Kahauiki Village Spring Break 2026 Recap
In Modigliani-Inspired Exaggerated Self-Portraits, teaching artist Fatiha Kheddaoui guided students in exploring portraiture through expression and proportion. Using a grid system to organize their compositions, students created stylized self-portraits inspired by Amedeo Modigliani, intentionally exaggerating facial features to reflect emotion and personality. Working on black paper, they applied oil pastel techniques such as layering, blending, and bold color application, while also learning to distinguish between oil and chalk pastels. Through this process, students gained a deeper understanding of how artistic choices—like color, shape, and proportion—can influence the mood and meaning of a portrait.
In Wands of Imagination: Nature, Story & Symbol, teaching artist Fae Yamaguchi guided students in transforming natural materials into meaningful works of art. Using found sticks as the foundation, students explored wrapping and beading techniques to create textured, symbolic “wands” that reflected their personal stories and ideas of magic. Through discussion, students considered how magic can take real forms—such as acts of kindness—and were encouraged to embed these values into their creations. The lesson also introduced the concept of mana, the spiritual energy present in people, places, and objects in Hawaiian culture, helping students connect their artistic choices to deeper ideas of intention, respect, and interconnectedness.
Teaching artist James B. McCarthy introduced students to the fundamentals of rhythm, collaboration, and improvisation through his program We Got the Beat. Using simple percussion instruments like rhythm sticks, shakers, and drums, students learned to create steady beats, lead and echo rhythms, and build short ensemble “loops” together. Through guided practice and playful exploration, students developed their ability to express themselves musically while working as a group. The lesson emphasized creativity, listening, and teamwork, encouraging students to discover how new music can be created both individually and collectively.
In Trading Cards, teaching artist Fae Yamaguchi invited students to explore creativity, storytelling, and design through small-scale artmaking. Using a variety of drawing materials, students created their own collectible trading cards, experimenting with characters, symbols, patterns, and imaginative worlds. The lesson encouraged students to think about composition within a limited space while introducing concepts like series-making and rarity. Through this playful, choice-based activity, students practiced artistic risk-taking, personal expression, and design skills—demonstrating how even small formats can hold big ideas.
In Wind and Rain Dances, teaching artist Vivien Lee guided students in exploring movement, storytelling, and expression through creative dance. Students generated words describing rain, wind, and their emotions, then transformed those ideas into shapes and movements using their bodies. Through guided exercises, they experimented with levels, stillness, and motion, learning to respond to cues and build choreography. By combining selected words into a short sequence, students created and performed their own weather-inspired dances—demonstrating how movement can express natural phenomena, imagination, and personal experience.