Siobhan (say sha-von) Halstead is a long time Maui resident,
originally from the Silicon Valley. Having grown up surrounded by computers,
it is no wonder that they are a career for her today. Formal studies include
Commercial Art, Photography and Web Design.
What's
the deal with bees?
The honeybee is known the world over for its industrious production of
honey. It is the symbol of work, creative activity, transformation, team
work, busyness, cooperation, obedience, orderliness, and diligence. The
honey it produces is a symbol of wisdom, rebirth, and positive changes
in spiritual or moral direction and temperament.Bee is the ancient symbol
of good fortune, joy and harmony.
All bees are productive. They remain focused in their activities and do
not get distracted from their goal. The bumblebee carries the power of
service. They are important pollinators of many plants. As a bee lands
upon one flower, collecting its nectar, pollen also attaches itself to
the leg fibers. It is then transferred to other flowers, creating a fertilization
process. Their movement from one plant to another symbolizes the interconnectedness
of all living things. The bumblebee is a messenger that holds the secrets
of life and service.
The BUZZ:
An
archive of past events & press
November 2007
What's
New:
Source: Maui
Time
Arts
& Entertainment
Altars and Shrines
The art of worship at Café Marc Aurel
by
Starr Begley
November 15, 2007
Spank me please. That’s the title to Maui artist Sugar Dolands’ shrine–one of the many on display at Café Marc Aurel’s Altars and Shrines exhibit. Like all good art, Dolands’ piece lets me peek not only into its creator’s psyche, but my own as well.
On first glance, it’s pretty simple–a black leather whip dangles from inside a red box with black gauzy drapes. Inside of the box is white and speckled with little mirrors and packets of lube.
My first thought was, “See, BDSM can be pretty.” But every time that I look at “Spank me Please,” it provokes me to introspection. Do I keep aspects of myself hidden behind a curtain? Do I feel that pain or suffering purges me and makes me clean? Do I idolize sex? And most of all, do I want answers to these questions?
I asked a few of the artists on display to explain their work:
PATRICK DUNNE
“Fish Temple,” acrylic medium transfer on canvas
“Fish Temple” is derived from multiple photographs I took
while visiting Thailand. Among the things I admired most were the various
temples and shrines–from the bustling streets of Bangkok to the
Southern islands of Samui, Phuket and Phi Phi—I became mesmerized
by their beauty and grace. The images in this particular piece are from
a fish temple that sits on its own little island, surrounded by a giant
pond teeming with, you guessed it, fish. Inside the temple is a huge golden
Buddha who sits in front of a tree. On every wall, there are paintings
depicting stories and parables. I wanted to capture the feeling of this
place–the colors, textures, details and love that went into creating
it.
RANDY
MILLS
“Altered States,” digital animation
I wanted to take an Egyptian theme–most myths came out of Egypt.
So I have this female figure that is pieced together of different religions
and her reflection is a skeleton, which symbolizes the death of mythology.
But in front of her, is this crystal ball. The crystal ball represents
the unknown, or hope–hope in the future that mythology will carry
us over.
SIOBHAN HALSTEAD
“Anikulapo,” photo collage
I was inspired by my experiences coming of age in the Bay Area in the
80’s. With this piece, I honor and celebrate my heroes, like my
friend Thom McGinty and my favorite photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
Included in the photo collage are photos taken at Grace Cathedral in San
Francisco, and at a Dia de los Muertos celebration. Fela Kuti (also pictured
in the collage) was an amazing musician and political activist. He changed
his middle name to “Anikulapo” (meaning “he who carries
death in his pouch”). On Aug. 2, 1997, he died of Kaposi’s
sarcoma brought on by AIDS.
GAVIN
DILLARD
“The Beatification of St. Gerry,” mixed media
My shrine is triptych. On the left I have Saint Patrick; on the right
there is Saint Francis; in the middle is Gerard Butler, riddled with arrows
from the final scene of 300. The piece is crawling with serpents (Patrick),
animals (Francis) and little plastic ninjas. A hula boy glued to the top
has the stigmata. Nails in the frame bleed. Modern icons include a Corona
bottle cap, Hello Kitty, condom, day glow Mary and Rosary, dolphin and
VW bus with a Maui surfboard. I have no literal translation; the piece
is an object of worship. MTW
"Anikulapo - He
who carries death in his pocket"
By C. Siobhan Halstead
September
2007
"Smoke
in My Eyes" by C. Siobhan Halstead
Cafe
Marc Aurel in Wailuku is currently presenting its newest group exhibit,
“Modern Landscape.” Artist Adrianne Martinez consistently
curates shows that are fun and innovative. Cafe Marc Aurel is located
at 28 North Market Street. For more information, call (808) 244-0852 or
visit www.cafemarcaurel.com.
