Join us for the latest edition of ACTIVATIONS: After Hours at the Gallery, featuring an evening of outdoor performances inspired by the works of the MACC’s Permanent Collection.

The program is held in conjunction with the Gallery’s current exhibition, THREE DECADES, which integrates archives, models, artwork, and video in a retrospective highlight of the many memorable events that have taken place at Maui Arts & Cultural Center throughout its 30-year history. Included in the exhibition is a showcase of the MACC’s Permanent Collection of Art & Craft, which encompasses the publicly visible artworks that have greeted thousands of visitors over the years.

The evening’s featured artists have developed new performance pieces in dialogue with several of these outdoor artworks. The cast of characters from Maui artist Deybra Fair’s colorful mural The Big Kahuna, Maestro of Life, Juggler of the Rainbow will come to life, with costumes designed by Melody Koerber, Deybra’s daughter. Born and raised on Maui, Melody has traveled the world designing a vast array of costumes for the motion picture and television industry, contributing designs for projects such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lone Ranger, Key & Peele, and more. Actor Thalyn Nikolau will play the titular Juggler of the Rainbow, accompanied by an ensemble of performers in the roles of the other characters as they wander through the audience and assemble for a pantomimed theatrical play. A multi-talented singer, dancer, poet, playwright, and beatboxer, Thalyn has performed on the professional theater stage for over 25 years on the West Coast and in Hawai‘i.

Dance artist Himiko and instrumentalist Huey Mantra will pair together in an activation inspired by Toshiko Takaezu’s bronze bell Song of Maliko, which fronts Schaefer International Gallery. Himiko has performed in the San Francisco Bay Area and Maui with her unique style of dance that integrates influences of butoh, contemporary, ballroom, and calligraphy. Huey Mantra is a multi-instrumentalist who bridges hip-hop, indie, and rock in his musical compositions.

The final activation will take place in the bays of the MACC’s iconic entry gates Nets of Makali‘i – Nets of the Pleiades, originally created by artist Pat Hickman and fabricator David Hamilton. Matthew Kuali‘i Hardwick, known professionally as Indio, has developed an original musical arrangement for the activation, with an ensemble of dancers interacting with the gates in various styles of expressive movement. Indio is a Native Hawaiian multi-instrumentalist, performer, and composer whose career is rooted in both local and international stages, and for 15 years, he was a featured performer in Maui’s acclaimed production ‘Ulalena.

In the adjacent Yokouchi Pavilion & Courtyard, Shoktimus Prime will be spinning ambient beats throughout the evening. Food and beverages will be available for purchase for outside dining and social mingling. Schaefer International Gallery will be open with the exhibition THREE DECADES on view.

FREE Entry! All ages welcome!

Ticketed reservations required via the MACC Box Office

About the Exhibition

THREE DECADES takes a dive into the archives to showcase stories from the MACC over the course of its early beginnings, construction, public opening, and first 30 years. The exhibition includes original architectural models and renderings, along with a showcase of the MACC’s Permanent Collection of Art & Craft, a unique undertaking that designated 1% of the Center’s original construction budget for newly commissioned works by artists and craftspeople of Hawai‘i. Rounding out the exhibition are areas focusing on visual arts, performing arts, Hawaiian cultural programs, and arts in education. The exhibition runs until June 13, 2025.