ARTafterDARK Presents”And It Don’t Stop!”

The Honolulu Academy of Arts is truly one of our community’s unsung heroes.  Since its opening in 1927, this local art museum has grown to house more than 40,000 works of art, specializing in one of the world’s finest collections of Asian art.  The Doris Duke Theatre also calls the Academy home, hosting concerts, film festivals and more.  As incredible as that may seem, the Academy of Arts has often been viewed as little more than your typical stagnant museum.In recent years, however, the Academy of Arts has seen its hip factor increase exponentially, thanks in large part to the popular ARTafterDARK events.  From January through October, ARTafterDARK is billed as a “monthly art party organized by a dynamic group of young volunteers dedicated to exploring the arts” according to the  Academy.  Held on the last Friday of the month from 6-9pm, the event has played host to events as diverse as “Seoul Party,” a celebration of Korean artistic innovation, to “Hawaii Ink,” a night dedicated to exploring Hawaii’s extreme side, to “Camelot,” a tribute to the American way of life through the eyes of the legendary Kennedy family.

Now the eyes of the community are once again focused on the Academy’s signature event as they present “…And It Don’t Stop!” a celebration of hip-hop culture and its indelible effect on our society.  The brainchild of academy volunteer chair Aaron Yoshino (www.honozooloo.com), one of Hawaii’s premier photographers and a staple in the local hip-hop community, the event promises to bring you the very best in local DJ’s, MC’s, B-Boys and Graffiti artists.With a small cover of $10 for non-members of the Academy (free for members), you’ll be able to take the time to explore the exhibits, enjoy food & drinks provided by Town (www.townkaimuki.com), and, of course, enjoy all the live entertainment provided by some of Hawaii’s finest hip-hop purveyors, including Kavet the Catalyst, Blessdchil’, Nomasterbacks, the Monarchs, Boogie Down Productions, Audible Lab Rats and much, much more.  Again, for disclosure’s sake, yours truly is a member of the Nomasterbacks crew…..ahhhh..the wonders of self-promotion!  This will be another great community event, and I’m looking forward to being a part of it all![slideshow]Attendance is often off the charts for these events, so come early!!  And, as parking is always a concern, keep in mind there’s plenty of parking at the following locations:1) FREE: Pro Park Parking Lot behind the Art Center at Linekona (entrances on Beretania and Young streets)2) FREE: Street parking on Beretania Street from 6 p.m.3) FREE: First United Methodist Church Parking Lot (corner of Beretania and Victoria streets). NOTE: lot closes promptly at 10 p.m.4) FREE: Academy Staff Parking Lot at 1035 Kinau St., Diamond Head of Victoria Street5) $5 at Kim Chee III Parking Lot on Young StreetBeyond Honolulu will see you all there!  Supporting your local community is of the utmost importance, so come out and explore ARTafterDARK!