Artist in residence seeks portrait sitters for photography project

HONOLULU—Photographer Elizabeth R. Curtis will begin her six-week tenure as the Gallery 31 Art Studio Artist-in-Residence at the Honolulu Academy of Arts on January 23. She will be working on a project entitled The Visitors, which calls upon willing museum visitors to become the subjects of her photographic portraits.

?I hope that involvement in the project will cause visitors to consider the implications of portraiture, its inherent construction, and its effect on identity formation,? explains Curtis

Curtis will be in residence during the Academy’s weekend hours from January 23 to February 28, including Bank of Hawaii Family Sunday on February 21, and during ARTafterDARK on February 26.

Half-hour sittings will take place alternately in the Gallery 31 Art Studio or in the outdoor courtyards at the Academy. While Curtis envisions some of the portraits as candid shots, others will be staged in a manner similar to 19th-century photographic portraits, including props such as thick curtains and plush chairs.

People interested in participating as a sitter in either an individual or small group portrait can sign up at the Visitor Information Center at the Honolulu Academy of Arts upon arrival. Further information on The Visitors project and weekly portrait updates can be found at www.ElizabethRCurtis.com.

Curtis expects to complete her MFA in photography from the University of Hawai?i in 2011. She received her BA in Studio Art from Wheaton College.

Launched in fall 2009, the Academy?s artist in residence program is made possible by the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation. It is open to current University of Hawai?i graduate art students and recent UH MFA recipients. Past artists in residence are Allison Uttley and Boz Schurr.

Hi-res images of Curtis’ photographs are available upon request.

Location: 900 S. Beretania Street in the Thomas Square Historic District. The Academy Art Center is located at 1111 Victoria Street. The Doris Duke Theatre entrance is on Kinau Street.
Parking: Validated parking at $3 for 4 hours is available in the Academy Art Center lot. Parking in the 1035 Kinau St Lot is free during evening and weekend hours till 11:00 p.m.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm; closed Monday. The Pavilion Caf? serves lunch Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Academy Shop is open during normal Museum hours.
Admission: $10 general; $5 for seniors (62+), students (13 and over), and military; members and children 12 and under are free. Admission is free to The Academy Shop, The Pavilion Caf?, and the Academy Art Center.
Tours: Guided tours are offered Tuesday to Saturday at 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Sunday at 1:15 p.m. Japanese language tours are offered Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Bank of Hawaii Family Sunday: Complimentary admission is offered to the public on the third Sunday of the month 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. courtesy of Bank of Hawaii.
ARTafterDARK: $10 general; members are free to this event on the last Friday of the month 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. www.artafterdark.org
Recorded info lines: (Exhibitions) 532-8701, (Theatre Events) 532-8768
Website: www.honoluluacademy.org