Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s virtual art exhibit, Serendipity: Expressing the Connection of People, Place and the Past showcased art inspired by historic places in Hawai‘i. We were overjoyed by the submissions from artists of all ages and experiences. There was an immense amount of creativity, passion, and beauty captured by each entry. Art is such a powerful tool of engagement and has the potential to awaken deeper connections with the past, with places, and with one another. We hope you were inspired by this art exhibit and that a creative spark was lit within you to discover your favorite places with different eyes.
A last minute entry from Von Dickens Ulsa garnered the second highest number of votes overall. His gorgeous piece titled, “Aloha Tower wa Doko Desuka” was awarded the People’s Choice in the Painting Category. Von graciously invited our staff to his OFVON: The Exhibition II art show this past Saturday, August 21 at the Downtown Art Center. His works included iconic pieces of art throughout history – with a Hawai‘i spin. Among them were the “God of Tagalog Mythology”, his exploration of new mediums from his travels through Iberia and beyond, and over 20 new works and award winning pieces!
To say I was impressed would be an understatement. While not formally trained, Von is incredibly talented, imaginative, and original. His pieces evoke such emotion you get lost in the stories behind his creations. He is deeply connected to his heritage and it truly comes out through his art. His accomplishments are impressive: he headlined for both the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in 2017 and the Honolulu Pride Exhibition. His work has been shown in Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington DC, and Honolulu. As a young and decorated artist, he has received numerous awards and recognitions.
Von’s artistry is not the only captivating aspect about him; his exuberant personality will bring a smile to anyone’s face. I can’t wait to see where Von’s art will take him in the future!
The virtual gallery will be available to view until Tuesday, August 31. Some of the works are available to purchase by the artists. 30% of the proceeds will support Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s mission. Please consider supporting this talented group of artists. We are excited to announce that Von’s submission, Aloha Tower wa Doko Desuka was purchased!
“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”
Vincent Van Gogh
Other pieces that were part of Von’s Art Exhibit on August 21, 2021 at the Downtown Art Center:
By Michelle Kiczek, Development Assistant, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation