PACIFIC TRADITIONS GALLERY THE GIFT OF ART
Matthew Kaopio, a paraplegic, who paints with his mouth will be the Pacific Traditions Gallerys artist of the month for April.
Matthew will paint in the Gallery one day each week for the month of April.
Matthew Kaopio began his career as a mouth-brush artist and writer while going through rehabilitation after a 1994 diving accident that left him a quadriplegic.
An accomplished artist and published author, Matthews story is extraordinary. He grew up on Kauai, surfing, biking, paddling, hiking the Napali Coast, and gathering flowers and maile leaves for his aunties who made haku lei.
For two gloomy years he did very little while learning to deal with his new reality. One day a friend suggested a painting class at Louise V Creative Arts Program at the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific.
Since that time, Matthew has authored two books: Hawaiian Family Legends, married the ancient Hawaiian tradition of oral storytelling with the modern art form of painting. Written In The Sky is based on his experiences while spending time in Ala Moana Park during his early days of rehabilitation. The book is an adaptation of a masters thesis in Pacific Island Studies, which he received in May 2004 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Kaopios autographed books, paintings, and gift cards will be available.
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