INhonolulu Magazine Issue #16 - April 2014 | Page 14

Report / ARTafterDARK

A social event for all
Doorae Shin

A

s the sun goes down on
the last Fridays of the
month, the Honolulu
Museum of Art transforms into a
social gathering place.
Several hundred flock to the
museum to enjoy the live DJ,
drinks, food and of course, the art.
Esteven Lozano, who works at
Winners at Work/Abilities Unlimited during the day, is a regular to
ARTafterDARK. He says he loves
to come to meet people and look
at the newer art pieces.
The March 28 ARTafterDARK
was dedicated to Persian language
and culture in celebration of Persian New Year. Presented by Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute,
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this month’s event brought in
traditional Persian music in the
Noruz Lounge and a special menu
at the Grove featuring stuffed
grape leaves and chickpea stew.
Persian art is featured in the Arts
of the Islamic World gallery.

But Persian Art wasn’t the only
kind on display during the event.
During ARTafterDARK events,
the galleries offer a quiet escape
from the crowd and music outside. Couples and families perused and enjoyed the diverse art

the galleries and their offerings,
taking photos of their favorites
when permitted.
A powerful gallery titled The
New City, depicts a youth’s experience living in a busy Chinese city
facing an influx of overindustri-

John Contini sat atop the stairs
overlooking the crowd of hundreds of people mingling at the
Luce Pavilion end of the museum. He says he appreciates the
event as it “brings a nice, eclectic group of people to one place.
There are very few events that
pull together so many people of
different ages.”
Whether you want to dance, enjoy dinner and drinks, appreciate
the galleries or all of the above,
this once a month party is definitely one to check out. ■
April’s ARTafterDARK will be
alization, smog and overcrowd- on April 25th from 6–9 p.m., with
ing. With an increasing culture of a France-inspired theme. AR“bigger is better,” this gallery fea- TafterDARK is held on the last Fritures videos of the changing life in day of the month, January through
China’s cities and emphasizes the October, from 6 to 9pm at the Hosubsequent feeling of emptiness nolulu Museum of Art on the corner of Beretania and Ward.
the artist feels within.
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