MARIANNA RYDWALD Muralist Extraordinaire – 1997

Mural artist MARIANNA RYDWALD visits with Jason Schwartz at Maui now University College lounge. The art is now (2020) gone as well as full remodel of the space in the Student Union building

Summary & Timestamped Transcript Below…

[00:08 → 01:13] Opening Song and Inspirational Message
The video opens with a rhythmic, uplifting chant emphasizing “Maui Stylin” as a way of life, encouraging viewers to embrace positivity and community support. Lyrics focus on themes of:

• Sunshine in the heart
• Looking to the heavens for renewal
• Reaching out to help family and community
• Love within the family unit
  The tone is motivational, promoting perseverance and mutual aid.
• [01:13 → 03:10] Introduction to Marianna, the Artist
  Jason Schwarz of Dream Makers introduces Marianna Rydvald, a Maui-based artist known for her spiritual and public artworks.
  Key points:
• Marianna is recognized mainly for her spiritual deity paintings and cards, especially images of Tara (a Buddhist figure).
• She has created public art that is less well-known but deeply significant.
• The interview takes place in front of her large mural titled “The Journey to Shambala.”
• [03:10 → 05:35] Discussion of “The Journey to Shambala” Mural
  Marianna explains the background and meaning of this mural:
• Painted 20 years ago in Pasadena, Los Angeles, for a World Symposium on Humanity—a gathering focused on kindness, generosity, and new ways to improve the world.
• The mural depicts children of various nationalities, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers traveling to Shambala, a mystical realm symbolizing love, wisdom, and enlightenment.
• The grandmother figure in the mural reminds Marianna of Queen Liliʻuokalani, a Hawaiian queen known for her commitment to education and virtues for children.
• Marianna connects this work with Indigenous leaders she met at the symposium, including Native American chiefs.
• [05:35 → 07:59] Marianna’s Artistic Background and Influences
  Marianna shares her artistic journey:
• Began painting from a very young age.
• Studied at the Academy in Stockholm, specializing in fresco painting.
• Traveled to Mexico to study the works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, gaining inspiration from their styles.
• Painted public murals and volunteer projects in Scandinavia, including in Christiania—a former military base turned social experiment community.
• Invited to India to paint a temple mural depicting the life of the Buddha in a Tibetan temple style, blending Indian and Tibetan art elements.
• Has also painted mythological creatures like angels and griffins in Detroit’s Orchestra Hall.
• [07:59 → 09:34] Local Commissions and Recent Work
  Marianna describes recent commissions:
• Painted a staircase mural for a friend to brighten a dark area and comfort children.
• The mural features a fairy with long gray hair and pointed ears, sitting on a rock with an opening glowing with light, alongside a troll with kind green eyes beneath the stairs.
• She emphasizes the importance of painting eyes to convey kindness and emotion.
• [09:34 → 11:22] Marianna’s Artistic Philosophy and Evolution
• Her ultimate wish is that all beings become enlightened and free from suffering, reflecting the spiritual depth in her work.
• Early works were spooky and full of fear, inspired by long dark winters in northern Sweden and feelings of loneliness and alienation.
• A transformative moment came with a dream of a “secret mother” figure, whom she later related to the Buddhist figure Tara, symbolizing primordial mother energy and good qualities.
• This spiritual connection informed her later joyful and dignified portrayals.
• [11:22 → 14:43] Community Impact and Art Preservation Vision
• Marianna expresses gratitude for support from the Maui community, including a generous local doctor who provided care regardless of payment.
• The mural “The Journey to Shambala” is currently displayed at Maui Community College student lounge.
• The duration of the mural’s display is not certain, possibly long-term but not specified.
• Marianna prefers not to sell her paintings but hopes to create a sanctuary or home on Maui where her works can be preserved and publicly accessible for future generations.
• Jason Schwarz and the Dream Makers team facilitate contact with Marianna for commissions or viewing her artwork.
• [14:43 → 18:54] Installation of the Mural and Event Background
• The mural is physically installed on the wall with assistance, brightening the student lounge with its vibrant colors.
• The mural was highlighted during a “Honoring the Feminine through Purpose, Power, and Peace” performance art event held in March.
• Marianna’s smaller murals have been used as backdrops for community events, emphasizing the integration of fine arts into education and cultural programming.
• The event involved about 200 participants and 50 performance artists, demonstrating strong community engagement.
• [18:54 → 21:00] Academic Outreach and Support
• Dr. Starfire, affiliated with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Outreach College on Maui, is introduced.
• She advises and counsels students pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degreesthrough the university system.
• Contact information is provided for academic advising, encouraging local residents to seek higher education opportunities on Maui.
• [21:00 → 24:02] Closing Remarks and Final Song
• The video closes with a reprise of the uplifting Maui Stylin chant from the beginning, reinforcing themes of community, love, sunshine in the heart, and mutual support.
• The final message encourages viewers to “pick yourself up and get on your feet”, emphasizing resilience and unity.

