From Okinawa to Hawaii and Back Again: What It Means to Be American

 

Read my short essay "From Okinawa to Hawaii and Back Again: What It Means to Be American." The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and Zocalo Public Square invited me to write a piece inspired by one of my paintings in the exhibition "Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai'i - the art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara" on view through Sept 6, 2015 at the Japanese American National Museum.

http://www.whatitmeanstobeamerican.org/journeys/from-okinawa-to-hawaii-and-back-again/

Press coverage for "Sugar/Islands" - on view @JANM through Sept 6, 2015

Check out the press coverage so far for "Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai'i - the Art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara," curated by Krystal Hauseur, on view now through Sept 6, 2015 at the Japanese American National Museum.

Press:

Alexis Miyake, "The Secret History of Hajichi," First & Central: The JANM Blog, August 27, 2015.

"Okinawa Days at JANM," Rafu Shimpo, July 21, 2015, Life and Arts p. 1 and 4.

Heidi Kulicke, "A Double Shot In Little Tokyo: Stories of War and Island Heritage Are Highlighted in a Pair of JANM Exhibits," Downtown News, July 20, 2015, p. 14.

Darryl Mori, "Q&A with Sugar/Islands Artist Laura Kina," Discover Nikkei, July 16, 2015. Reprinted in Rafu Shimpo July 22, 2015 p. 3.

Michelle Mills, "New Japanese American National Museum shows traverse Japanese-American journey to truth," San Gabriel Valley Tribune, July 8, 2015.
Reprinted on July 10, 2015 in:
Los Angeles Daily News
Long Beach Press-Telegram
Torrance Daily Breeze
Pasadena Star-News
Whittier Daily News
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
San Bernardino Sun
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Redlands Daily Facts

"Two New Exhibitions to Open at JANM," Rafu Shimpo, July 9, 2015.

Darryl Mori, "Making Art That Matters: Sugar/Islands and Stories of Hawai'i's History," Discover Nikkei, July 7, 2015.

Allyson Nakamoto, "New Exhibition Touches on Okinawan History," First & Central: The JANM Blog, June 30, 2015.

Video, photos, press, and book for Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai'i - the Art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara

Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawaii - the art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara
curated by Krystal Hauseur
opened on July 11th and will be on view through Sept 6, 2015 at the
Japanese American National Museum
100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Artists Emily Hanako Momohara and Laura Kina with curator Krystal Hauseur

The Japanese American National Museum

Laura's family at the opening of Sugar/Islands

After the July 12, 2015 tour and book signing - Bear River Press publisher Cindy Kumagawa, artist Laura Kina, JANM VP of Programs Koji Sakai, curator Krystal Hauseur, and artist Emily Hanako Momohara.

Installation view - from JANM's facebook album.

Krystal, Laura, and Emily at the July 11th panel discussion - from JANM's facebook album.

Visitors touring the exhibition - from JANM's facebook album.

View more of Laura's snapshots from the opening
View JANM's photos from the opening
View JANM's photos from the Free Family Fun Day: Okinawa Traditions


Watch the Sugar/Islands video.
Paintings by Laura Kina and photographs by Emily Hanako Momohara explore the artists’ mixed-heritage roots in Okinawa and Hawai‘i, employing unique strategies that blend fiction and reality to question the stability of memory and identity. In this video, they discuss their families, identity, and their art.

Buy the book
In conjunction with the exhibition, Bear River Press has published a 50-page exhibition catalog with a foreword written by G.W. Kimura, curatorial essay by Krystal Hauseur, an invited essay by Margo Machida, an interview with the artists, and full color reproductions of all of the images in the show. $24 ISBN -13: 978-0-9768528-2-7; ISBN: 0-768528-2-9. The book is now available to purchase online via Bear River Press or by email: Cindy Kumagawa ckumagawa@verizon.net
Download the book order form.
Or buy the book from the JANM bookstore or online, as well as related books, from the JANM bookstore.


Press:
Heidi Kulicke, "A Double Shot In Little Tokyo: Stories of War and Island Heritage Are Highlighted in a Pair of JANM Exhibits," Downtown News, July 20, 2015, p. 14.
 
Darryl Mori, "Q&A with Sugar/Islands Artist Laura Kina," Discover Nikkei, July 16, 2015.

Michelle Mills, "New Japanese American National Museum shows traverse Japanese-American journey to truth," San Gabriel Valley Tribune, July 8, 2015.

Reprinted on July 10, 2015 in:
Los Angeles Daily News
Long Beach Press-Telegram
Torrance Daily Breeze
Pasadena Star-News
Whittier Daily News
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
San Bernardino Sun
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Redlands Daily Facts

"Two New Exhibitions to Open at JANM," Rafu Shimpo, July 9, 2015.

Darryl Mori, "Making Art That Matters: Sugar/Islands and Stories of Hawai'i's History," Discover Nikkei, July 7, 2015.

Allyson Nakamoto, "New Exhibition Touches on Okinawan History," First & Central: The JANM Blog, June 30, 2015.
 

Book Publication: Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai'i - the art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara

Book Publication July 2015 - in conjunction with our "Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai'i - the Art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara" exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum, Bear River Press has published a 50-page exhibition catalog with a foreword written by G.W. Kimura, curatorial essay by Krystal Hauseur, an invited essay by Margo Machida, an interview with the artists, and full color reproductions of all of the images in the show. $24 ISBN -13: 978-0-9768528-2-7; ISBN: 0-768528-2-9. The book will be available in the next few days on the JANM website and Bear River Press site. Book orders may be placed now via email: Cindy Kumagawa ckumagawa@verizon.net
Download the book order form.

JANM news - New Exhibition Touches on Okinawan History; Okinawan Traditions Free Family Fun Day

Read the first June 30, 2015 blog post from the Japanese American National Museum about our "Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai'i - the art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara" exhibition that opens on July 11th:
"New Exhibition Touches on Okinawan History"

In conjunction with the opening of "Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai'i," join us for a free day of performances, crafts, and activities celebrating Okinawan culture.
Enjoy Okinawan folk music by Yuna & Tida and bluegrass-inspired pop by Banjo Ai; Okinawan taiko by Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko; traditional Okinawan dances; hands-on craft activities; delicious saataa andaagii (Okinawan deep-fried pastries); and more!

For complete schedule: http://janm.org/familydays2015