Island Hopper

ABOVE THE EQUATOR’S INAUGURAL FIRST FRIDAY ACTIVATION, ISLAND HOPPER, LAUNCHING AUGUST 6 IN HISTORIC CHINATOWN

The contemporary-focused Hilo-based gallery will host a multifaceted soirée featuring interisland contemporary artists, music and film in collaboration with Arts & Letters Nuʻuanu

 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi (July 23, 2021) Above the Equator (ATE), a new hybrid gallery located in Hilo, will be debuting their inaugural, First Friday activation, Island Hopper, at Arts & Letters Nuʻuanu in Honolulu’s historic Chinatown on Friday, August 6th from 6pm to 9pm. An experiential activation, Island Hopper, presents works by contemporary artists from Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island alongside music performances by Honolulu Art Ensemble for one night only that is free and open to the public. Private preview viewings of artworks available from 12 PM - 5 PM on the 6th and will be on view all day on the 7th to the public for this two-day activation.

Noting the need to celebrate interconnectivity between the Hawaiian Islands, Island Hopper celebrates the history of Arts & Letters Nuʻuanu, which for over 30 years was the gallery and studio of renowned painter, Pegge Hopper.  By bringing artists from across the archipelago to Chinatown, Above the Equator offers works from: Bernice Akamine (Hawaiʻi Island), Nanci Amaka (Oʻahu), Noah Harders (Maui), Melissa Chimera (Hawaiʻi Island), Shawn Spangler (Oʻahu), Kenyatta Kelechi (Oʻahu), Lauren Shearer (Maui), Keith Tallett (Hawaiʻi Island), Hana Yoshihata (Hawaiʻi Island), Gregg Kaplan (Maui) and Nick Potash (Maui).  Shown together for the first time, works range various mediums including: painting, photography, ceramics, floral art and jewelry.

Island Hopper will also debut a screening of On Origin and Creation,  a film about Kenyatta Kelechi’s work at 7:30 PM.

Both Arts & Letters Nuʻuanu and Above the Equator are women-founded initiatives, opened during the pandemic.

Above the Equator is dedicated to promoting artists working from the countries and cultures near the equator, with a strong focus on artists of Hawaiʻi and runs a project space in Downtown Hilo, as well as interisland roaming activations.

Arts & Letters on Nu‘uanu hosts rotating artists’ exhibitions while also housing a complementary set of creative and community enterprises: Native Books, Waiwai Collective and Mezzanine Prints.

Event details:

Island Hopper

Friday, August 6th, 6pm-9pm

Arts & Letters Nuʻuanu, 1164 Nu‘uanu Avenue

DURING THE EVENT

While indoors, we require face masks to be worn unless eating or drinking per current City regulations.