1. 1. 1. Key Insights & Themes

• Marianna’s Art as Spiritual and Community Healing: Her works—especially “The Journey to Shambala”—serve as symbols of universal love, wisdom, and enlightenment, bridging cultures and generations.
• Integration of Diverse Artistic Traditions: Marianna blends Scandinavian fresco techniques with Mexican muralism, Indian and Tibetan religious art, and Indigenous symbolism.
• Art as Public Service: Many of Marianna’s projects are volunteer or public art aimed at uplifting communities lacking resources.
• Preservation over Commercialization: Marianna prefers to keep her art accessible and preserved for the public rather than selling it.
• Community Collaboration: The video highlights partnerships between artists, educational institutions, and local leaders to promote cultural enrichment on Maui.
• Academic Access on Maui: Dr. Starfire’s role underscores opportunities for higher education and outreach on the island, supporting community development.

1. 1. 1. Timeline Table of Important Events & Milestones

Glossary / Definitions

Additional Notes

• The duration of the mural’s display at Maui Community College is not specified, with estimates ranging from short to very long.
• Marianna’s early “spooky” paintings reflect her personal history and environment but evolved into joyful, dignified spiritual art.
• Dream Makers and local collaborators play a critical role in supporting and promoting Marianna’s work and community arts events.

This detailed summary captures the professional and inspirational nature of the interview and the highlighted artwork, emphasizing Marianna’s contributions to Maui’s cultural landscape and the broader themes of community, spirituality, and education.

Transcript

Aloha this is Jason Schwarz of Dream Makers Mama presents you know as Dream Makers we get to get up close and personal with some very special people in our community and here’s one very special people this is Marianna say hello to the people of Maui aloha Marianna is a wonderful artist

03:10

I’ve known you many years as a um as a mom and as a wonderful mom and I’ve seen some of your art that you have on cards you did a whole series of different um I want to call them spiritual images taras yes but mainly I been painting public art NE mainly with public art see most people know her from these cards and from paintings about the spiritual deities yes but no one’s really gotten to fully explore the incredible work you do we’re sitting in front of a piece called It’s called The Journey to

03:51

Shambala the journey to Shambala done few years ago it was painted 20 years ago in pasadina El Angeles um I was invited there it was called World Symposium on Humanity uh many people came together from many different walks of life to exchange ideas how to make this planet uh more happy place and uh very good education and medical care and um new very fresh way of being uh kind kindness and um generosity and all the good qualities so um then I came and painted and there was also some native Indian

04:45

chiefs coming to speak Leonard kowok and er Peters strong big and they came and asked to borrow brushes because they were going to paint the Balo sko so they as so that I got to know them and they inv me to the first sweat lodge in the canons later on but so then I sped this one journey to Shambala which is many children from different nationalities and grandmother and great grandmother and um Shambala is a mystical realm mytical mystical realm where love and wisdom reside the love and wisdom reside reside

