Heather Nagami

Last month at TDART for WWII Japanese American internment camp exhibits

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Since November, 2016 there have been three art exhibits ongoing at the Tucson Desert Art Museum (TDART) on the WWII Japanese American internment camps, two which were here in Arizona (at Poston and at Gila River).  I posted at the opening:  https://blogforarizona.net/3-exhibitions-at-tucson-desert-art-museum-on-japanese-american-internment-during-wwii/

All exhibits are closing on April 30, 2017.  TDART is open Wed. to Sundays 10 to 4 p.m., 7000 E. Tanque Verde Rd. (west of Sabino Canyon Rd.)

Particularly moving are lovely, solemn watercolors painted by Tokutaro “Kakunen” Tsuruoka (on loan from AZ Historical Society).  Here’s one of Poston Relocation Center with the guard tower and barbed wire fence:

Poston Relocation Center painting by Tokutaro Tsuruoka, photo taken by Carolyn Classen

Also as part of this exhibit,

Art of Circumstance: Art and Artifacts Created by Japanese Americans Incarcerated During WWII

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Day of Remembrance (75th anniversary of E.O. 9066 interning Japanese Americans during WWII) at Tucson Desert Art Museum

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Executive Order 9066 Day of Remembrance at Tucson Desert Art Museum, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Rd. Tucson (west of Sabino Canyon Rd.)

February 18, 2017 11:00 am-2:00 pm
“Join us to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the incarceration of over 100,000 Japanese Americans following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. War hysteria and racial prejudice allowed the government to institute a mass detention program based on “military justification.” Speakers include academic experts in history and politics from UA and ASU who have researched or have intimate knowledge of the camps.”

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Academic Panel discussion on Japanese American Internment during WWII featuring:
Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, former Legislative Aide to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye
Prof. Kathryn Nakagawa, ASU Associate Professor in Asian Pacific American Studies, School of Social Transformation, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Prof.Min Yanagihashi, UA (retired), East Asian Studies Dept.

“Acts of Translation” to be read by poet Heather Nagami at 12:30 p.m. whose work has been on display there since Nov.5, 2016. Heather’s family was interned at several of the camps.

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Discussion on “Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit: Triumphing over Adversity. Japanese American WWII Incarceration Reflections, Then and Now” featuring:
Paul Kitagaki, Jr., Photographer with Susie and Terry Matsunaga relating perspectives on incarceration from personal and family experiences.

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Photo gallery of 2nd Annual Japanese New Year’s Mochitsuki celebration

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Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers welcoming in the New Year of the Sheep
Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers welcomed in the New Year of the Sheep

On January 10, 2015 the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition (SAJCC) sponsored their 2nd Annual mochi pounding celebration for the new Year of the Sheep.  Here are photos of that lively event, held at the Rhythm Industry Performance Factory, home of Odaiko Sonora (taiko drummers), 1013 S. Tyndall Ave. All photos except for the last one taken by freelance photographer James Tokishi.

Tracy, Nicole and Karen from Odaiko Sonora pounding mochi
Tracy, Karen and Nicole from Odaiko Sonora pounding mochi

 

Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers performing
Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers performing as mochi is being pounded

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