Patterns and Predecessors / Snow to Surf

The Ala Moana collection explores the theme of Patterns and Predecessors, connecting artworks through mark-making, patterning, and shared narratives of generational knowledge. A warm palette unites pieces from Hawaii, the Arctic, and Southern Canada, highlighting cultural and stylistic connections.

Central to the collection are works by Hawaiian artist Lehuauakea, showcasing traditional kapa (bark cloth) and ‘ohe kāpala (carved bamboo stamps). Suspended textiles, created through meticulous ancestral processes, serve as vessels of storytelling and heritage. These works engage in dialogue with Inuk prints, drawing parallels between Southern and Northern traditions through shared mark-making techniques.

Highlights include Oloreak Etungat’s Coral Reef, a reflection on the oceanic ties of Hawaii and Arctic communities. Ningiukulu Teevee’s Heading Home captures intergenerational closeness, while Qavavau Manumie’s Collecting Berries introduces Inugagulligaq—mythical little people from Inuit legend, passed down through generations.

The collection also features Alexander Jowett’s Horizon Lines, evoking the light and rhythm of the sea through meticulously drawn horizontal lines, contrasted by Alex Fischer’s Coronas, a vibrant fusion of overlapping patterned circles that suggest a jubilant, swirling dance from pattern to form.