Online exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum
Wakaji Matsumoto — An Artist in Two Worlds: Los Angeles and Hiroshima, 1917–1944 is an online exhibition and public program about an artist and pioneer in Pictorialism who documented the lives of Japanese immigrant farmers in rural Los Angeles during the early 1900s and created rare images of urban life in Hiroshima prior to the 1945 atomic bombing of the city.
The online exhibition, presented by the Japanese American National Museum, highlights rarely seen early photographs of Los Angeles prior to World War II and of Hiroshima before the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb through the single lens of photographer Wakaji Matsumoto.
"Wakaji Matsumoto's photographs of farms that were operated by Japanese Americans in the Los Angeles area demonstrate the difficult life of Japanese Americans and their resolve and resilience," says Dennis Reed, the curator of the exhibition. "His photographs of Hiroshima are the largest-known photographic archive of the city prior to the atomic bomb. Today, our knowledge of the city's horrific fate lends a pall of melancholy over these tender images. They bear the weight of history."
And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.
Gwinnett School Apologizes for Racially Insensitive Yearbook Photo
In Gwinnett County, Georgia, a photo featuring multiple students making a racially insensitive gesture -- you know exactly what racially insensitive gesture I'm talking about -- was published in an elementary school yearbook, which was delivered to families last week. Officials at Dyer Elementary School sent a letter of apology to students and families for the photo's publication. The photo showed a group of students, some of whom were pulling their eyes back. The students had apparently been told to "make a silly face" for the photo. And the adults in charge were apparently okay with said silly face. And okay with the photo. And okay with the photo's publication. And okay with distributing it to the school community. Racism! It makes a fun yearbook photo!
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Newsweek Apologizes for Op-Ed Questioning Harris Eligibility Newsweek has apologized for an op-ed that questioned Sen. Kamala Harris' U.S. citizenship and her eligibility to be Joe Biden's running mate, a false and racist conspiracy theory which President Donald Trump has not dismissed. "This op-ed is being used by some as a tool to perpetuate racism and xenophobia. We apologize," read Newsweek's editor's note on Friday, which replaced the magazine's earlier detailed defense of the op-ed. "We entirely failed to anticipate the ways in which the essay would be interpreted, distorted and weaponized," read the apology, signed by Josh Hammer, opinion editor, and Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief. But they ended the note by saying that the op-ed would remain on the site, with their note attached.
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USC Pacific Asia Museum Decolonizes Its Collections
"One institution leading the way in decolonizing its collections is the University of Southern California Pacific Asia Museum (USC PAM) in Pasadena. It has not only declared solidarity with Black Lives Matter but has announced plans to reevaluate its collection in this transformative moment. "We have a moment right now to deconstruct everything, take us down to the studs," said USC PAM director Dr. Bethany Montagano, who sees the museum as a human-centered space for social healing, "If we don't confront the fact that our collections are really loaded with the freight of racism and colonial and imperial structures, destructive forces, then we can't do that healing work."
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Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing, from San Francisco-based publisher Immedium, is an upcoming book for all ages that tells the spectacular stories of 10 women and 10 men who inspire us to change the world, brought to life with fantastic comic book artwork. Written by Phil Amara and Oliver Chin, and illustrated by Juan Calle, the book features the stories of real-life heroes such as Yuri Kochiyama, Bruce Lee, Lea Salonga, Helen Zia, Jeremy Lin and more. You can pre-order and back the book right now on Kickstarter.
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'Evil Eye': Revenge, Reincarnation, and Indian Mythology Come to Blumhouse
What if you suspected that your daughter's new fiancé was the reincarnation of a man who tried to kill you 30 years ago? That's the clever and creepy premise behind Evil Eye, a new Blumhouse horror movie that puts South Asian characters and mythology front-and-center. Directed by twin brother filmmakers Elan Dassani and Rajeev Dassani, Evil Eye tells the story of Pallavi, who has found the perfect man in New Orleans. But when she relays the news to her mother Usha back in Delhi, India, a terrifying family secret creeps to the surface. Is Sandeep the reincarnation of a man from Usha's dark past? Evil Eye premieres October 13 on Amazon Prime.
