Japanese American Internment Project
Join Community Works NYC, The Interchurch Center and our Community Matters NYC partners at a special reception for the New York premieres of the Japanese American Internment Project: If they came for me today…East Coast Stories and Spirit of Community: Japanese American Artists exhibitions on:
Thursday, September 19, 2013, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
The Interchurch Center
475 Riverside Drive (between 119th Street and 120th Street)
RSVP to 212-459-1854 or email performances@communityworksnyc.org
“The Japanese American Internment Project: If They Came for Me Today… East Coast Stories • Spirit of Community: Japanese American Artists” - In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which granted redress and reparations to Japanese Americans interned during World War II, Community Works NYC explores the impact of civil injustice and its resonance over generations in two related exhibitions. Through photographic portraits and reminiscences, “If They Came for Me Today…East Coast Stories” explores the lives of seven men and women from New York who were interned or impacted by the internment of Japanese American citizens during World War II. This living history exhibit, developed with NYC students who conducted the interviews, teaches us the importance of civic engagement, emphasizes that historical events are always linked to powerful personal stories and demonstrates the longstanding effects of civil injustice. The seven profiled are: Tomie Arai, Natsu Ifill, Akemi Kochiyama, Suki Terada Ports, Tadashi Tsufura, Koho Yamamoto and Theodora Yoshikami.
A companion exhibit, “Spirit of Community: Japanese American Artists,” features the work of two of the honorees, Tomie Arai and Koho Yamamoto, and of Dorothy Imagire, all of whom use their art to comment on history and to promote social change. “The Japanese American Internment Project: If They Came for Me Today… East Coast Stories and Spirit of Community: Japanese American Artists” are public art and education programs of Community Works NYC. For more information, please contact: Barbara Horowitz: bh@communityworksnyc.org. (Treasure Room Gallery) September 9 – October 11, 2013