‘Year of the Fire Horse’ ignites creative momentum at Common Ground in Kīlauea

Red lanterns swayed in the rain on Friday as artists and the community came together at Common Ground in Kīlauea to mark the Lunar New Year and the arrival of the “Year of the Fire Horse.”

In the lunar zodiac, the fire horse is the daredevil, symbolizing independence, creativity and bold forward motion. Organizers say the theme aligns with their vision for Common Ground to become a gathering space to anchor a growing arts community on the North Shore.

Common Ground, a hospitality & lifestyle company, is located on a 65-acre agricultural campus once home to Kīlauea Sugar Plantation and Guava Kai Plantation on Kauaʻi.

Ivory Lloyd, director of brand and events, said she was inspired by the grounds she grew up on and wanted to create a space that honors the history of Common Ground.

“When I was growing up, this was the guava plantation, and that’s when a lot of the immigrants came over, so we have a cultural appreciation for Portuguese culture, Chinese, Japanese, especially, on this property,” she said. “We are always thinking back, like what would honor them, and the history that made this place what it is now, so that was actually how this event came about.”

The Lunar New Year event was held at The Warehouse, highlighting “Heirlooms in Motion,” a curated presentation by Nohona x Darius, along with a live tea ceremony led by Brittney Valverde.

Works ranged from contemporary visual art to analog photography, reflecting what organizers describe as a cross-section of North Shore creativity. Artists Mary Forrm, Alyssa Wichman, Matt Hoyme, Sally French, and Wayne Zebzda showcased their “Year of the Fire Horse” pieces.

Pui Tiffany Chow, assistant professor of art at Pomona College in Claremont, flew in from California specifically for the Common Ground event. Her work examines the female form through pointed art-historical references. She has participated in group exhibitions nationally and internationally.

French, whose Double Dog Dare art studio in Kalaheo offers printmaking residencies to emerging and established artists, showcased her “Year of the Horse” pastel drawing with atomized acrylic on gessoed rag paper.

“The images of the horses draw from my 1987 pastel of horses dancing across the sky, ‘Have A Ball,'” she said. “Here, we view the night sky over open ocean, in which forms can be recognized, yet as a sign of our times, are abstracted and obscured in uncertainty.”

Lloyd said she and the Common Ground team are always thinking about: “How we can uplift? How we can stay rooted? Because at the end of the day, this place and the people here is what transforms everything that we do. …

“What does the community need, and what do they like excel at?

Lloyd said Common Ground decided to bring creatives, mediums and artists together because “there is a need for the North Shore to go out and just hang out, have good food, and see other artists. We want to invite all cultures, all influences.”

The Trojan Horse, which served as the centerpiece of the event, was presented by artist Wayne Zebzda.

He began creating public installations in the 1970s on the streets of San Francisco, where he attended the San Francisco Art Institute. The Trojan Horse is inspired by a small plastic toy figurine he found that was missing its head and some of its limbs and hoofs.

“I can’t remember where I found it, and I don’t know where it’s from,” Zebzda said.

But he said despite being disfigured, “It is still stoic.”

Lloyd added that she welcomes artists both local and international to share their work with the North Shore.

“Although we are under construction, we want everyone to stay tuned for all the exciting new things coming to Common Ground,” she said.

Common Ground, known for its lei and dinner experience, agricultural tours and community events in Kīlauea, continues to expand its cultural programming. To view its monthly calendar of events or to book an event, click here.