www.tomasbelsky.com/mural
Labor Mural of Hawaii Island
with Teachers' Guide for Hawaiian Labor History
History of Hawaii Labor Movement
from Pre-contact to Contemporary Problems
Original Size 70 ft. x 8 ft.
Located in Hilo, Hawaii
Laminated Reproduction with Teaching Booklet
8 ft. x 1 ft. $150
6.5 ft. x 10 in. $125
4 ft. x 6 in. $75
I like to believe that this mural can be used by educators and students as a springboard that will open areas of research and discussion on issues of Hawaiian History in general and specifically the evolution of the labor movement. The mural is chronologically organized from prewestern contact on the extreme left panel to the tumultuous current era on the extreme right panel. In between lie the two hundred twenty some years that witness the birth of a unique society struggling with multiple residual problems of religion, colonialism, language and most importantly identity and environmental safeguards. I hope my efforts help shed some light on the problems facing the Spirit of Aloha. Thanks to the East Hawaii Cultural Center, The Hawaii People's Fund, The State Judicial Department and the common citizen who passed by while the work progressed. They are always stimulating and frequently an inspiration. Their memories made it very real.
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Painter, print maker, teacher, political activist and wordsmith, Tomas Belsky was born on July 4, 1938, in New Brunswick, New Jersey to Russian/Polish immigrant parents. He was the seventh of nine children. "Mama said I was making pictures on the crib walls, so I've been at it awhile." After High School, there was some eye-opening factory work "that inspired higher education.”
With degrees in history, painting and Spanish, Belsky went to Brazil from 1965 to 1968 to work with the United States Peace Corps. It was there that his love of painting became paramount. This was largely due to the influence of naive anists working in favelas (slums) under adverse conditions lacking adequate art supplies.
When time allows, Belsky continues to work with young people locally in public schools, jails, and half-way houses. He uses the creative process to liberate students from numerous forms of anti-social behavior. "What art has done for me, it can do for others." Paintings and prints by Tomas Belsky are collected and treasured worldwide.
Because it is an essentially primal method of pictorial expression, the making of block prints fills a need for premeditated creativity as opposed to the more intuitive spontaneous aspects of oil painting. It also has the advantage of allowing the common citizen to own original works of art at reasonable prices.
Prints are silk screened by hand in limited editions, signed and pinky-printed by the artist. They are enlargements of the original blocks (wood or linoleum) that are smaller in size. All prints are on 60 lb. brown paper with off-black ink. Special editions on white paper are possible upon request. Subject matter is essentially related to the Spirit of Aloha 'Aina -- Love of the Land. This is the philosophy of Polynesia that would do America much good to follow. "We have much to be thankful for in Hawaii, and through my work I try to spread the appreciation for Nature and God's blessings."
Tomas lives in Hilo with his lifelong partner Moanikeala Akaka. They have a daughter, son-in-law, and a granddaughter living nearby. Please feel free to contact Tomas at any of the addresses below.
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for order information contact Belsky at 808 935 7981 belsky (at) hilo.net www.TomasBelsky.com P.O. Box 1523 Hilo, Hawai'i 96721 USA |
Triptych Block Print
Voyaging Canoe 2006-7
by Tomas Belsky
Limited Edition of 100
16 x 20 16 x 21 16 x 23
Fundraiser for Mau Piailug, Navigator,
and the canoe builders
Na Kalai Wa'a O Hawai'i
sharing ancient non-instrument voyaging secrets
with the younger generation.
E Kokua i na Holomoana.
Support the Sailors.
Holokai Holomoana 'Uakai
Trilogy Wayfinders
edition of 500
$60 laminated
for order information
contact Belsky at
808 935 7981
belsky (at) hilo.net
www.TomasBelsky.com
P.O. Box 1523
Hilo, Hawai'i 96721
USA
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