matriculated at Cornell as a Ph.D. student in Philosophy. His performance focus is on choral conducting, and his dissertation—a project in applied bio-musicology—examines how our ideas about performance change when we take seriously the latest findings in the neurophysiology of music and the growing body of evidence that music is hardwired into us humans, in part because of the role it plays in creating and nurturing community.
John has been heard as a baritone soloist in the Fingerlakes Bach Festival and with New York State Baroque. He also enjoys working with singers from the keyboard, as a vocal coach and collaborative pianist. In 2014, John became a Certified Yoga Teacher. After enduring 29 winters in the Northeast, John came to his senses and moved home to Hawaiʻi, where he works as Director of Music & Organist at Keawalaʻi Congregational Church, as Executive Director of the Maui Chamber Orchestra, and as a voice teacher in Kūpono Music Studio.

Episode #9:The Center for Emerging Media Design and Development at Ball State University

Get to know some of the grad students that led "Small Town, Big Stories"; the result of a yearlong Master’s project designed as a tool to continually create and collect stories from our Maui community. Today, we were joined by Penelope Baggs, Michaela Tangeman, Ashleigh Goodrich, Erin Salyers and Faculty Advisor Kevin Moloney, Ph.D. to gather context on this new tool, hear about its April 1, 2022 unveiling at ʻĪao Theater, and learn what's in store for future development. Learn more at https://www.smalltownbig.org/smalltownbigstories.html and please enjoy!

Episode #8: Sean Browne

Today we're joined by Oʻahu-based sculptor Sean Browne, whose 1989 Wailuku public artwork entitled Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono became the backdrop of last week's unveiling of The Bits Left Behind (by Adaptations Dance Theater) and Return to the Source (by muralist Cory Taum).
Sean has created public art for more than 40 years. Born in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees on Oʻahu and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 1985, enabling him to study with Isamu Noguchi in Japan. For many years, he taught sculpture at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and at Kapiolani Community College.
His greatest advice for artists today? Chance um.
Please enjoy. 

TALK STORY: Sissy Lake-Farm, Cody Pueo Pata and Amanda Joy Bowers

Here, SMALL TOWN * BIG ART partner Sissy Lake-Farm of Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House Museum/ Maui Historical Society talks story with Kumu Hula Cody Pueo Pata and artist Amanda Joy Bowers about the ways that the work of Mary Kawena Pukui is influencing the revitalization of Wailuku. 

Episode #7: Lori Hepner

Today we're joined by Pittsburgh-based light painting + new media artist Lori Hepner, who recently completed public artwork for Wailuku Town entitled UP TOGETHER JOIN HANDS, which was her chosen proverb from Mary Kawena Pukui's ‘Ōlelo No‘eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Political Sayings.
Lori has spent considerable time in recent years in community centered artist residencies in Pittsburgh, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Canadian Yukon. While on Maui this fall (2021), she partnered with ʻĪao Intermediate School + Hālau Makana Aloha O Ka Lauaʻe + Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House Museum/ Maui Historical Society + Wailuku Coffee Company + 62 Marcket + Lokahi Pacific + the County of Maui and more to create light paintings that are temporarily installed in Wailuku Town. Here we talk story about her process, inspiration, public art experience and advice and reflections on Wailuku Town. Learn more at https://www.smalltownbig.org/hepner.html