Page 3 - MidWeek Windward - Sep 22 2021

driving force that fuels my
oncile consciousness to life. Art in Oregon where he re- “Recently I’ve been fasci- set out to attract a “target” au- The final artworks then act as ceived a BFA in painting. nated by the works of Native dience, he notes that his work a type of place of ritualistic Kirby’s favorite piece, American artist Rick Bartow. often has appeal to those inter- contemplation of these ideas.” an oil on canvas, is Harbin- What really drew me to his ested in heavy metal and the
ious media such as acrylic paint, charcoal, ink, watercol- or and oil paints.
Harbinger (Ode to the Scapegoat), an oil on canvas painting, is Kirby’s favorite piece. PHOTO COURTESY JOHN KIRBY
cess, I focus on the various mythologies and symbols that have come out of the human psyche that are meant to rec-
“I use these materials to create visual representations of mortality and the relation- ship of life and death,” he says.
He took more drawing and painting courses at Windward Community College, then re- ceived a scholarship to attend Pacific Northwest College of
“I’m really inspired by the rich history of painting, not only from the western world, but also from across the globe,” he adds.
“I hope when people see my art, they have to stop and be drawn into the work.”
MaryAnne Long is also an artist, art instructor, art col- lector, and curator. Reach her at malong@hawaii.rr.com or longlostart.weebly.com.
“During the creation pro-
Although John Kirby, a late “twenty-something,” does not
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 3
“A
BY MARYANNE LONG
Artist John Kirby: A Matter of Life And Death
work,” says Kailua resident John Kirby, “is a fascination with the nat- ural world and a striving to come to terms with and under- stand mortality and ultimately
Kirby began drawing at about age 10, but it was not until his last few years at Lu- theran High School in Hono- lulu where it clicked.
ger (Ode to the Scapegoat), which is in a solo show at The Manifest, a combination café, cocktail bar, eatery and art gallery in Chinatown. He describes the figure on this 38-by-48-inch piece as “an embodiment of change and rebirth moving from one form to another.”
work is his inclusion of Native American totem animal sym- bology and raw approach to mark making to create hybrid anthropomorphic figures. For example, his painting Deer Spirit is a solitary figure with a deer skull for a head and iso- lated by a void of dark space. Eerie, but still beautiful.
art that accompanies it, occult imagery, religious imagery and the natural world.
life itself.”
His work is made with var-
“I had an art teacher who really pushed me to keep pur- suing art, telling me that I had talent and I just needed to cul- tivate it,” he recalls.
His present show, entitled Threshold, is on display until the end of September at The Manifest at 32 N. Hotel St. Learn more about Kirby at johnkirby-artist.weebly.com.
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