Artist and Arts Educator
Greater Los Angeles Area
- Current
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- Owner at Hoshi Hana Studios
- Past
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- Photography Director at Encore Jr./Sr. High School
- Curator and Gallerist at Launch Pad Gallery (Sole Proprietorship)
- Very Special Arts Program Festival Roving Arts Program Coordinator and Co-Art Curator at Music Center
- Educator at Los Angeles Unified School District
- Arts Educator at Museum of Contemporary Art
- Arts & Culture After School Program, Coordinator and Educator at Visitacion Valley Communtiy Center
- Staff Photographer at San Francisco Sentinel
- Photographer's Assistant at Biondo Photo Studio (Sole Proprietorship)
- Education
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- San Francisco Art Institute
- Recommended
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5 people have recommended Mari - Connections
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94
connections
- Industry
- Fine Art
- Websites
Mari Kono’s Summary
I am keenly interested in using the medium of fine art to help bring positive social change and the ideal of world peace through popular media. In the past 10 years, I have worked in the non-profit and education sector, with students aged 5 through 18. Working directly with these young people and seeing first hand, their individual progress was rewarding but definitely not fast or effective enough. Being able to reach only a small number at a time was also frustrating. I see a need in mass media to provide positive, life affirming works in television, film, gaming, internet web media and educational materials that would appeal to these young people. My aim here is to find like minded people involved in mass media, the arts, and high volume production/business to joint venture/partner with so as to produce high-impact, high quality materials/media that would combine sound business & high profit with a way to inspire young people to believe in themselves, become self aware, participate in one's community and find healthy and fun ways to build self esteem.
Mari Kono’s Specialties:
Art creation, specializing in digital and paper-based collage work, high-end photography with experience in the commercial arts field, and over 10 years of experience as an arts educator, working with all ages and cultures of students, and using arts education as a way to bring about social change.
Mari Kono’s Experience
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Owner
Hoshi Hana Studios
(Fine Art industry)
1991 — Present (18 years)
Hoshi Hana Studios produces artwork based on ideas about promoting peace and harmony in the world.
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Photography Director
Encore Jr./Sr. High School
(Photography industry)
2008 — 2009 (1 year)
Created a fun and dynamic photography program in which students documented all aspects of their school life. Organized and curated student work and presented it at our on campus art gallery. Successfully fund raised through a student-run photography booth at on campus events. Worked with respected members of the local community to visit with students to share their professional experiences and career expertise. Created curriculum that linked photographic history, student real-world experience and artistic understanding & expression.
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Curator and Gallerist
Launch Pad Gallery (Sole Proprietorship)
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Fine Art industry)
2003 — 2004 (1 year)
Ran a small tea house art gallery in Los Angeles' Silver Lake district. The space provided a quaint, personal and alternative art space in which to enjoy artwork. Some artists whose work was featured include:
Dame Darcy, Eric Ernest Johnson, Brent Spears, Alicia Bay Laurel, Scott Williams, Lydia Lunch, Alma Allen, Go-Go Giddle, Richao Polysorbate 60, Diana Mars, O, Gerry Snapp, Videos from Mainstreet Media and Zen Baby, Books from New Leaf Press and Charles Phoenix -
Very Special Arts Program Festival Roving Arts Program Coordinator and Co-Art Curator
Music Center
(Non-Profit; 501-1000 employees; Performing Arts industry)
2002 — 2003 (1 year)
Helped select artwork created by Los Angeles school children with special needs. Coordinated with public sites to display the work and bring awareness to the talents and beauty of each child's work as well as the Los Angeles Music Center's Very Special Arts Program.
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Educator
Los Angeles Unified School District
(Educational Institution; 10,001 or more employees; Education Management industry)
1998 — 2003 (5 years)
Worked with children using arts education to bridge the needs of students struggling with English as a second language.
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Arts Educator
Museum of Contemporary Art
(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Museums and Institutions industry)
1998 — 1999 (1 year)
As part of the First Visit and Beyond Education Program, worked with Los Angeles Unified School district students and many at-risk youth in after school programs to explore their lives and the enjoyment of arts appreciation through art making and art education.
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Arts & Culture After School Program, Coordinator and Educator
Visitacion Valley Communtiy Center
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Education Management industry)
1996 — 1997 (1 year)
Hired Art instructors and liasoned to provide arts instruction to community centers in the Visitacion Valley after school programs for at-risk youth.
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Staff Photographer
San Francisco Sentinel
(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry)
1995 — 1996 (1 year)
Photographed events pertinent to residents of San Francisco community.
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Photographer's Assistant
Biondo Photo Studio (Sole Proprietorship)
(Sole Proprietorship; 1-10 employees; Photography industry)
1995 — 1996 (1 year)
First assistant to high end commercial photographer.
Mari Kono’s Education
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San Francisco Art Institute
BA , Fine Art Photography , 1989 — 1991
- Activities and Societies:
- Met and mentored by the great photographer and teacher Linda Connor who encourage self exploration and spritual meanings in art. Helped curate Women's History Month Art Show at the Diego Rivera Gallery, Displayed artwork at the Diego Rivera gallery, the Art Institute Cafe, Still Lights Gallery and the administration office while in attendance, appeared in George Kuchar's film "Verbotten Voyage" as an island princess.
Additional Information
Mari Kono’s Websites:
Mari Kono’s Interests:
Creating world peace through creativity and art, joint venturing for mutual benefit, snowboarding, surfing, nature, ecology, community, e-commerce, strategic planning, digital collage, photoshop, graphic design, healthy lifestyle, spirituality, knowledge and perpetual learning and integration of ideas, television, comedy, popular culture, balance, yoga, eco-lifestyle, organics, hip hop and rap music, sacred geometry, innovation in design, generation x, alternative lifestyle, simplicity, personal growth, happiness, liberty, freedom, integrity
Mari Kono’s Groups:
Tri-Communtiy Art Association
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Color Marketing Group - the premier international association for color design professionals
Mari Kono’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
