New JCCH Exhibit - MORE OF MO: Sculpture by Mamoru Sato - Kaimuki

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Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item
New JCCH Exhibit - MORE OF MO: Sculpture by Mamoru Sato
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Type: Art Exhibit
Date: Saturday - 5/31/2008
Time:
Location:
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i
Community Gallery
2454 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96826

For more information call (808) 945-7633
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Cost: Free

Exhibit Name: MORE OF MO: Sculpture by Mamoru Sato

Location of the event: Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i Community Gallery

Date and Time: Opening reception -- Saturday, May 31, 5 p.m. -- 7 p.m. Exhibit open until Friday, July 11.

New: Mamoru Sato will present a free exhibit overview: Saturday, June 28 at 10:30 a.m.

Gallery hours: Tuesday -- Saturday, 10 a.m. -- 4 p.m.

Description of event:
Sponsored by the Toshiko Takaezu Foundation, the exhibition features work where Sato, a Professor of Art at the University of Hawai'i at M�noa, utilizes a wide range of materials such as PVC, wood and aluminum as well as techniques that help to interpret the world around him. About 15 sculptures will be on display and available for purchase throughout the exhibit run.

"The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i is very excited to showcase Mo's art that reflects his ability to bring motion into sculpture," said Christy Takamune, JCCH Gallery Director. "He takes these ordinary, sometimes industrial objects, that are stiff and structured and recreates it into a piece that is fun, free flowing and organic."

Born in El Paso, Texas in 1937, Sato grew up in the southeastern tip of Colorado and linked his being raised in the "Dust Bowl" to his artistic inspiration.

"I would hunt for ducks and pheasants," said Sato. "I grew up with a shotgun in my hands. As a kid I remember running up hills and down and going inside of pipes and hiding in them."

Sato credited his father for influencing his work. Since his father was not mechanically minded, Sato explained he grew up learning to figure mechanical things out on his own and working with his hands.
Sato initially majored in aeronautical engineering but switched to art, receiving a bachelor's degree in fine art in 1963 and a master's in fine art in sculpture in 1965, both from the University of Colorado. Sato came to Hawai'i in 1965 to teach at the University of Hawai'i at Monoa.

With more than four decades of teaching under his belt, Sato said he follows his own advice that he gives to his kinetic sculpture students in terms of experimenting with everyday materials, whether it be paper to washing machine parts, in their art work.

Though the art work may be made of ordinary, and at times, even discarded items, the outcome is always an exciting surprise as it was the case with his works made out of PVC material.

"Initially, the PVC I think were given to me or was the remnant of some project at UH that was just lying in a box. I just started playing with it," recalled Sato. "It was a discovery for me, for I found by twisting and turning and arranging things in a certain way they just naturally formed, which was kind of neat."

Sato's commissions include sculptures located statewide at the Kona State Office Building, Maunawili Elementary School, Rev. Benjamin Parker Elementary School, Honolulu International Airport and Hilo Hospital as well as The James Michener Collection (Pipersville, Pennsylvania) and the Hayashide Onsen Hotel (Kagoshima, Japan).

Takamune said the JCCH is honored to be able to share Sato's artistic vision through this exhibit and to thank him for his dedication to the art community in Hawai'i.

"Our organization's goal is to share the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai'i, and Mo's work is representative of part of that experience," said Takamune. "Through his work he is able to show us the world through his eyes."

Cost/Entry Fee: Free Admission.

Public contact information: Phone: (808) 945-7633, fax: (808) 944-1123. Web address: www.jcch.com.

Presenting organization: The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, strives to share the history, heritage and culture of the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai'i. The JCCH features a Community and Historical Gallery, Resource Center, Kenshikan martial arts d�j�, Seik�an Japanese teahouse and Gift Shop.

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Kaimuki, Hawaii Event Calendar Item

New JCCH Exhibit - MORE OF MO: Sculpture by Mamoru Sato

Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item