May 25 - October 20, 2019 at the Japanese American National Museum.
If you're in Los Angeles, check out this exhibit opening this weekend at the Japanese American National Museum. At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America is a multi-media exhibition that explores and celebrates the emergence of a politically defined Asian Pacific American consciousness and identity.
The exhibition chronicles the transformation of the un-American categorization of “Oriental” to the political identity of "Asian Pacific American" that rejected racist stereotypes, stood up for human rights, recovered lost histories, and created new cultural expressions. The exhibition draws from hundreds of thousands of photographs and more than 100 videos in the collections of VC, the first Asian Pacific American media organization in the country, which formed in Los Angeles in 1970 to capture and cultivate the newfound unity that was Asian Pacific America. In the present-day climate of xenophobia and racial profiling, At First Light seeks to strengthen current resistance and resolve by evoking the legacy of Asian Pacific American activism.
At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America opens on Saturday, May 25 at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. For further information about the exhibition, go here.
Bruce fans, get yourself to Seattle. The multi-year Do You Know Bruce? exhibition series at the Wing Luke Museum provides fresh and untold perspectives on Bruce Lee's life and his connection to Seattle. Part 4, A Dragon Lives Here, focuses on the martial arts icon's close local ties.
Bruce Lee spent some of his most formative years in Seattle -- learning English, attending university, meeting his future wife, and establishing his first martial arts studio. In this all-new exhibit, retrace Seattle locales special to Bruce Lee and get an up-close look at how this city also shaped his trailblazing approach.
"Bruce Lee is part of Seattle's legacy of entrepreneurship and innovation," says comedian and host of CNN's United Shades of America (and professed Bruce Lee superfan) W. Kamau Bell, who is featured in the museum's intro video for A Dragon Lives Here. "They may not know it yet, but they will: a dragon lives here."
The Wing Luke Museum seeks professional artist and writer for story of Japanese American resisters.
Calling all writers and artists! The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is launching a graphic novel project, and they're looking for a professional artist and writer to help make it happen. The project, entitled Inspiring Future Generations: Challenging the Forced Incarceration through Acts of Resistance, shares the history and significance of the Japanese American Resisters story.
The Wing is working with community stakeholders to develop content for a graphic novel, stand-alone chapter and curriculum guide, which will be distributed to schools and libraries and through the museum. An animated short produced by the Seattle Channel will also be made based on the stand-alone chapter.
This project is the second in a series of graphic novels. The first book Fighting for America: Nisei Soldiers by Lawrence Matsuda and Matt Sasaki, told the story of six World War II Japanese American military veterans.
Required materials for the submission deadline must be received no later than 4:30pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. For further information about the project, including the submission process, selection criteria and scope of work, view the two requests for qualifications below.
Opens October 1, 2016 at The Wing Luke Museum in Seattle
Bruce fans! Check it. Next week, the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle will open the third year of the Do You Know Bruce? exhibition series -- a unique look at the life, career and philosophy of Bruce Lee. Developed in partnership with Bruce Lee's wife and daughter and the Bruce Lee Foundation, it's the only interactive exhibition, outside of Hong Kong, about the influential martial arts superstar.
Featuring personal family items and memorabilia, Do You Know Bruce? gives both an intimate and wide angle approach to detailing Lee's personal philosophy as well as the external influences and circumstances that helped shaped his journey from a young student in Seattle to a global icon who continues to inspire millions.
Part 3 of the exhibition, opening October 1, is themed "Day in the Life of Bruce Lee" and explores what it took to become "Bruce Lee." You'll get a glimpse of how Bruce Lee approached his every day -- from his personal habits, routines, and work out strategies to his written and visual art, reading, and time with family and friends -- and find your own inspiration and approach to honestly and authentically expressing yourself.
