Vice Chairman of Commercial & Retail Banking Group, FIRST HAWAIIAN INC
Neill Char First Hawaiian Center Free Art Gallery Live Interview
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About Neill Char
In a September 2022 interview, Neill Char discussed the First Hawaiian Center Free Art Gallery, stating that First Hawaiian has "a rich tradition of supporting the culture and arts." He said that since the building opened, the bank has "dedicated the space to supporting local artists" and that they recently took over the show, featuring "both lifelong professionals as well as up-and-coming new artists." Char noted that the artwork is available for purchase and that the proceeds "goes right back into the community, right back into the local artist," adding, "We want to help artists be able to make a living out of this." Char described one of his favorite pieces in the gallery as featuring "a couple of artists that I've known for some time." He emphasized the importance of showcasing different mediums, including "paintings as well as sculptures." Char also shared advice from former chairman and CEO Walter Dods, who told him, "if you see it and you love it, buy something every year; over a lifetime you'll have your own collection."
Transcript (16 segments)
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Carrie Hunt0:01
We love free and open to the public.
Carrie Hunt joins us live from this and treat with more on the First Hawaiian Center Art Gallery. Good morning.
Good morning. And you stole the words right out of my mouth. It's free and we love free. Free. I love free. And I also love art. And with me is Neill Char. Thank you so much for joining us this morning. Good morning. So let's talk about this free art gallery that's perfect for people to come out and check out and also take a look at local artwork.
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Neill Char0:34
Yes, First Hawaiian has had a rich tradition of supporting the culture and arts. And we're really pleased now to open this gallery for all of you. I think it's so special.
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Carrie Hunt0:43
And earlier in the show, we talked to a local artist. Talk to me about partnering and showcasing these local artists so that people in the community can actually see their work.
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Neill Char0:55
Sure. Going back to when this building was opened, we've really dedicated the space to supporting local artists. And now recently we took over the show and are featuring both lifelong professionals as well as up-and-coming new artists.
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Carrie Hunt1:09
I think what's cool about this show is not only that it's free — we've been punching that pretty hard this morning — but also that people get the opportunity to purchase this artwork, which goes right back into the community, right back into the local artist. I think that's so awesome.
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Neill Char1:22
Well, we want to help artists be able to make a living out of this. And so I do want to give a shout out to our curator, who is Michelle, and she helped put the show together for us.
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Carrie Hunt1:33
I think that's so special. And what she told me, as well as speaking with you and also local artists, I think it's cool that all of these artworks kind of flow together. They make sense. They kind of have the same color consistency. I think that is so special.
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Neill Char1:48
Well, this was really one of my favorites because it features a couple of artists that I've known for some time. And so Solomon right here is someone that I had the good fortune of getting some of his pieces a number of years ago. And so it's really fun for me. And then one of our up-and-coming artists, Rolin Longstreet, he's also been featured here. So I really am happy to have their works shown here at First Hawaiian.
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Carrie Hunt2:13
I think it's so cool because not only is it like paintings, it's oil on canvas. It's also some sculptures, which I know we showed a little bit earlier. Why do you think it's important to showcase different kinds of art? Not just your typical portrait, not just your typical abstract, but you kind of have a good flux of everything.
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Neill Char2:31
Well, that's thanks to Michelle. If you think about art, you really want to have all different types of mediums. And so this is a great space here at First Hawaiian in our lobby to show all types of art. As you mentioned, paintings as well as sculptures.
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Carrie Hunt2:44
What is your favorite type of art? I know we've been talking and looking. I know you mentioned Solomon earlier, but I'm going to ask you the same question that I asked him. You know, when you are a first-time art viewer, art critic — we can all be art critics — what do you look out for and what are some tips you have for people who might not look at art normally, but they're going to come out here?
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Neill Char3:05
Great questions. I love contemporary art. And going back many years ago, our former chairman and CEO Walter Dods shared with me, he said if you see it and you love it, he said kind of buy something every year, every show, and over a lifetime you'll have quite your own collection.
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Carrie Hunt3:24
I love that answer. Neill, thank you so much for talking to us this morning. This is absolutely beautiful. And Mike mentioned earlier, it is completely free. So you can come on out here, view local artwork, and then if you love it enough — which I'm sure you will find something you absolutely love — you can go and check out the price and see if you are wanting to purchase. That's latest for now reporting live from the First Hawaiian Center inside the First Hawaiian Bank. I'm Carrie Hunt. Guys, I'll send it back to you in studio.
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Host3:50
Thank you very much, Carrie. And best part about it, it's free, open to the public, and maybe it will inspire people like Chevy to start doing his own art. I mentioned Bob Ross just about every morning.