Public Art WORKS!

Bonhui Uy Mural at Smith-Beretania Park

June 2023

DAC is excited to unveil plans for the installation of a new mural by veteran Chinatown-based architect and artist Bonhui Uy, part of a series of improvements at Smith-Beretania park in Chinatown, Honolulu. Painting on the mural, designed by Bonui Uy and approved by the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13, is anticipated to begin this July or August 2023. Mahalo to the Honolulu Chinatown Lions Club for their generous donation to defray the costs of paint for the mural! More information to be added as the project continues.

Telephone Kiosks in Fort Street Mall

October 2022

The objective of this project, led by Downtown Art Center, was to beautify the Fort Street Mall area by transforming its five obsolete, damaged telephone kiosks into works of art. The selected designs are simple, colorful, fun, photogenic, and uplifting, with an effort to avoid any topics deemed controversial. Mahalo to Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga and the Oceanit Foundation, as well as the Fort Street Mall Business Improvement District, for their assistance and support in securing the required permits and funding, and coordinating this project! The painting started on Saturday, October 22 and covered five telephone kiosks stretching the length of Fort Street Mall, from Beretania to Merchant Streets.

Five professional artists and designers from the community provided the designs and talent to paint each kiosk:

Su Shen Atta

Su Shen Atta is an accomplished artist and arts educator who has lived and worked in Hawaii for over four decades. She works in a variety of media, and has exhibited widely in exhibitions throughout the state.

Kahi Ching

Kahi Ching is a Hawaiian artist who has had a prolific career in painting, sculpture, and bonsai. His public works can be seen in museums, churches, schools and state and federal properties.

Sergio Garzon

Sergio Garzon was born in Columbia and has lived and worked in Honolulu for over twenty years as an illustrator, brand designer and muralist. His works have been included in POW! WOW! Hawaii, T.J Maxx and the Honolulu Printmakers annual exhibitions.

Yvonne Manipon

Yvonne Manipon was born in California and has lived and worked in Honolulu over sixteen years as an arts educator at the Honolulu Museum of Arts and as School Programs Coordinator at the Mission Houses Museums. She has exhibited widely and is active as both an artist and arts educator.

Charles Valoroso

Charles Valoroso was born on Kauai, and has worked as a graphic artist and owner

of the Boom Gallery in Honolulu. He returned to live in Honolulu from San Francisco, where he spent several years teaching at the California College of the Arts and running a gallery.

Photos by Tracy Chan for Downtown Art Center. If you would like to use any of these images, please contact media@downtownarthi.org for permissions.