The Bruce Lee Exhibit, October 3, 2015 - September 4, 2016 at The Wing
My fellow Bruce fans, this one's for you. The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience in Seattle is opening the second phase of its multi-year exhibition on the legendary martial arts icon, Do You Know Bruce? Breaking Barriers. I had the honor of writing the main panel text for the exhibit.
Featuring new and rarely seen memorabilia -- including the largest display ever of The Green Hornet toys and collectibles -- Year 2 focuses on Bruce's larger than life, stereotype-busting impact in the media and film industry. The exhibit opens with a day-long celebration on Saturday, October 3.
Paolo Porpora's "Roses" now prominently features a fist-sized hole.
Do you feel anxiety when you're in the vicinity of rare and priceless museum artifacts? You will, after seeing this video. It's like a field trip chaperone's worst nightmare come true. Over the weekend in Taiwan, a young museum-goer accidentally tripped, fell and punched a hole into a $1.5 million oil painting.
On Sunday, while attending "The Face of Leonardo, Images of a Genius" exhibition at at Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei, a 12-year-old boy stumbled on a rope barrier, lost his balance, extended his arms and made contact with an extremely valuable 17th century painting. And by contact, I mean he punched a hole in it. Paolo Porpora's "Roses" now prominently features a fist-sized hole.
Critics accused the MFA's interactive exhibit of cultural appropriation.
So... the Museum of Fine Arts Boston recently announced "Kimono Wednesdays," an interactive art event inviting museum-goers to pose in front of Claude Monet's La Japonaise while wearing a replica of the kimono worn by Monet's wife, Camille, in the painting. I don't know about you, but dressing up like a white lady dressing up like a Japanese lady sounds like a fun way to spend a Wednesday night.
As you might have guessed, some folks were not cool with this cultural cosplay, and organized a peaceful protest to call attention to issues of orientalism and cultural appropriation in the promotion. Still, the museum pressed on with the stunt despite the outcry, handing out a one-page flyer to address the criticism, and flatly stating the MFA's position on the matter: "We don't think this is racist." (Well, I guess that settles it.)
But now, as a result of the negative response, the MFA has announced that it's changing its interactive kimono experience. Instead of trying on the kimono, museum visitors will be allowed to "touch and engage" with it.
Museum-goers invited to do their best impression of Monet's "La Japonaise."
People of Boston, what better way to spend a Wednesday night than with some orientalist cultural appropriation! Plus, ya know, photos. So get this. The Museum of Fine Arts recently invited museum-goers to get their geisha on, à la Claude Monet. Every Wednesday night through the end of July, you're welcome to try on a replica of the kimono worn by Monet's wife, Camille, in his painting "La Japonaise."
Collection features artwork produced by incarcerated Japanese Americans during World War II.
Oil on canvas by Estelle Peck Ishigo.
The Japanese American National Museum announced that it has acquired a collection of more than 400 pieces of historical art and artifacts created by Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II. Plans for the items to be put up for public auction were canceled after widespread community outcry.
The museum worked through Rago Arts and Auction Center in New Jersey and the consignor to acquire the private collection, which includes painting, sculptures and photographs produced by Japanese Americans who were forcibly moved into internment campus during the war. Actor/activist (and museum board trustee) George Takei reportedly was instrumental in convincing the auction house not to go forward with the sale.
March 26 - September 23, 2015 at the Museum of Chinese in America
If you're in New York, the Museum of Chinese in America invites you Water to Paper, Paint to Sky: The Art of Tyrus Wong, an exhibition of celebrated painter, muralist, kite-maker, lithographer and calligrapher Tyrus Wong and his extraordinary body of work. It opens March 26 and runs through September 13.
Telling the untold stories in the making of America.
Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.
Help tell the untold stories in the making of America. Donate to the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), which is committed to reclaiming, preserving and presenting the history of Chinese people in the United States. Your generous gift will go towards the Museum's current institutional expansion, which will create greater opportunities for MOCA to offer increased programming, to serve a broader audience, and to develop as the national Chinese American museum.
