TRAVELING EXHIBITS
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JIMMY TSUTOMU MIRIKITANI
Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani was a fiercely independent Japanese American artist who lost his family and friends to the United States internment camps during World War II and Hiroshima’s atomic bombing. He survived the trauma of those two significant events and homelessness by creating art every day. Mr. Mirikitani passed away at age 92 on October 21, 2012, in New York City. This remarkable exhibition about the art and life of Mr. Mirikitani is a poignant exploration of the lasting impacts of war and discrimination, and the healing power of creativity. Related subjects include Japanese American internment during World War II, Hiroshima and the Atomic Bomb, 9/11 and its aftermath, the elderly and care in the U.S., and immigration to the U.S.
SINGGALOT (THE TIES THAT BIND): FILIPINOS IN AMERICA, FROM COLONIAL SUBJECTS TO CITIZENS
Today there are more than 2.5 million Filipino Americans in the U.S. Yet many, including Filipinos themselves, aren’t familiar with the details of their history in America: their experiences, rich traditions, and culture; Singgalot is their story. In 2006, the Smithsonian Filipino American Centennial Commemoration marked 100 years of Filipino migration to the United States with this insightful exhibition. Singgalot celebrates Filipino Americans as they share their struggles, challenges, and achievements with the rest of the nation.
NISEI VETERAN: COMMON STORY, COMMON BOND
Two brothers – studious Tadashi “Tad” and slacker Masayuki “Mas” – were born in Seattle’s Nihonmachi, or “Japantown,” living an American life until, as teenagers, they are incarcerated with the rest of the Japanese Americans during World War II. Hoping to win their parents’ release, they volunteer for the U.S. Army. With his Japanese-language proficiency, Tad becomes a member of the Military Intelligence Service and serves in the Pacific, while Mas ends up with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Europe. Based upon the actual experiences of Nisei veterans and their stories of combat, camaraderie and sacrifice, the two brothers undergo the hell of war and its aftermath, leading to the founding of the Nisei Veterans Committee in Seattle.
MEET ME AT HIGO
Higo 10 Cents Store, owned by the Murakami family and a social hub in Seattle’s Japantown, has a long and fascinating community and family history. Meet Me at Higo welcomes younger generations to connect with and explore what it means to be Japanese American. Impressive personal photos, journals and artifacts are included in this traveling exhibition. Today, Higo 10 Cents Store (or Higo Variety Store) is KOBO at Higo and is still located at 604 South Jackson in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District.