Los Angeles! Mark your calendars. You do not want to miss the upcoming LA premiere of Mele Murals, the latest documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Tad Nakamura. Mele Murals is a story about the transformative power of modern graffiti art and ancient Hawaiian culture for a new generation of Native Hawaiians.
Set against the resurgence of Hawaiian language and culture of the past twenty years, Mele Murals follows two former illegal graffiti writers turned community artists -- Estria Miyashiro (aka Estria) and John Hina (aka Prime) -- and their quest to connect people and place through mural making. The film shows how public art rooted in underground graffiti unexpectedly but powerfully fuses with Native Hawaiian traditions and contemporary life to impact local youth, the rural community of Waimea, and most of all the artists.
The Los Angeles premiere will include a screening of the film and Q&A with the filmmaker and featured artists Estria and Prime. It's happening Friday, August 5 at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.
Here's the trailer:
And here are some more details about the premiere:
LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF MELE MURALS
Friday, August 5, 2016 at 6:30p
Presented by JACCC and Visual Communications
MELE MURALS
A production of ʻŌiwi TV and Pacific Islanders in Communications,
in association with the Center for Asian American Media
Directed by Tadashi Nakamura
Watch trailer
Friday, August 5, 2016 at 6:30p
Japanese American Cultural and Community Center
244 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
6:30p - VIP Garden Concert with Paula Fuga (VIP ticket holders only)
8:00p - Film Screening
9:30p - Q&A with filmmakers and featured artists Estria and Prime
Purchase tickets HERE
$40 VIP, $20 General
Special $15/ticket for groups of 10+.
MELE MURALS is a documentary on the transformative power of modern graffiti art and ancient Hawaiian culture for a new generation of Native Hawaiians. At the center of the story are two renowned street artists - Estria Miyashiro (aka Estria) and John Hina (aka Prime) - a group of Native Hawaiian youth, and the rural community of Waimea.
Total running time: 65 min.
I'm a massive fan of Tad's work, and this promises to be another kickass screening. Get your tickets here. For further information about the film, head over to the Mele Murals website.
