Honolulu Community College student discovers art to deal with abuse

Posted: Jul 5, 2011

HONOLULU -- Artist Solina Wilhelm, is a product of rape, was abused, abandoned, is living with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and most recently, was severely injured in a hit-and-run car accident. While looking for her husband’s class at Honolulu Community College faith would have her run into art instructor Rebecca Horne who recognized Wilhelm’s suffering. After a heart-to-heart talk, Horne encouraged her to enroll into art classes.

 

The following semester, Wilhelm attended her first art class at Honolulu CC and she continues to awe audiences today. Her collection consists of watercolor paintings, acrylics, mixed media, sculptures, ceramics, oils paintings, photography and much more. Wilhelm sees something and desires to learn how it was created. She then makes it her own by putting her life experiences in each creation, telling a very personal story. "It is important that I do it with my heart. Each work of art is a gift from me and my heart needs to be in it,” she explains.

 

Wilhelm is currently studying art at the Honolulu Academy of Arts VSA (Vision, Strength and Artistic access) program under the instruction of Creative Director Kathleen O' Bryan. The program allows Wilhelm to take art class, fosters opportunities for her to sell her work, and allows her to learn about being an artist so that she can independently generate income.

 

Beginning on Friday, July 8, Wilhelm’s artwork will be on display at the Honolulu Academy of Arts for an entire month. The public is welcome to a special opening event at 5 p.m. Her artwork – "Solina Wilhelm: From The Inside Out" and "The Art of Solina Wilhelm" – is featured on YouTube.

 

“I am forever grateful to Ms. Horne and Honolulu Community College for helping me discover my talent. Now I have a platform to help, not only myself but others as well, heal from the pain and suffering endured in my life,” shares Wilhelm.

  

 

For more than 90 years Honolulu Community College has been serving the community as a comprehensive community college in the heart of Honolulu meeting the post-secondary educational needs of individuals, businesses, and the community. Honolulu Community College is a fully acrredtied college with the most complete offering of career and technical programs in the Community College system – 23 programs in all, in addition to a highly successful Liberal Arts program. For more information visit www.honolulu.hawaii.edu.