Here are some of the Museum's highlight's from the past year:
October 11, 2014 - April 26, 2015 at the Japanese American National Museum
Hello Kitty fans, make some plans to be in Los Angeles. The Japanese American National Museum invites you to Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty, a special exhibition in celebration of the 40th anniversary(!) of pop icon Hello Kitty, running October 11 through April 26, 2015.
The first-of-its-kind exhibition will combine a product-based historical and sociological examination of Hello Kitty, including rare and unique pieces from Sanrio's archives, with an installation of mixed media works by artists demonstrating Hello Kitty's influence on contemporary art.
Hello! is curated by Christine Yano, PhD, author of Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty's Trek Across the Pacific, and Jamie Rivadeneira, founder and owner of the Los Angeles pop culture boutique JapanLA. The exhibition's six-month run will also include lectures, panel discussions and workshops.
New Bruce Lee exhibit opens October 4 at The Wing in Seattle
This is for all my fellow Bruce fans in Seattle... The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience presents Do You Know Bruce? -- a new exhibit on the life and legacy of international martial arts icon Bruce Lee. Sure, you've seen his movies, and you know he had the moves, but there's so much more to his story, which has a unique local connection to the city of Seattle.
The exhibit officially opens on October 4, with some awesome events to kick off the festivities. Here's a short promo video for Do You Know Bruce?:
Apply for a paid summer internship position with JANM in Los Angeles
Hey students! Internship opportunities! If you're going to be in Los Angeles this summer, and you would like to work in a world-class museum, the Japanese American National Museum is looking for qualified individuals to fill a number of paid internship vacancies.
Take particular note of the Exhibitions Internship. You'll get to work directly on JANM's upcoming major exhibition "Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty." Yes, they're putting together an exhibit dedicated to Hello Kitty, and you'd get to help!
April 19 - July 27 at the Oakland Museum of California
Good people of Oakland! To celebrate Giant Robot's 20th anniversary, the influential Asian art and culture mag is teaming up with the Oakland Museum of California to present SuperAwesome: Art and Giant Robot, an exhibition featuring works by fifteen contemporary artists who have been part of the magazine's social and cultural evolution. It opens Saturday, April 19:
A spicy art exhibition inspired by Sriracha and Tapatio.
This is a worthy crowd-funding campaign if I've ever seen one. Presented by the Chinese American Museum, L.A. Heat: Taste-Changing Condiments is an upcoming exhibition that offers a curated selection of artwork inspired by Sriracha and/or Tapatío from established and emerging Los Angeles artists. Are you hearing me? An art exhibition inspired by hot sauces. Say no more. I'm in.
This spicy exhibition is coming to the Chinese American Museum in March 2014 and will run through July 2014. In order to make this happen, they've launched an Indiegogo campaign with a variety of support levels. Here are some more details about the exhibition:
Created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, and running September 14 through October 27, the banner exhibition is a sweeping look at how Asian Pacific Americans have shaped and been shaped by the course of our nation's history.
The exhibition kicks off with a free opening party this Friday, September 13. Here are some more details:
Submit an original monologue or short performance piece for JANM's showcase on October 10.
Next month, the Japanese American National Museum presents the West Coast premiere of MARVELS & MONSTERS: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics, 1942-1986, a groundbreaking exhibition showcasing images of Asian characters in comics, drawn from the extensive collection of William F. Wu.
To commemorate the exhibition, JANM is putting out the call for original monologues or short performance works to be presented at the museum's "Marvels & Monsters: Unbound" Short Works Showcase on October 10. Submissions should rethink, subvert, deconstruct, or satirize the eight pop-culture archetypes depicted in the exhibition:
Hey students! Internship opportunities! If you're going to be in Los Angeles this summer, and you would like to work in a world-class museum, the Japanese American National Museum is looking for qualified individuals to fill a number of 
Next month, the Japanese American National Museum presents the West Coast premiere of