Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Canoe-building is a sacred tradition in Marshallese culture. When a canoe is carved, the whole community participates. The canoe serves the entire village, yet the carving is a special skill granted to a specific family that maintains the tradition.
Wa Kuk Wa Jimor/Canoe of One Community is a part of the Arts and Social Impact Accelerator Program (ASAP) at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. ASAP partners with local artists and communities to create arts-based solutions to address social issues in Northwest Arkansas.
Theatre artist Kholoud Sawaf was one of the 2021 Arts and Social Impact Participants, and as part of her community project her team documented the construction of a traditional Marshallese wooden canoe at Crystal Bridges. Marshall Islander and master boat-builder Liton Beasa and his team of apprentices constructed a kōrkōr, a traditional Marshallese wooden canoe used to navigate the lagoons and waters of the Marshall Islands, on-site at Crystal Bridges. Whether in search of food or to make war, navigating the waters has been essential to the Marshallese people’s survival.
Canoe of One Community is a component of the Navigating project which is a multi-year partnership between Crystal Bridges, Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, and artist Kholoud Sawaf. As part of this project, Marshall Islander and master carver Liton Beasa and his team constructed a kōrkōr on-site at Crystal Bridges over the time span of 30 days.
ABOUT ASAP
The Arts and Social Impact Accelerator Program (ASAP) cultivates partnerships with social service agencies and local artists in Northwest Arkansas. The partnerships will incubate ideas that creatively address social issues through collaboration, arts-based solutions, and socially-engaged experiences.
ABOUT KHOLOUD SAWAF
Kholoud Sawaf is a Syrian director and creator living in The United States whose work is driven by visual and physical storytelling and ensemble practice. Kholoud’s work often incorporates both movement and music, while simultaneously leading an audience on an emotional journey.
____
Visit our website: CrystalBridges.org
Sign up for eNews: bit.ly/CrystalBridges-Email
Follow us on social media
Facebook: Facebook.com/CrystalBridgesMuseum
Instagram: Instagram.com/CrystalBridgesMuseum
Twitter: Twitter.com/CrystalBridges
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/company/Crystal-Bridges-Museum-of-American-Art
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/CrystalBridges
Canoe-building is a sacred tradition in Marshallese culture. When a canoe is carved, the whole community participates. The canoe serves the entire village, yet the carving is a special skill granted to a specific family that maintains the tradition.
Wa Kuk Wa Jimor/Canoe of One Community is a part of the Arts and Social Impact Accelerator Program (ASAP) at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. ASAP partners with local artists and communities to create arts-based solutions to address social issues in Northwest Arkansas.
Theatre artist Kholoud Sawaf was one of the 2021 Arts and Social Impact Participants, and as part of her community project her team documented the construction of a traditional Marshallese wooden canoe at Crystal Bridges. Marshall Islander and master boat-builder Liton Beasa and his team of apprentices constructed a kōrkōr, a traditional Marshallese wooden canoe used to navigate the lagoons and waters of the Marshall Islands, on-site at Crystal Bridges. Whether in search of food or to make war, navigating the waters has been essential to the Marshallese people’s survival.
Canoe of One Community is a component of the Navigating project which is a multi-year partnership between Crystal Bridges, Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, and artist Kholoud Sawaf. As part of this project, Marshall Islander and master carver Liton Beasa and his team constructed a kōrkōr on-site at Crystal Bridges over the time span of 30 days.
ABOUT ASAP
The Arts and Social Impact Accelerator Program (ASAP) cultivates partnerships with social service agencies and local artists in Northwest Arkansas. The partnerships will incubate ideas that creatively address social issues through collaboration, arts-based solutions, and socially-engaged experiences.
ABOUT KHOLOUD SAWAF
Kholoud Sawaf is a Syrian director and creator living in The United States whose work is driven by visual and physical storytelling and ensemble practice. Kholoud’s work often incorporates both movement and music, while simultaneously leading an audience on an emotional journey.
____
Visit our website: CrystalBridges.org
Sign up for eNews: bit.ly/CrystalBridges-Email
Follow us on social media
Facebook: Facebook.com/CrystalBridgesMuseum
Instagram: Instagram.com/CrystalBridgesMuseum
Twitter: Twitter.com/CrystalBridges
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/company/Crystal-Bridges-Museum-of-American-Art
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/CrystalBridges
