Remove ImagesPicks of the Week
June 18, 2009
Friday (June 19), 6-8pm, Hui No'eau Arts Center, Makawao
Remember in high school ceramics class (if you went to one of those public high schools that had "funding"), how there was that stoner who was always trying to sculpt a bong, then somehow sneak it into the kiln without the teacher noticing? In most cases these stealthy, diabolical schemes did not lead to thriving careers in the craft of bongery. A few may have seen beyond ceramics' potential to create marijuana smoking and/or storage devices and gone on to produce creative pieces. This week marks the opening of the ceramic exhibition Altered Forms, which features off-key approaches to the craft and highlights local and national artists. Friday's reception offers food, drink and a chance to talk story with fellow art enthusiasts while strolling through the Hui gallery. I am, however, about 99.999 percent sure that the bong contingent will be entirely unrepresented, so take a good, long stare at the one in your medicine cabinet before you head out. Exhibition runs through July 25.
Day of surf
Saturday (June 20), 8am-onward, Ho'okipa/Paia Town
When I go to the beach with my dad, it's kind of mandatory that we pick up litter as we go along. It's funny to see Dad, a right lawyerly old chap, clutching empty cans of Diet Pepsi and Keystone light as we walk along. In an ideal world, nobody would even think about trashing our beaches. But morons and douchewaffles do exist, unfortunately. This means that those of us sentient enough to notice a bottle or plastic bag lying on the beach are duty-bound to help prevent those eyesores from getting swept out to sea. This is why Maui Surfrider Foundation is encouraging surfers, divers and other ocean enthusiasts to participate in a beach cleanup at Ho'okipa. A barbecue and keiki surf lessons will follow. Those still wishing to party in a surf-themed way can mosey on down to Green Banana Cafe for some surf music and a killer surf art exhibit. If you still haven't had your fill by beer-thirty, hit up Charley's for surf video and reggae music from Teomon and the Kryptones.
The kids are all right
Saturday (June 20), 3-10pm, Cafe Marc Aurel, Wailuku
The quote my eldest brother chose to display on his Facebook profile reads: "I have never eaten a booger and I never will. That's my promise to you." The brilliance of this declaration works on multiple levels, especially if one has years of anecdotal evidence to the contrary. Anyway, things are tough all over. Imagine being college-bound in this day and age, a time when many students face a shrinking job market and decades of debt, among other discouraging factors. But while the system leaves young, non-rich people high and dry, there are some entities that want to help. A case in point is Cafe Marc Aurel, which Saturday will host The Great Pursuit: A Fundraiser for Maui's Future Starving Artists. This event will raise money for recent King Kekaulike High School grads, whose work will be on display and for sale. The event will also feature musical performances by some of said students. Minors are required to pay a $5 cover, and can partake of the buffet, while the event is free for the 21 and up crowd. Don't you love the LC?
The weasel snagged our bee, man!
Mondays (June 22-July 13), 5:30-6:30pm, MCC Field
Arguably one of the best films in which a white BMW convertible gets completely trashed is 1994's PCU. A comedy that satirizes the political correctness that was sterilizing campus life in the early '90s (by the time I got to college a decade later PC was a given), the movie is fraught with vital lessons, including an important pointer regarding wearing a T-shirt sporting a band's logo to said band's concert—don't be that guy. It was this film that introduced me to one of the greatest competitive sports of all time: ultimate frisbee. It has got to be one of the most exhilarating and addictive activities ever invented, and it seems to attract really cool people (and admittedly a few hippies). It's played in a manner similar to that of football, with a few key variations (no running with the disc, for example). This week, VITEC is launching a course in ultimate, taught by one Justine "the Machine" Hura, who is one of the best players I've seen. At $34, this is a steal. Note: This is a by-the-rules deal, so you can't send Blotter onto the field should a hippie on your team forget what was going on. Call 984-3231 to register.