The Art of Gaman: Arts & Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946
by Delphine Hirasuna, Kit Hinrichs
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Book Summary Information
Author: Delphine Hirasuna, Kit HinrichsPhotographer: Terry Heffernan
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-10-30
ISBN: 1580086896
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Book Reviews of The Art of Gaman: Arts & Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946
Book Review: Crafts behind the wire
Summary: 5 Stars
Delphine Hirasuna is to congratulated on producing a fascinating and moving tribute to the 120,000 Japanese who were interned, firstly in makeshift Assembly Centers for a few months then in Relocation Camps until 1946. It took until 1988 before a Presidential apology was forthcoming for the blatant violation of their civil rights by the federal government.
I think the strength of the book is the background to why the art and craft was produced. Hirasuna explains the rounding up process and public perceptions towards the Japanese only a few months after Pearl Harbour, the locations of the camps (as remote as possible it seems) and daily struggle in a hostile environment.
On page seventeen there is a map of the US and some camp statistics including a reference to Crystal City in Texas which bizarrely held 2264 ethnic Japanese from Latin and South America (1811 from Peru) who, having been forcibly taken to the camp, were then accused of entering the country illegally! After the war the Peruvians were not allowed to return home until Congress sorted out this injustice in 1953.
Look at the paintings, sculpture, craftwork and furniture and be amazed that most of it was created from whatever materials were available, discarded wood, sacking, vegetation, rocks, shells and anything that could be cut, woven or molded. My favourites are twenty-two brooches made from shells, ribbon and wire and they look just stunning. On pages 104-5 you can see a Buddhist shrine, five foot tall, with the most intricate carvings and hard to believe that it was probably made from firewood.
In the back of the book there is some background information about Japanese history museums and a short bibliography which strangely misses out 'Manzanar: Photography by Ansel Adams, Commentary by John Hersey'. A more recent look at the subject is 'Impounded: Dorothea Lange and the Censored Images of Japanese American Internment a portfolio of photos by Dorothea Lange', unfortunately the reproduction and design of the book don't do the photos justice.
The Art of Gaman is beautifully printed and designed (by Kit Hinrichs of Pentagram) and a suitable tribute to creativity in hard times.
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