For Leilehua High School Fine Arts Department Head Dustin Hart, teaching students “who are raised in this age of glass” is what inspired him to launch a brand-new art class this school year.
“Students, they see their cell phones, they know what's on it, but they know apps, they know social media, they don't really know what makes it,” Hart said in a statement. “Understanding all the property elements of glass, how it can be used and leveraged, and the future of what they're stepping into. After they graduate high school they're going to be in a world that is of glass.”
Currently, 40 students are enrolled in the semester-long course, Introduction to Glass which focuses on three primary disciplines of the art of glass: kiln-forming, glassblowing, and coldworking.
Ariana Wilhite, a 12th grader at Leilehua High, who is taking the class said, “I think my favorite thing about glassblowing is that we have creative freedom. No matter what it is, we still have to follow certain guidelines or else it wouldn't be a class. But you pretty much just have full creative freedom. You can make whatever you would like. And that's honestly the best part about having Mr. Hart as a teacher.”
Stewardship and leadership are both intentional pillars of the course to set students up for success outside of school.
“I'm also working with the students — demonstrating leadership, humility, service to the community, incorporating recycling and environmental stewardship, how to be sustainable and how to work with one another,” Hart noted. “You don't always get a partner that you agree with. You don't always get a partner who has the same vision as you, but you have to learn how to work with one another to accomplish the same goal. I think that's essential for the workforce.”
The Wahiawa community and beyond can help supply materials by bringing in recycled glass bottles for the students to melt and upcycle, Hart said. The students then go on to manipulate and melt the bottles into Christmas ornaments they can later sell.
He added, “The first thing that we do is we wash that glass, take care of that glass, talk about where it comes from, what it's made of, its chemical properties, break it down, melt it. And they learn how to blow tubes to give back to the community.”
Hart also serves as a senior lecturer for studio and applied art at Hawai’i Pacific University and was previously an adjunct instructor at Honolulu Community College, and a part-time teacher at Honolulu Museum of Art School. He also previously taught woods/drawing at Pearl City High School and studio art at both Kailua Intermediate School and American Renaissance Academy in Kapolei.
His artwork “that blur the boundaries between sculpture, architecture, and ritualistic experiences” has been on display in Hawai’i, Canada and Arizona.
“Ultimately, my artistic pursuit is fueled by a profound desire to establish meaningful connections and offer a space for reflection, where viewers can immerse themselves in the beauty and complexity of the human experience,” Hart wrote on his personal website. “By merging materiality and imagination, I strive to evoke awe and reverence, prompting viewers to pause, engage, and discover solace in the poetic resonance of my creations."
He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and master’s in education from Northern Arizona University.
Based in Wahiawa, Leilehua High School is the first public school to offer Instruction to Glass. Hart also created the curriculum course document, approved by the state Department of Education, for any art departments to adapt in the future.
The mission of Leilehua High School’s Music, Visual and Performing Arts Department is to empower “students through a diverse approach in our curriculum. We use an interdisciplinary and rigorous methodology that connects multiple academic disciplines to the expressive and creative arts.”
“We strive to make meaningful experiences for our students that lead to fulfilling careers and ultimately, contribute to an ever-advancing civilization. We pride ourselves on excellence and strive to exemplify leadership, humility, and service in all facets of our professional practice.”
According to its website, Leilehua High School has at least six Fine Arts teachers, who in addition to ceramics, offer creative dance/drama/ʻukulele, drawing/painting, band, piano, photography and more.
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter!
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
