HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I—Yes, the Honolulu Museum of Art’s long-running
ARTafterDARK is a party, but the museum’s goal for the event has always been to
turn new audiences on to art. This month ARTafterDARK focuses on the museum’s
highly anticipated new exhibition Abstract
Expressionism: Looking East from the Far West. The exhibition, which normally has an
additional $10 fee, is included in ARTafterDARK's $25 admission fee. As always, museum members attend ARTafterDARK for
free. The event is sponsored by First Insurance Company of Hawaii, which is also an exhibition sponsor.
Art nerds are spending a lot of time in front of
the works in the exhibition—it is a rare opportunity to be able to see
paintings by New York School stars Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and Willem de
Kooning in Honolulu. Even rarer is the chance to see these works alongside those
artists’ Hawai‘i contemporaries such as Satoru Abe, Isami Doi, Jerry Ochikubo,
Tadashi Sato, and Harry Tsuchidana.
ART AND
ENTERTAINMENT:
Abstract
Expressionism is America’s great mid-century art movement. To get into that
era’s mood, guests can bebop til they drop to the jazz of Mike Lewis and his
ensemble. Hawaii Jitterbugs will teach a short class and give a swinging demo.
The museum invites guests to come up with expressive new titles for
their favorite artwork in the exhibition. They can either Tweet the new title or
type it into the “social” tab on the museum’s app to see it projected on the
big screen. The most creative name will win a limited-edition Abstract Expressionism T-shirt.
Guests can purchase delicious dishes from EAT
Honolulu and the night’s specialty cocktail from Free Spirits Mobile
Bartenders.
First Insurance Company of Hawaii contest
People who
become a museum member between Sept. 25 and 29 will be entered to win a gift
basket that includes a $100 76 Gas gift card, a Baggalini bag, a Bobble Presse,
and other First Insurance Company of Hawaii goodies.
See full event schedule.
Time savers: Guests can buy tickets online in
advance or become a member
The museum now
offers advance tickets to ARTafterDARK online at honolulumuseum.org, saving
people check-in time. People who come to ARTafterDARK throughout the year can
save money and bypass the line by purchasing a one-year Basic membership—for
$30, people can attend ARTafterDARK all year long, which would cost $250 à la
carte. A Basic membership grants free admission to ARTafterDARK, the museum,
and Spalding House for a full year.
Mobile check-in
Members who download
the HoMA app can skip the line and glide right into the event using their
digital membership card. All they have to do is search “Honolulu Museum of Art”
in the Apple App Store or Google Play, download the app, and go to “My
account” to log in and view their already activated digital membership cards.
About
ARTafterDARK
Launched in 2004, ARTafterDARK is the Honolulu Museum of Art's monthly art party organized
by a dynamic group of young volunteers dedicated to exploring the arts.
ARTafterDARK is held on the last Friday of the month, January through October,
from 6 to 9 p.m. on the grounds of the Honolulu Museum of Art.
