First Friday - The Justice and Reconciliation Center August 2008 Events

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The Justice and Reconciliation Center August 2008 Events

Join Us!
The Peace Center
At
The Justice and Reconciliation Center
19 N. Pauahi Street
Honolulu's Chinatown 96817
mrjoy@hawaii.rr.com
808-741-4612

"This Abled Painter, Morris M. Nakamura"

During the month of August 2008, The Pacific Traditions Gallery is both honored and humbled to present the Art Works of "This Abled Painter, Morris M. Nakamura."

Come; join us as we enjoy Morris while he paints on First Friday August 1st, August 8th, and August 21st.

For thirty years, Morris worked as a union carpenter and business owner. Then in 1989, he was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a form of Muscular Dystrophy.

As his physical challenges advanced, Morris began to pursue his passion once again for oil painting. In June 2000, he joined the Louis Vuitton Creative Arts Program at the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific. His interactions with other patients have increased his understanding for people with disabilities.

Both of his brothers, the late Honolulu Police Chief, Michael Nakamura, and younger brother Glenn have been affected by Muscular Dystrophy.

Fascinated with the beauty of nature, his favorite paintings incorporate landscaped and aquatic settings. His art is inspired by his love for the surfing and fishing that he did as an active young boy and man.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association's Art Collection has accepted a pair of oil paintings by Morris Nakamura of Ewa. The MDA Art Collection features artwork by people from across the United States with neuromuscular diseases.

"We're deeply honored to welcome Morris Nakamura's stunning works into the permanent MDA Art Collection," MDA President & CEO Robert Ross said. "His contributions to our Collection will undoubtedly delight all who see them as they travel to galleries and museums as part of special exhibits of the Collection."

The new additions by Nakamura will be exhibited at MDA's national headquarters in Tucson, Ariz., and will be included in MDA Art Collection traveling exhibits. The Collection was established in 1992 to focus attention on the achievements of artists with disabilities, and to emphasize that physical disability is no barrier to creativity.

The permanent Collection currently comprises more than 300 works by artists' aged 2 to 82 and represents all 50 states. Each artist is affected by one of the neuromuscular diseases in the MDA program.

Due to his condition, in 2005 Morris began painting strictly by mouth. Morris believes that time is of the essence, "live life to it's fullest and be filled with joy of the lord."

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. MDA maintains a clinic for area adults and children affected by neuromuscular diseases at the Castle Medical Center in Kailua, Hawaii.

The Association's programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors. Therefore, a portion of each of Nakamura's painting sold through the month of August at the Pacific Traditions Gallery will go to MDA.

Come; join us as we enjoy Morris while he paints on First Friday August 1st, August 8th, and August 21st.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition-Hawai'i
Friends of the GENSUIKIN
Nagasaki Kenjinkai (Association of Descendants of Immigrants from Nagasaki Prefecture),
The United Nations Association Hawaii Division

Invites you to
To commemorate the sixty-third anniversary of the atomic bombings of Nagasaki,
The dawn of the nuclear age, ending of World War II,
We are requesting your presence
To share a moment of Silence and The Bell Ringing Ceremony
August 7th at 10:30 am,
Nagasaki Peace Bell,
City & County of Honolulu Civic Center Grounds
Beretania and Lauhala Streets
August 9, 1945 marked a day of triumph and tragedy: The triumph of the war's ending that ushered in the tragedy that would become the nuclear age.

The Luckiest day of the Millennium
Friday, 08-08-08

Honolulu Arts & Culture District and the Arts District Merchants Association invite you to join us. Come celebrate the Magical Day in the Arts District, the most auspicious area on earth. As you know 08-08-08 will be celebrated as the "Luckiest" day of this millennium, the date that will only come once in a thousand years.

Activities:
All Day 11:00am Ð8:00pm Galleries and Retail Stores
Lucky Ticket free prizes
Redeem the lucky ticket by visiting and getting "8" store mark/stamps
Hundreds of prizes to include original art, gift certificates, and money

Tie "As you Wish" bookmarks on the bamboo thickets
Special paper will be available at each participating Gallery and or store for anyone wishing to write their hopes, dreams, and/or whishes for the world, the nation, the state, their families, and themselves. (The paper wishes will be taken to the Chinese temple as offerings.)

6:00 Ð 10:00pm View the Opening of the Olympics on the big screen on Hotel & Smith Streets- KHNL will host the viewing while broadcasting the NEWS from Hotel Street and Howard Dashefsky will be the MC for the evening of entertainment.

5:30pm-10:00pm Entertainment and Food
Chinese Lion Dancing in the streets and visiting the stores.

08:08pm Lion Dances and the Bubble Wishing Moment
Everyone is invited to participate in the magic of the moment by making their wishes known as they are blowing the bubbles.
2000 bottles of soap bubbles will be given away free at participating galleries after 5:00pm.
Come celebrate the Magical Day in the Arts District, the most auspicious area on earth.

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