Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 3, 1 March 1986 — Hawaiian Quilts, Entertainers Featured in New York Festival [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian Quilts, Entertainers Featured in New York Festival

"The 50th State Salutes the Statue of Liberty" is the theme of a celebration of Hawaii's heritage at the Great American Quilt Festival and the Great American Quilt Contest Apr. 24-27 at the New York Exhibition Pier 92. The big weekend, presented by the Museum of American Folk Art and sponsored by 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing)Scotchgard Products, will showcase Hawaiiasthe only state to be so honored.

The festival will bring together 250,000 quilters and people interested in quilts from across the North American continent a swell as Europe, Israel, the Orient, Australia, New Zealand and South America. It will feature quilt exhibitions, cultural programs, lectures, clinics, workshops, fashion shows and quilt trade show. The quilt contest with the theme of Liberty, Freedom and the Heritage of America offers the more than 14 million quilters in Amenea an opportunity to have his or her quilt exhibited at the festival. One quilt will be selected from eaeh state to become part of an international traveling exhibition. A grand prize of $20,000 will be awarded the winning quilt.

Hawaii Craftsmen, a loeal organization with dedicated volunteer committee of community leaders, are coordinating Hawaii's celebration of its rich cultural heritage at the festival. The committee is planning a display of Hawaiian quilts, eontinuous demonstrations of Hawaiian quilting and the premier showing of the organization's documentary film, "The Hawaiian Quilt — a Cherished Tradition," during the four days of the festival. The planning committee has received the enthusiastic support of Hawaii First Lady Mrs. Jean Ariyoshi who will be on hand Friday, Apr. 25, to untie the maile lei whieh will officially open the evening celebration marking Hawaii night. During the week, she will also appear on the Good Morning America television program.

Hawaii s participation in the festival has been made possible through a Hawaiian Telephone Co. grant of $45,000 from the General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) Foundation of Hawaii; $26,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts; $10,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and small donations from several other loeal foundations and organizations. The documentary film, whieh took three years to research, was produced by Richard J. Tibbetts Jr. and Elaine

Zinn of the Arts Council of Hawaii through the use of $30,000 of the Hawaiian Telephone grant. The remaining $15,000 is being used to underwrite the cost of designing, transporting and staffing Hawaii's exhibit. Zinn said the film is an important part of Hawaiian history, especially in telling the story of the quilt because there is so mueh spiritual value and cultural history in this artform. "There aren't too many young people today who are doing it. A lot is lost; people forget and not a lot is passed down. We hope this film will help to perpetuate the art of quilting," Zinn said. In addition to Mrs. Ariyoshi, the Apr. 25 schedule will also inciude Kumu Hula Kau'i Zuttermeister who will open the program with a chant of weleome and a special chant to the Statue of Liberty especially written by Wendell Silva, director of the Kalihi-Palama Culture and Arts Society ine.

In addition to quilting demonstrations, other functions that evening will include such other cultural activities as leimaking, feather work, lauhala weaving, hula, floral decorations with special flowers from the islands and an opportunity to sample favorite island foods and beverages. Entertainment will be provided by outstanding musicians |and an estimated eight halaus, including the award-winning male halau "Na Wai O Puna" with Kumu Hula Thaddeus Wilson. A day-long cultural program of quilting and other Hawaiian arts and crafts along with music and dance will be the festival's focus on Saturday, Apr. 26. Mealii Kalama, one of Hawaii's foremost quilters, and Elizabeth Akana will present lectures on the art of Hawaiian quilting. Besides Kalama and Akana, other master quilters from Hawaii participating in the festival are Deborah Kakalia and Gussie Bento of Honolulu and Hannah Apo of Maui.

Among special guests are Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, New York Gov. Mario Cuomo and New York City Mayor Edward Koeh. "Our quilts are so unique and beautiful and we're all excited about the festival. There are so many individuals and organizations stepping forward to lend support. It should be a very exciting weekend for us and the many thousands who will be in attendance," Zinn remarked.

OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS 567 So. King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813