HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts will commission permanent works of art to honor the late Sen. Daniel Inouye and the late Rep. Patsy Takemoto Mink.
Under a bill that became law on July 9 without Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s signature, $250,000 will be appropriated for each work. The goal is to use the late legislators’ examples to inspire current and future generations.
The selections will be made by a committee with one member each appointed by the governor, the president of the Hawaii Senate, and the speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives.
Inouye (1924-2012) was a 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran and Medal of Honor recipient. As Hawaii’s first representative in Congress, he became the first Japanese American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Remembered for his role in the Watergate and Iran-Contra investigations, he was Senate president pro tempore (third in line to the presidency after the vice president and speaker of the House) and the most senior senator at the time of his death at age 88.
Mink (1927-2002) served in the House of Representatives for 12 terms and is best remembered for co-authoring the Title IX Amendment of the Higher Education Act, which prohibits gender-based discrimination. The first woman of color elected to Congress and the first woman to represent Hawaii in Congress, she also served as assistant secretary of state and on the Honolulu City Council, and ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972.
The application deadline is Aug. 26. To apply, visit www.callforentry.org.
What types of ‘art’ are you looking for? I mainly do ceramic art and 2d illustrations (comics/editorials)? I would be honored to try and submit a piece regarded if chosen. Just wondering if I need to go out and buy a canvas. I also was unclear as to whether you are looking for one piece honoring both Patsy AND Daniel… OR two individual installments. I look forward to your response. Hope you receive many submitions :)!! Thank you.