The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946

January 22 – March 30, 2008

Akira Oye, Cow Carving, Akira Oye took up wood carving while interned at Rohwer, during which time he carved the figures of many familiar animals and birds. After the camp closed, he never carved again. Reprinted with permission from The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946. Copyright © 2005 by Delphine Hirasuna, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. Photo Credit: Terry Heffernan.
Akira Oye, Cow Carving, Akira Oye took up wood carving while interned at Rohwer, during which time he carved the figures of many familiar animals and birds. After the camp closed, he never carved again. Reprinted with permission from The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946. Copyright © 2005 by Delphine Hirasuna, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. Photo Credit: Terry Heffernan.

This exhibition is based upon the book The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946 by Delphine Hirasuna (Ten Speed Press, 2005) and was first held at the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art. The touring exhibition has been organized by the William Benton Museum of Art, University of Connecticut, and the Oregon Historical Society in collaboration with the National Japanese American Historical Society. The Benton presentation is made possible with the support of the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism and the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference Center, and in partnership with the University of Connecticut Asian American Cultural Center, Asian American Studies Institute, and the Foundations of Humanitarianism program.

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