At First Hawaiian Center | The Leaping Place, Self Assembly + Intimate Orbits

The Leaping Place: Matt Shallenberger
This photography series, inspired by recollections of the artist’s family who immigrated to Hawai‘i island from Portugal in the 1880s, references the ancient Hawaiian creation chant, the Kumulipo. Named after the island places from which departed spirits begin their journey to the underworld, the project is Shallenberger’s way to connect with his ancestors, as well as discover similarities between Hawai‘i communities, built around the landscapes they both inhabit. 

Self Assembly: Christopher Edwards
Christopher Edwards’ ceramic works are inspired by the underlying algorithmic logic of biology and mathematics. The exhibition title refers to the process of self-assembly in nature, by which small, individual components spontaneously assemble themselves into a larger organized system. Visual references in his works include Islamic art and architecture, telescopes on Mauna Kea, Polynesian tattoo motifs, star charts, and wave maps.

Intimate Orbits: C.B. Forsythe and Juvana Soliven
Using materials such as fabric, buttons, beeswax, leather, and fur, artists C.B. Forsythe and Juvana Soliven make carefully constructed mixed-media works that evoke family and the home. The work of both artists speak to the complexities of human connectivity, emotional intimacy, yearning, and nostalgia.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website