As Paul Janes Brown pointed out, We have a catastrophic climate change problem and a war in Iraq that is tearing our world apart and to look at the art being produced on Maui you might think that no one cared.
Where is the protest?!?
How can artists continue to produce pretty paintings and whimsical sculptures?
I'm mad as hell!
We have a president who wasn't even legally elected....who surrounds himself with evil cronies.
He has sent over 3200 American troops to their deaths.
Many more Iraqis have died. Our reputation in the world has seriously deteriorated and we are all standing by letting this happen.
WAKE UP!
Tom Sewell
Michelle and Tom Sewell are both active in the world of Art and Politics, where they live in Haiku, Maui.
Michelle taught history and politics at St. Anthony's high school for seven years where she mentored numerous young people, including Lance Collins. She was the treasurer of the Democratic party on Maui and a former intern in Washinton DC. Michelle has been active in the peace movement for many years.
Tom Sewell is an artist using video installation, (created Enigma of the Mill at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center July 2006), and photography as well as publishing books and a magazine. He has been a resident of Haiku for twenty years.
Tom has been included in most Art Maui exhibitions for the past fifteen years. However his multi-media political piece,
"I can no longer remain silent" featuring the faces of the 3,000 American soldiers who died in Iraq, was rejected this year.
This rejection along with meeting Ehren Watada's parents prompted Tom and Michelle to get more involved and active
to speak out against the war. The Sewells along with artist Tim Garcia became inspired to create a venue for a large art
show for artists who wish to speak out against what Lt. Ehren Watada refers to as an "immoral and illegal war"
Tim Garcia lives in an artist conclave and has spent years working with sculptor Tom Faught in his Makawao Studio on Maui. Under his encouragement Garcia's focus shifted to sculpting in stone. About his process he says, "The simplicity of tools used and the variety of available rock to carve excites all of my sences from the 'PING' of hammer and chisel to the cold smooth feel of a finished piece."
"In my work I search for a harmonious balance of shape and form that is pleasing to the eye and pulls the viewer to touch. I'm constantly finding the natural beauty on Maui influencing my work from the mountains and valleys to the moon and sea."
-----Tim Garcia
