WAYFINDING PUBLIC ART @ WAILUKU GARAGE
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In February 2023, SMALL TOWN * BIG ART partnered with the Wailuku Garage construction team at Dowling Company to seek public artwork at select sites throughout the project. Of the 38 applications received, our community panel selected 2 to enter project development. Beginning in May 2023, Wooden Wave artists Matthew and Roxy Ortiz designed a mural collection in collaboration with community members that celebrates Wailuku history, culture and sense of place as part of the SMALL TOWN * BIG ART initiative. Concurrently, Sae Design Group has integrated this artwork into wayfinding signage and story panels as an initiative of Park Maui. When Wailuku residents and visitors use the Wailuku Garage, they will be greeted by an immediate experience of this special community. Escaping the steel and glass of their cars, they feel the weather, hear the sounds, smell the air and see the light of their immediate experience. This experience leaves an impression, and that impression adds to their total experience of Wailuku Town. |
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Level 2 (kalo)
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Level 3 (mauna)
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Roof Level (ao)
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Wooden Wave | @wooden_wave
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Bio: Artists Matthew Kawika Ortiz and Roxanne Ortiz are a husband-and-wife creative duo, who paint under the name Wooden Wave. Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, they draw upon Hawaiian values and concepts to present them in a contemporary visual context. They create custom artwork using research specific to the site and its geographical location. Place-based stories and histories are incorporated with a conscious attention to detail. Their colorful imagery emphasizes the beautiful patterns and lifeforms of Hawaiʻi, while telling a story of the site. Their artistic goal is to bring a playful perspective to the world-at-large and to bring hope and joy to those who view their art.
Wooden Wave has painted murals across Hawaiʻi and the continental United States. Locations include the headquarters of Zappos and REI. They also specialize in illustration, with clients including musician Jack Johnson, comedian George Lopez, and boxer Floyd Mayweather. They’ve designed shoe collections for the footwear company Olukai, and continue to do creative work for the brand. Roxy and Matt have exhibited their fine art paintings in the US and abroad, including two exhibitions with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. In 2019, Matt was a contestant on NBC’s craft competition show, “Making It.” As AAPI artists, they enjoy opportunities to share the culture of Hawaiʻi with the world. Click here to see Wooden Wave's 2019 Wailuku mural, completed in collaboration with PangeaSeed's Mauka to Makai project. |
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Community Consultations
Uncle Skippy Hau & Dean Tokishi
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‘Ōlelo No‘eau meeting with Sissy Lake-Farm
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Scott Fisher
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Hōkūao Pellegrino
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The community consultations provided a wealth of information regarding the culture and biology of Wailuku.
In our meeting with Uncle Skippy and Dean Tokishi, we were introduced to the unique species of animals living in Nā Wai ‘Ehā. This conversation laid the groundwork for considering which animals would be selected for each level. Dean told us a moving story of the pueo, which we are excited to add to the event wall mural on the third floor. Uncle Skippy also mentioned that kalo were traditionally grown in the pu‘epu‘e style, which lent itself to supporting an aquaculture environment where other species would thrive as well. We adjusted our lo‘i kalo illustration to depict this mound-planting technique.
The cultural meeting with Sissy was important to learning about the ties to Hawaiian stories and the writings of Mary Kawena Pukui.
In our conversation with Hōkūao Pellegrino we gained valuable insights into the lo‘i kalo that are an integral part of Wailuku’s history. Based on his input we will be depicting the Piko cultivar in our murals.
Scott Fisher enlightened us with the history of Hawaiian species of creatures and plants. Because both Hōkūao and Scott mentioned the strong physical power of the wailele, we edited our design to emphasize the verticality of the waterfalls and the persistent ‘o‘opu hi‘u kole who are able to ascend upstream.
In our meeting with Uncle Skippy and Dean Tokishi, we were introduced to the unique species of animals living in Nā Wai ‘Ehā. This conversation laid the groundwork for considering which animals would be selected for each level. Dean told us a moving story of the pueo, which we are excited to add to the event wall mural on the third floor. Uncle Skippy also mentioned that kalo were traditionally grown in the pu‘epu‘e style, which lent itself to supporting an aquaculture environment where other species would thrive as well. We adjusted our lo‘i kalo illustration to depict this mound-planting technique.
The cultural meeting with Sissy was important to learning about the ties to Hawaiian stories and the writings of Mary Kawena Pukui.
In our conversation with Hōkūao Pellegrino we gained valuable insights into the lo‘i kalo that are an integral part of Wailuku’s history. Based on his input we will be depicting the Piko cultivar in our murals.
Scott Fisher enlightened us with the history of Hawaiian species of creatures and plants. Because both Hōkūao and Scott mentioned the strong physical power of the wailele, we edited our design to emphasize the verticality of the waterfalls and the persistent ‘o‘opu hi‘u kole who are able to ascend upstream.
Project Development Timeline
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