Gwen Arkinʻs exhibition, Intertidal, will feature cyanotype prints of Hawaiian limu (seaweed) and an installation of her large-scale prints on silk panels stretching 10 feet into the air. Originally created for Honolulu Museum of Art’s 2021 exhibition, Artists of Hawaiʻi Now, Arkin’s project references local issues facing native species of seaweed in Hawaiʻi and the global impacts that the demise of limu pose. Using a primitive photographic process, Arkin’s project was inspired by the work of British botanist, Anna Atkins, who published the first book of cyanotype photography in 1843, featuring images of algae. Arkin’s prints display native limu species in exquisite detail, revealing their microscopic cellular make-up. By documenting these organisms, she creates a record of their existence and shines a spotlight on their historical, cultural, and ecological significance.

Arkin explains, “Once an abundant resource in Hawaii, much of the edible limu has disappeared because of runoff, over-harvesting, and growth of the herbivores that feed on them. Additionally, aggressive alien seaweeds dominate marine resources, diminish diversity and smother native limu and corals. These fascinating and often overlooked organisms play a consequential role in the health of the ocean overall.”

The galleries are open and free to the public every Wednesday and Friday from 10am - 2pm, as well as for ticket holders before and after performances in the theatre.