Hoʻākea Source 2025 Grant Awardees

Manini Collective

Johnny Macas-Freire
2025 Grant Recipient

Manini Collective is a Hawai‘i-based initiative reimagining the possibilities of painting through collective practice, including artists Eduardo Joaquin, Lauren Hana Chai, Grace Milk, Kaila Foltz, Cyan Garma, and Johnny Macas-Freire. Challenging the traditionally solitary nature of painting, Manini Collective explores new approaches to technique, material, and narrative through sustained dialogue, critique, and collaboration.

The first phase culminates in a group exhibition, a zine, and a series of three public critique sessions that invite other artists into the conversation, fostering deeper community engagement. Rooted in respect for place and community, Manini Collective engages with a range of voices—including local artists, peers, and kūpuna—whose perspectives deepen the groupʻs understanding and broaden the scope of inquiry. This grant supports the foundational stage of a shared vision: to explore how painting can operate as a collaborative practice, and to initiate a universal dialogue around its evolving potential.