Maika'i Tubbs at Town, Chinatown Boardroom, and elsewhere

VIGNETTE Maika‘i Tubbs (BFA 2002) transforms plastic utensils
into whimsical creations
now showing at Town Restaurant, 3435 Wai‘alae Avenue (on the corner of 9th and Wai‘alae Avenues) through June 6.

Maika‘i Tubbs’ Vignette series provides commentary on the overgrowth of plastic in our environment. Inspired by the Woodrose vine, he uses ordinary plastic forks, spoons and knives to create playful sculptures of foliage. His new work also features paintings that mimic the vine’s lethal beauty.

Maika‘i Tubbs is from Kapahulu on the island of O‘ahu. A 1996 graduate of Kamehameha Schools, he received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 2002. Though drawing and painting were his first loves, he eventually developed an interest in repurposing everyday objects to expose their undiscovered potential. His penchant for collecting obsolete items has helped him focus on making the irrelevant relevant by telling new stories with objects rich in their own histories. From toy soldiers and syringes to packing tape and glue, Tubbs continues to find new ways to explore different materials by breaking down their original intent.

Upcoming shows include HUA at Chinatown Boardroom, 1160 Nu‘uanu Avenue, from May 5 - 30 and Visual Stories: Contemporary Native Hawaiian Art and Craft at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Schaefer International Gallery, on the island of Maui from September 13 - October 24.