05:35

and beautiful and great Enlightenment and this is grandmother who when I come to Hawaii I think of the queen Lily baladi Lial from Heavenly Heavenly are Realms who I was told vir and very important for her to help the children get good education installing the good virtues have you been doing painting for a long time yes I painted since I was very young very young did you uh were you a trained painter or you just yes I studied at the Academy in Stockholm Fresco then I traveled in Mexico and studied dieo R and Ro very

06:26

inspired by the great painters then I was back in Scandinavia and painted mainly you know for free for volunteer painting because many public places don’t have money but it shouldn’t stop you to do good work right so I painted in schools um one place for Christiania that used to be a military base and then it became a social experiment because there were thousands of acres and many many buildings abandoned so many people who need a place to stay now have a home there and have created alternative

07:08

um glass blowers and keramic studio and the women’s myy this lady SMI work so then I started painting there you know and then I was invited to India to a temple um to paint the life of of the Buddha um 2,700 years ago great great being and so I studed the tradition and then painted it in that old style of Indian style but it was Tibetan Temple so it was then combined with beautiful Tibetan ornaments strong colors was nice combination those are the things I’ve seen on cards everywhere no little bit

07:59

little bit on then later on I painted in Detroit Orchestra Hall for ceiling uh a style called trlo with angels and Griffins Griffins like M like MV Griffins more mythical beings wow mystical beings so do you paint commissions around here I mean if someone said from our audience could you do one of my house or do you I would love to do so yes yes recently I painted um a staircase for a A girlfriend of mine a very dear girlfriend of mine you actually painted on the staircase yes I painted because

08:45

she was worried that because her children was a little bit worried because it was dark there so we we decided we will change this so instead we painted l a fairy a fairy with point ears very light GRE gray long hair sitting on a big rock that had an opening in the Rock and the in this opening there’s light yes and there’s a troll too a troll under the stairs big those green eyes green and that kind tral of course and very interested in the F how do you paint kind kind eyes the eyes the eyes

09:34

if you had one wish what would it be the wish is that I mean ultimate ultimately speaking of course we wish that all all beings everything all beings all existence will be enlightened that is Ultimate wish that all beings will have happiness and free from suffering yes I you speaking this is what you do you bring it in all your paintings have that Breath of Life and happiness too not the first ones when I was very young I painted very spooky paintings oh very spooky full of fear and because I was grew up in Northern

10:24

Sweden laang and very dark minters and the things are very spooky and full of fear and the fear of alienation of being alone loneliness and and beings that I call tore that had green Wings coming from and I P them more and then later on I find out it means fear in Latin um and then quite young I experienced uh mother a secret mother I had a secret mother um she was like mother sister and someone I want to be like and I called her T and so I dreamt about her and came to her and and then on later on when I meet his

11:22

Lama in kopen hog in Denmark 72 he speaks about Tara from his tradition which is a symbol of all good qualities of the primordial mother to create mother energy so then I became very curious to study in the tradition and feeling at home in his tradition well I’ve always appreciated when I see your work I guess I don’t know the old spooky times yes I see only joy I mean looking at this image and seeing all the you do you give them great dignity and you bring them a a gentleness it’s really pretty

12:07

wonderful I feel that it’s wonderful artists can um when we all can use our pids in positive ways like like the doctors when someone is sick and they come and they don’t have any M to pay then this I met this fantastic doctor here in Maui K she is like a saint because sometimes I went to pool out with my son I have no M sometimes and she was so kind she said don’t worry and I gave her some C and she Happ don’t worry and she pleas us this is fantastic that is like what is s like sa good way instead of turning

12:53

people out from I know we’re going to have to come back and and have a a showing of more of your art okay okay cuz I know you have all kinds of beautiful things to show us but we just decided we would stop here in front of the journey to Shambala before it went up on the wall here at Maui Community College we’re actually in Maui Community College student lounge and this is going to be here for we don’t know how long how long do you any idea maybe very long maybe very long maybe very short come on short long long

