University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumnus Scott Norwood Fitzel, a renowned local sculpture artist, unveiled his latest sculpture, “Mānaiakalani,” at the Nānākuli Public Library on September 21. The freestanding stainless steel and cast glass sculpture was commissioned for the library by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts “Art in Public Places” program.
Fitzel, who earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from UH Mānoa’s art and art history department, created “Mānaiakalani” as a tribute to his deep-rooted connection to Hawaiian culture and his love for natural elements.
The sculpture draws inspiration from the legendary fishhook of Māui, a Polynesian culture figure, and the golden stars of the Mānaiakalani constellation that adorn the night sky above Nānākuli. Lit from within, the glass illuminates day and night. The artwork reminds those who see it of the popular mythology of the creation of the Hawaiian Islands.
Fitzel is a Native Hawaiian artist who was raised in Huntington Beach, California. His journey as an artist began when he discovered glassblowing in community college. His love for surfing led him to Hawaiʻi, where he continued to study glassblowing at UH Mānoa. He honed his craft and developed his distinctive style that blends his love for natural elements reflecting his desire to use materials in non-traditional ways to evolve traditional ideas into new techniques.
