Many Hands, Many Journeys

About the show

Many Hands, Many Journeys: A Cross-Pacific Artistic Dialogue

Art is a journey—of creation, connection, and transformation. Many Hands, Many Journeys brings together 16 contemporary artists from Hawaii and California, tracing the unique paths that shape their artistic expressions. This exhibition explores the power of collective creativity, where individual stories and perspectives merge into a larger narrative, echoing the interwoven histories, cultures, and landscapes of the Pacific.

The title reflects the participating artists' deeply personal and shared experiences. Each hand carries its history, marked by the places it has touched, the materials it has shaped, and the emotions it has expressed. Each journey is distinct, shaped by identity, environment, and lived experience. Yet, when these hands come together, they create a powerful visual dialogue that transcends borders, celebrating individuality and unity.

Hawaii and California, two places deeply connected by migration, trade, and cultural exchange, serve as a symbolic backdrop for this exhibition. From the islands to the mainland, artists explore themes of movement, belonging, resilience, and transformation. Through painting, sculpture, mixed media, and other forms, they reflect on how we carry stories—inherited, some discovered—across oceans, generations, and artistic practices.

A central feature of the exhibition is a modular group artwork created collaboratively by all 14 artists. This piece, composed of 8x8-inch canvases arranged in a unified grid, visually embodies the theme: individual works standing independently yet forming a greater whole. The chosen color palette of blues, blue-green, and blue-violet suggests the movement of water, a force that connects and separates, symbolizing the currents of experience that shape us.

Curators

Andi Campognone has over 30 years of arts experience in the western region of the United States. She is the Owner/Director of AC Projects, a private consulting organization that promotes arts and culture through museum-quality projects that include producing books and films, meaningful community engagement, and traveling exhibitions.

Campognone is the Founding Director of Kipaipai Professional Development Workshops, encouraging artists to build strong strategies for their creative practices. Previously, she was contracted to build, program, and open the Museum of Art and History (MOAH) in Lancaster, California and subsequently served the community as Manager of Arts and Museums for the City of Lancaster for over a decade. She has served as Cultural Arts Commissioner for the City of Pomona, California, where she contributed to the writing and adoption of Pomona’s Cultural Arts Master Plan and Art in Public Places Policy.

Campognone has served on the Holualoa Foundation for Arts and Culture Board and as interim Executive Director of the Donkey Mill Art Center in Holualoa, Hawai’i. She currently serves as a Director on the Lancaster Museum and Public Art Foundation Board, Director on the Bear Valley Springs Cultural Arts Association, contracted mentor for the Bakersfield Museum of Art, and grant panelist for the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and California Community Foundation.

J. Jay West (2021 Kipaipai alumni) is an award-winning artist, curator, and long-time Hawai‘i resident dedicated to fostering the local arts community. With extensive experience coordinating group exhibitions, Jay has been pivotal in showcasing and supporting artists throughout the islands.

West holds a BFA in Design and an AA in Accounting, merging creative skills with strong business acumen. In addition to her artistic practice, Jay has a background in marketing and business development. She founded and operated a successful commercial printing company that provided consulting services to small businesses on branding, design, and strategic marketing. Her expertise in visual communication, promotion, and audience engagement has enhanced local art initiatives.

Jay has also been a committed leader in nonprofit arts and environmental organizations, serving in significant roles, including gallery manager and board member. She has been actively engaged in financial management, marketing, and program development, ensuring the sustainability and growth of community arts programs.

As co-curator of “Kipaipai Fellows 2025: Many Hands, Many Journeys,” Jay applies her curatorial vision and organizational leadership to create a dynamic and cohesive exhibition. Her ability to bridge artistic expression with professional presentation makes this show an exciting opportunity for collectors and institutions to connect with contemporary Hawai‘i artists.

Press Release

Group Art Show with
Hawaii and California Artists

Kahilu Exhibits is excited to announce the upcoming group art exhibition, “Kipaipai Fellows 2025: Many Hands, Many Journeys,” from August 9 to September 14, 2025. The exhibition will be curated by Andi Campognone, the Founder and Director of Kipaipai Workshops, alongside J. Jay West, the co-curator from Kamuela. This curated group exhibition aims to showcase diverse artistic journeys and perspectives.

Kipaipai, which means "to encourage and inspire," is a professional development program co-founded and led by Campognone. This program emphasizes essential practices for gallery representation and museum exhibitions. Participants learn about self-promotion, effective use of social media for marketing, the significance of relevant critical writing and presentations, and how to identify and strategize their personal and professional goals.

"I have invited Kipaipai Fellows to showcase their contemporary work, including a collaborative modular artwork," said West. The "Many Hands, Many Journeys" exhibition will feature 14 distinct artists—seven from Hawaii and seven from California. Each artist will create an 8x8-inch canvas, which will be displayed as part of the modular collaborative artwork. The collaborative piece makes this group show a truly unique event.

Participating Hawaii artists are Michael Shewmaker, Margaret Shields, J. Jay West, Stephanie Sachs, Cudra Clover, Jennifer Valenzuela, and Jodi Endicott. Selected California artists include Marne Lucas, Nancy Turner, Julie Green, Aline Mare, Annie Seaton, Erik Koelle, and Roberta Levitow.

The "Many Hands, Many Journeys” exhibition will be showcased in both galleries at the Kahilu Theatre. The artists will donate 40% of all sales to the Kahilu Theatre Foundation to support its community art programs.