New Artist in Residence | The Molokai Dispatch

Molokai Arts Center News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) offers several opportunities for artist residencies each year. Molokai provides a perfect backdrop to create, explore and experience a unique culture. The purpose of the MAC Artist in Residence program is to provide guest artists with a respite from daily responsibilities, to enable them to create and concentrate on their work. This month, the MAC welcomed artist in residence Alice Banks from Ottawa, Canada. Banks completed her Bachelor of Design degree at OCAD University in Tkaronto/Toronto, Ontario with a major in material art and design. Upon graduating in 2011, she launched a fashion line using her one-of-a-kind textiles that sold in boutiques across Canada and the USA. She received her MFA at NSCAD University in Kjipuktu/Halifax, Nova Scotia in the Spring of 2023. Check out her website at alicealishka.com.

In 2016, Banks became a mother and refocused her practice on sustainable methods in art, craft, and design. During her time at NSCAD University, she worked closely with the Canadian wool industry to design and create new, sustainable, and innovative wool-based yarns. Banks is a textile-based artist, researcher, and maker. Her curiosity for textiles developed at a young age, as did her love of color.The inherent ability for fabric to be beautiful and comfortable has always been intriguing. Globally, people envelope their bodies in textiles and cover their living spaces in fabrics. Textiles are at the root of every culture, have shaped civilization, and are rich in color theory. Banks’ work draws from these histories and informs how she engages with color and interacts with materials. The work Banks creates is multi-layered and aims to be inclusive. Her practice is centralized on strengthening community through making.

“Over the past few years, I have been experimenting with translating my practice using works by my grandmother, father, and children,” she shared. On Molokai, I will focus on completing a print series using watercolor monoprints and appliqued quilts. Conceptually I will look at multigenerational communication beyond the family, from community, culture, to nature. My intention is to create a series of 5-10 pieces measuring approximately 10”x10”. The watercolor monoprints will be on cotton paper and the quilts will use cotton fabric pieces.”

During her residency, Banks will share her talents at an Art Bar at Hiro’s ‘Ohana Bar and Grill and meet with the community at MAC Saturday Market at MCHC.

Molokai Arts Center received a grant from the Laila Twigg-Smith Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) for the Artist in Residence Program 2024-25. Mahalo HCF for helping to “bring the arts to Molokai.”