Kipaipai invites stARTup to Hawai'i
When faced with an invitation to spend a week in Hawai'i, even for work, it's pretty difficult to say no. And by work, we mean share our insights and experience at a professional development for artists workshop, Kipaipai (key-pie-pie) founded by Andi Campognone, Owner/Director of AC Projects and Museum Manager/Curator for the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster, California.
Back side of the Donkey Mill Art Center in Holualoa, Hawai'i where ceramics, papermaking, metal, print studios are housed.
Held each year at the enchanting and historically important Donkey Mill Center, Kipaipai, which means to encourage and inspire in Hawai'ian, is an intensive program where artists spend the week sharing their work, practices, goals and questions with art world professionals in an immersive setting to help them take their careers to the next level.
From top left: Kuma Keala Ching offers a blessing on the workshop, Donkey Mill was a coffee mill long before becoming an art center, a tile and twine ceiling installation in the Donkey Mill kitchen by New Zealand Artist, Victoria Te Kahurangi, the view from the home of family art patron, Leila Twigg-Smith, then a typical Kona sunset and some flora from the area.
The week begins with a special evening to meet each other and enjoy a beautifully chanted blessing by Kuma Keala Ching, Cultural Advisor to Donkey Mill and Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Na Wai Iwi Ola Foundation, setting the tone for an enriching experience that invites questions, ideas, openness and fun.
Much of the workshop takes place in gorgeous outdoor settings scattered throughout the center where artists and faculty set aside their busy lives to share and learn in group gatherings and one-on-one sessions digging deep into goals, questions, ideas, and next steps.
Kipaipai attendees and faculty gather on the deck at Donkey Mill Art Center to learn about Alex Couwenberg's career and how he builds genuine professional relationships.
Of course, there's also plenty of time for socializing, enjoying the Big Island culture and scenery of Holualoa and Kona, and taking a deep invigorating breathe before heading back to our respective work and projects.
Go to the Kipaipai website for a list of this year's faculty and more information about attending next year's event.
We'd like to say mahalo to everyone, Andi, the Donkey Mill Center, the amazing team, and everyone who came to the workshop. Thank you for your incredible contributions!
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