June
28, 2007
The following is from an article about Cafe Marc Aurel by Lisa Shaw
A big part of the success of the wine bar and café is the art.
Both Whitney and Martinez have an extensive background in fine art and
were the two owners of Wild Banana, an art gallery formerly located in
Wailuku. When Martinez became a business owner with Marc Aurel, she brought
the art. “It is important to bring in the music and art,”
Martinez said. “We are exposing a huge group of people that may
not otherwise get to see alternative work like this on Maui. Alternative
art is modern, expressive art, which has a strong sense of the artist
and their modern world in its content. Content is very important. What
we show is not decorative. It is not meant for tourists. No whales or
dolphins.”
There are themes every month that force artists into a contemplative state, out of the normal realm. Recent shows at the café, including Biodegradable, Boundless Love, the T-shirt show, Out of This World, and the present show, Movement, display works by artists such as David Hamma, Heidi Nelms, Nancy Skrimstad, Patrick Dunne and many more.
“Another creative soul to add to the artistic perspective on opening nights is DJ Boomshot,” said Martinez. “Openings are always a good time.”
“We
try to take away the pretentiousness by showing works at a smaller scale
and lower price, where artists can actually buy pieces as well,”
stated Martinez. “It is not juried, it’s open to everyone,
but retail must be no greater than $200.”
Click here
to read compete article
Saturday, June 23rd, Movement Group Art Exhibit Opening Wine Party
-
"No
Turn Your Back" by: C. Siobhan Halstead
"No Turn Your Back" by: C.
Siobhan Halstead
From Maui Time Weekly Volume12, issue 52
The
Art of Movement
Saturday (June 23), 7 p.m. at Cafe Marc Aurel, Wailuku
[ART/PARTY]
Thirteen mostly local artists will be showing off their moves on the walls
of Cafe Marc Aurel’s in a group art show in Wailuku this weekend.
Young artist Hannah Shimabukuro used photos of student war protesters
and print process that is at least 150 years old to convey “movement,”
the show’s theme. In muted tones of blue and brown, her piece communicates
the shifting of ideals. David Whitney, a repeat contributor to the cafe’s
art shows, had yet to decide on a specific piece to display, but said
the challenge of this show is to create something that implies physical
movement without actually moving. Scott Olsen’s drawing suggests
what he calls, “the marks of occurrence” or the invisible
lines of energy left behind after an action. “This drawing was inspired
by a crumpled brown paper bag that had been repeatedly stepped on. Like
a paper car crash,” he told me. For a group show like this one,
interpretations of the theme are bound to be varied. I’m not sure
how all of it will come together, but one guarantee is that attendees
will spend an evening in true Cafe Marc Aurel’s style: with art
on the walls, wine in the glasses and sophistication in the air. All the
artwork on display will be for sale, and none will be priced higher than
$199. Curator Katherine Godwin of Hui Press Publications promises a rad
soundtrack for your listening pleasure and much remarkable artwork that
challenges the geometric boundaries of visual art. Prepare to be moved!
Admission is free. [JESSICA ARMSTRONG]
Top Right: "I Want to Believe" by C. Siobhan Halstead
Bottom Left: "Cosmic Mermaid" by C. Siobhan Halstead
"Nombre
Narcissimo" by C. Siobhan Halstead
Favorite Bee
Quotes:
"It takes a bee to get the honey out"- Arthur Guiterman
Si sapis, sis apis - "If you are wise, be a bee"
"The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors,
but because she labors for others" Saint John Chrysostom
"Around a flowering tree, one finds many insects." - Proverb
from Guinea
"Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers." Robert
Green Ingersoll
"How doth the little busy bee improve each shining hour, And gather
honey all the day from every opening flower." Isaac Watts
"The men of experiment are like the ant; they only collect and use.
But the bee . . . gathers its materials from the flowers of the garden
and of the field,
but transforms and digests it by a power of its own."
Leonardo da Vinci