DOWNTOWN ART CENTER

in the heart of Downtown Honolulu at

1041 Nuʻuanu Ave 

ON VIEW IN THE MAIN GALLERY

ELEMENTAL SYNERGY

JULY 3 - AUGUST 1, 2026 

Artwork: “Moving to Paradise” by Anika Kuntze

Curated by Anika Kuntze and Kathy Chang, with support from Allison Wong.

First Friday, July 3: Opening Artists’ Reception from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 11: Artist & Curator Panel and Walkthrough: 3-5 p.m.

Elemental Synergy invited artists, working across a range of mediums, to interpret how primal energies coexist, conflict, and merge, reflecting the fundamental interconnectedness of all life.

This exhibition brings together 22 local artists exploring the primal energies and interplay of earth, air, fire, wood,
and water.

“Elemental Synergy celebrates the forces that bind and move us,” the curators note. “Through ink, oil, and sculptural form, this show will reveal how the creative process mirrors nature’s own cycles of emergence and transformation, reminding us that, like the elements themselves, art thrives in connection.”

Mahalo to First Hawaiian Bank Foundation for its generous support of this exhibition.

FIND OUT MORE

CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
ELEMENTAL SYNERGY
Jul 3
ELEMENTAL SYNERGY

Main Gallery: An exploration of the interplay of earth, air, fire, wood, and water, expressed through diverse techniques and artistic media, curated by Anika Kuntze and Kathy Chang, with support from Allison Wong.

REHAB Hospital of the Pacific Presents: The REHAB Difference
Jul 7
REHAB Hospital of the Pacific Presents: The REHAB Difference

Courtyard Gallery: REHAB Hospital's Creative Arts Program hosts this exhibition, where patients use art to share their personal recovery journeys, highlighting the unique, specialized care provided by Hawaiʻi and the Pacific's only certified Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility. Find out more at rehabhospital.org.

HAWAIʻI'S WOODSHOW: Na Laʻau O Hawaiʻi
Aug 7
HAWAIʻI'S WOODSHOW: Na Laʻau O Hawaiʻi

Main Gallery: An annual showcase of craftsmanship, innovation, and fine woodwork using Hawai’i-grown woods. More information TBA.

Amber Aguirre: “Marginalized”
Sep 2
Amber Aguirre: “Marginalized”

Courtyard Gallery: Artist Amber Aguirre presents an exhibition of busts representing individuals who have been excluded from mainstream society due to their differences from the dominant white/heterosexual/christian/male majority that holds the power in our society.

HAWAIʻI CRAFTSMEN: Annual Statewide Exhibition 2026
Sep 4
HAWAIʻI CRAFTSMEN: Annual Statewide Exhibition 2026

Main Gallery: Juried works of traditional and contemporary craft selected from across the state of Hawai`i.

HAWAIʻI WATERCOLOR SOCIETY: Open Exhibition 2026
Sep 29
HAWAIʻI WATERCOLOR SOCIETY: Open Exhibition 2026

Main Gallery: A juried selection of fine water media by local artists.

ARTISTS OF HAWAIʻI Biennial 2026
Nov 6
ARTISTS OF HAWAIʻI Biennial 2026

Main Gallery: The state’s largest and longest-running all-media juried exhibition, designed to showcase the best of Hawai`i’s contemporary art.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Events List
WHAT IS A ZINE? & WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE ONE with Shane Sakata of Hi Zine & Print
Jul 23
WHAT IS A ZINE? & WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE ONE with Shane Sakata of Hi Zine & Print

Join Shane Sakata of Hi Zine & Print for a fun, hands-on look at the world of zines in the 2nd floor DAC Classroom. FREE and open to the public — no experience necessary, no RSVP needed!

Thursday, July 23 from 6 PM - 7:30 PM

PREP TALK: GETTING READY FOR ARTISTS OF HAWAIʻI BIENNIAL 2026 with Tom Klobe
Aug 9
PREP TALK: GETTING READY FOR ARTISTS OF HAWAIʻI BIENNIAL 2026 with Tom Klobe

Join Tom Klobe, for a practical workshop designed to help artists prepare for the upcoming Artists of Hawaiʻi Biennial 2026. The session will cover key topics, including how to prepare and present your artwork, what to expect from the jurying process, and business essentials such as pricing your work and writing effective artist statements.

Sunday, August 9 from 11:30 AM - 1 PM

DAC WALKING TOUR: Art, History & Architecture in the HEART of Honolulu
Aug 15
DAC WALKING TOUR: Art, History & Architecture in the HEART of Honolulu

Historian Gary Coover and artist and educator Susan Hogan lead this walking tour of the HEART district of Downtown Honolulu. A unique way to experience the historical and artistic heritage of this area.

Saturday, August 15 from 10 AM - 12 PM, $20 per person, only 20 slots available—register ahead of time!

DAC STORYTELLING NIGHT WITH DAVID O’SHEA
Aug 15
DAC STORYTELLING NIGHT WITH DAVID O’SHEA

For 22 years, actor, urban storyteller and oral archivist David O'Shea has been collecting true stories from WWII vets in memory of his late father. This is his first public performance sharing these tales of close calls, lousy food, and old soldiers finding meaning 60 years later.

Saturday, August 15 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM; $10 per person

WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

Class List
BASIC WATERCOLOR & SKETCHBOOK TECHNIQUES with Michelle Dolan - Travel Sketchbooks
Jul 23
BASIC WATERCOLOR & SKETCHBOOK TECHNIQUES with Michelle Dolan - Travel Sketchbooks

$60 Per Person Per Session - All skill levels, Watercolor.

Part of Michelle Dolan’s ongoing Thursday drop-in series. Each class is standalone and can be purchased separately.  

This session focuses on Travel Sketchbooks.

BASIC WATERCOLOR & SKETCHBOOK TECHNIQUES with Michelle Dolan - Jungle Landscapes
Jul 30
BASIC WATERCOLOR & SKETCHBOOK TECHNIQUES with Michelle Dolan - Jungle Landscapes

$60 Per Person Per Session - All skill levels, Watercolor.

Part of Michelle Dolan’s ongoing Thursday drop-in series. Each class is standalone and can be purchased separately.  

This session focuses on Jungle Landscapes.

INTERMEDIATE WATERCOLOR with Dwayne Adams (October 2026)
Oct 11
INTERMEDIATE WATERCOLOR with Dwayne Adams (October 2026)

$360 Per Person (Package of 6 Sessions) — Intermediate Skill Level, Watercolors.

This six-Sunday intermediate watercolor class led by Dwayne Adams (October 11–November 15) covers composition, values, and dynamic painting across landscapes, water scenes, urban settings, and figures. One session will use YUPO (materials provided), and another (October 25) will be a plein air outdoor session using minimal supplies.