Hawaii Charlot Mural

A L O H A From Honolulu!

Life throws challenges

and every challenge comes

with rainbows and lights

to conquer it.

Amit Ray

Jean Charlot, Link

the significant French-born

American artist,

came to Hawaii in 1949 to

create frescoes

for the University of Hawaii.

He had already worked with

Diego Rivera and

Frida Kahlo in the

Mexican Muralism Renaissance

of the early 1920s  

In 1951 First Hawaiian Bank

[then Bishop National Bank]

commissioned Charlot to create this

large mural of several panels for

its new Waikiki Branch at the corner

of Kalakaua Avenue and Lewers Street.

[A few blocks from my home.

We have been First Hawaiian Bank

customers for 30 years]

Titled

“Early Cultural Exchanges

Between Hawaii and the Outer World"

this work is set between

1780 and 1830

depicting the immense changes

and multitude of introductions

to Hawaii during those years.

Charlot and his wife

made Hawaii their home,

and the artist

deeply studied Hawaiian

language,

history and culture.

Above we see a Chief trading

a fine feathered cape for

western goods like metal nails,

textiles, and tools.

This panel depicts the sitting

for a famous painting of

Kamehameha the Great in

red waistcoat accompanied

by wife Ka'ahumanu. Charlot

appreciated the role of

Hawaii's women and often

depicted them in his work.

                                            link

We see a Hawaiian guard

with spear, and

a Chinese person gifting

Hawaii it's first Banyan Tree.

The tiny plant promises the giant treasures we enjoy throughout

the islands today!

A foreign dignitary or

sea captain offers his

complements to the

King and Queen. 

" 'He wanted to make clear. . .

that the Hawaiians had

their own powerful culture

and were dynamically involved

in the historic drama unfolding

around them —

not passive primitives.

That is something that must

be underscored,' said his son

and biographer, 

John Charlot." Link

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December

A magical thing

And sweet to remember.

'We are nearer to Spring

Than we were in September,'

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

   Oliver Herford,

                                                  I Heard a Bird Sing

 

ԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾԾՔ

Love You,

   Cloudia & Pixie

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