13:30

I think well we want to get them to come down maybe short you have to come down no within the next four years you get a degree yes yes but we want you to to see this beautiful piece and maybe to get to know Marianna I’m sure that U do you want them to contact you you want them to contact through me contact through you okay if you call us at 573 3100 we can put you in touch with Marianna whether you want to do private work or you just like to see some of the beautiful things she’s done are most of your pieces for

14:05

sale or just for example I I really don’t want to sell paintings um I have done into all days and then they disappear and disappear in this spirit so I I’m trying to hold on to some paintings and then make a place for them here on Maui I would like to make a place like um a home for them a sanctuary or a home open for public I will give them to this place to where they can be saved and they can be seen for many generations to come that’s a great feeling great thought Marianna you’re a gift to our

14:43

Maui we uh really appreciate you coming and being with us the next time we’re going to have Ariel with us and Ariel will be doing interview of you as well okay she called and couldn’t make it she was a little bit behind today so um she’s here in spirit she here Spirit um it’s been a great pleasure in this little quick moment we’re going to take a quick Cruise along your painting so people can see it close up before we put it on the wall okay okay thank you thank you aloha aloha

15:53

boy this is a big piece aren you glad the wall ready Marana don’t hold don’t hold that don’t hold let’s see if we can get that end up Mar we need to get the table on in so you can stand on the table J come hold can we get this over let’s try to the middle one how do we do the middle H it needs to be scooped you know let’s get the other ladder inside which one the big one big one careful that’s it oh scoot she means scoot scoot okay I got one wire one is one’s yeah but we don’t have

18:06

it in the middle let’s put it on let’s put it on two wires I you got it on two yep okay all right now it’s hanging now we just need to put a ladder in the middle and go wow wow it’s beautiful brightens up the whole room last March uh we did a conference here a day of performance art called honoring the feminine through purpose power and peace and we used one of Marianna’s uh smaller murals as a backdrop for the stage and when Marianna came in this room she said oh my goodness look at that wall up there that

18:54

wall could have this beautiful mural so I went up to her Studio to look at the mural and and help to um sponsor the funding for the framing of it and the transport of it Etc and so it’s up here for people to enjoy now and it’s just a wonderful uh loan that the university system can have to encourage the just the infusion of Education with the Fine Arts it’s beautiful isn’t it yeah I love it it the colors are gorgeous they’re vibrant it makes the whole room totally come alive wonder you know when the uh

19:29

honoring the feminine Festival was on we had it on TV in fact it’s still running and I remember seeing Marianna’s piece in the backdrop and you’re right it really adds something to this room this new piece absolutely and she added something to that event that piece kind of tied the whole event together didn’t it did it did it was a beautiful beautiful piece and and as I recall you were terrific in that too you did a lot of work to make it happen well yeah I I would say that I you did a lot a lot work

20:00

produced and directed it with the keepers of the mystery and with several of the other groups in town we had about 200 people that came and involved themselves in it we had about 50 performance artists singing and dancing and we all got to enjoy it and it’s still being enjoyed by the people of Maui Because of You Jason and I really want to thank you for that we we so much appreciate all your programs well thank you for that and if it wasn’t for you it’s the stuff on the programs you see

20:29

you make my uh lens smile that’s easy well how should I introduce you to these folks are you my name is Dr Starfire Dr Starfire and I’m with the University of Havi at Manoa that’s right in manoa’s outreach program it’s now called the Outreach College here on Maui and I help to um do a lot of the academic advising and counseling sort of shepherd students towards their bachelor’s and master’s degrees and that’s a whole other program that we could do something time and

21:00

people are welcome to call me can I give my phone number oh I would love if you would 875 2432 875 2432 for University degrees bachelors and Masters through uh Manoa here on the island of Mo see that wonderful thanks Jason thank you you’ve been really a gift to us we appreciate having you on a very nice toet you I’m this is wonderful thank you thank you I’m really happy look at how it looks with the light on it it’s so vibrant it’s so a VI it brings the it’s great very good choice good work doctor

22:04

I’m so happy