Education Outreach

Educational Outreach Summer Events –Save the Dates!

Volunteers Needed for Kids’ Clay Event at Church of the Crossroads
Each year, HPG’s Educational Outreach program provides a free, “good neighbor” clay event for kids at our landlord, the Church of the Crossroads. This year’s event will be held Sun, June 9, 10-Noon. The focus will be creating Esther Nowell-designed tree trunk planters. If you are interested in helping out with this fun event, please contact Rayna Bramer Galati @ raynakbramer@hotmail.com.

Sun, July 21: Artspree, Spalding House, Honolulu Museum of Art, 10-4 (hand-building)
Sat, Aug 10: HiSAM Second Saturday, Hawaii State Art Museum, 11-3 (wheel-throwing and hand-building)

About the Program

HPG’s Education Outreach program, Building with Clay, was established in 2010 and is a clay instruction program for underserved youth and adults in community centers and schools in Hawaii. Building with Clay is committed to building community, artistic skills, self-confidence, and opportunities for creative growth.

Due to budget cuts, many schools have discontinued or limited arts programs. HPG believes that art is an important component in the healthy development of children because it fosters creativity and encourages self-expression.

Studies have shown that clay art helps children to better communicate, increase fine motor skills, develop problem-solving skills, and strengthen good work habits. In addition, clay art fosters creativity and encourages self-expression. Classes are taught in five-week sessions, with a new project introduced during every class. Students learn many clay techniques, including coiling, slab-rolling, extruding, scoring and using slip, along with making pinch pots. They have created octopuses, fish, dragons, plates, mugs, bowls, planters, lanterns, etc. After an instructor demonstration in each class, students are encouraged to use their imaginations and develop their own ideas. By the end of one session, students have a basic understanding of the art of hand-building, glazing, and firing clay, and they understand ceramic vocabulary. In addition, students develop self-confidence in their ability to create art.

Since its inception, HPG’s Building with Clay program has taught over 100 classes to well over 1000 children and adults. HPG partnered with Palama Settlement in 2010 to establish a year-round clay program for children at Palama. In November of 2011, with the assistance of HPG instructors, Palama children created a 9’ by 15’ mosaic sea-life wall to commemorate Palama Settlement’s 100^th anniversary of incorporation.

Building with Clay classes have also been taught at Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, Princess Ka’iulani Elementary School, Central Middle School, Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center, Hawaii State Art Museum, and the former Contemporary Museum.

Rayna K. Galati - Education Outreach Director