THE NIGHT STUFF
ARTafterDARK unveils its fourth-season canvas
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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World War II, Mexico and surfing await this year's 10 art parties
ARTafterDARK opens a fourth season of thematic post-sunset parties tonight with some serious bragging rights spawned by its success.
The monthly Honolulu Academy of Arts mixer aimed at luring young adult patrons to art collecting, community arts programs and the overall grooviness of the museum itself has long turned enough of a profit to sustain its own existence. Thanks to continued event underwriting by major sponsors, however, AafterD made enough last season to contribute an additional $25,000 to museum exhibits and art conservation programs.
And AafterD's hella gala, hella sold-out Starlight Ball fundraiser in January — its fourth in as many years — slid some very welcome cash to museum educational programs for children.
Crowds at AafterD remain steady at just over a thousand patrons each time out. The event still sells more museum memberships in one day than any other day of the month. And this year — mostly thanks to an extra post-Thanksgiving Friday in November — AafterD is hosting 10 events instead of its usual nine.
Program coordinator Lori Admiral gave us some early dish on the AafterD season ahead, beginning with tonight's opening party.
Following AafterD's exhibition-driven ethos, a thematic tie-in to the academy's "Wearing Propaganda: Textiles on the Home Front in Japan, Britain and the United States, 1931-1945" exhibit. The two-month exhibition (which ends April 29) features propaganda fashion designed and produced in each country before and during World War II. There'll be guided zip-tours of the exhibit, a dance floor, swing music by the 20-piece UH Jazz Ensemble and food from Tiki's Grill & Bar. Practice your jitterbug now.
The museum celebrates its 80th birthday a week early (the real date is April 8) and pays tribute to founder Anna Rice Cooke. Expect zip-tours of "A Vision of the World: The Anna Rice Cooke Collection at the Honolulu Academy of Arts," a two-month exhibition ending April 29. Another sweet possibility: A frost-and-decorate-your-own-treat cupcake bar and a pink champagne fountain. Still unknown? The eve's DJed soundtrack. Honestly, though, we're too stoked on the thought of macking on some self-decorated cupcakes to care.
The artistic tie-in is an exhibit of prints and drawings by 16th-century German printmaker, painter and math genius Albrecht Durer. Matching the "wanderlust" theme, there could be educational lectures on, for starters, printmaking's societal effects and impact on travel. Knowledge is power, kids! Expect local printmakers demonstrating their craft.
Love and The Beatles. The Beatles and love. The big theme is love in the visual arts, so expect tours of museum works expressing love through art. Admiral is also considering the very boss twist-and-shout appeal of a dance floor fronted by a Beatles tribute band. An obvious '60s love jones should be in effect.
The museum's 57th annual Artists of Hawai'i juried exhibition of locally created art is spotlighted with zip-tours of the two-month exhibit, artists on hand to discuss their works, and live art demonstrations.
Kabuki dance performances, obviously. And a focus on all things and all arts Japanese. A Japanese-themed food menu also is a very real — and very suggested — possibility. Ikura nigiri rules!
With mere weeks until the start of muggy fall weather, groove to surf music, live or otherwise. Also: grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for noshing; the surfboard as sweet canvas for art. Dick Dale rules!
AafterD has never turned over an evening to Mexican art and culture, so Admiral expects inspiration to rule. Among the possibilities: live Mexican music, south-of-the-border eats and educational lectures on border issues and the United States-Mexico political relationship.
"Our Halloween party," Admiral says. "It always has absolutely nothing to do with the museum. But it's always a good party." Expect a New Orleans-inspired atmosphere, zydeco music, Cajun food and serious discourse on the subject of voodoo.
AafterD wraps up its year with a tie-in to the museum's much-anticipated exhibition "Hawaiian Modern,"on the work and life of influential Honolulu architect Vladimir Ossipoff.
Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.
