Round up

Maya Hata Lemmon emailed me a link to a story in the Times-News, the daily newspaper in Twin Falls. It's exciting news and I look forward to the opening of the center in 2015-2016.

Photo by Drew Nash, Times-News

The past summer was a busy one.

In June, Stan Shikuma wrote a piece for the International Examiner in Seattle that appeared just before the annual Minidoka Pilgrimage held June 20-22, 2014. There was a break from tradition and special educational programming was held separately from the Civil Liberties Symposium held on June 19-20 at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. The symposium's theme was religion and Dr. Robert Sims opened the session. An exhibition of artwork made from portraits in the Minidoka book by students at Buhl Middle School was displayed in the lobby. I enjoyed seeing these mixed media pieces. Read more about project in the Times-News story.

Photo © 2014 Teresa Tamura
Art is a way to creatively engage students with history.
Portraits from the Minidoka book were used by Buhl Middle School students.

The pilgrimage committee invited me to speak about the Minidoka book during two Friday sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Marie Matsuno Nash traveled from Anchorage, Alaska, and kindly joined me for these sessions to add her Aleut/Japanese American perspective. I reunited with numerous other people I photographed for the book, as well as had a chance to meet their family members.

I was surprised when Friends of Minidoka board member, Dan Sakura, presented Mark Elsbree, senior vice president of real estate and Northwest Director of The Conservation Fund, with my book at a BBQ and sushi dinner in Eden. I was also surprised by the imposing presence of the guard tower at the entrance to the Minidoka National Historic Site. Emily Momohara gave a moving speech at the Sunday closing ceremony, just before the official ribbon cutting.

 Tetsudan Kashima, right, receives a piece of ceremonial ribbon from Neil King. Photo © 2014 Teresa Tamura

Photo © 2014 Teresa Tamura
A guard tower replica now stands at the entrance to the Minidoka National Historic Site.

In July, Todd Mayberry, director of collections and exhibits for the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, invited to me to join him for small group tours of the exhibition, "Art Behind Barbed Wire." Paul and Taka Kogita, along with their granddaughter, Jetta, drove from Seattle to see the exhibit which included the beautiful table built by Paul's father in the Minidoka "camp" and also appears in my book. (see photo below) Kayo Lackey, a reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting, posted a story here: http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/art-behind-barbed-wire/ This exhibit closes soon – Oct. 16.

Photo © 2014 Teresa Tamura

In August, I moved to Chicago to begin a master's program at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. (The school undergoes a name change to Adler University in January 2015.) Amy Kawamoto Nishi, a young child in historic government photos of Minidoka, and her husband, Morris, picked me at O'Hare International Airport. I am grateful for their help. The people in the Minidoka book inspired me on many different levels including the idea that you're never too old to go to school. My focus is art therapy/counseling, with a personal interest in learning more about photo therapy.

I ordered Glimpses of a Forever Foreigner, the new book of poems by Lawrence Matsuda along with artwork by Roger Shimomura.

Upcoming: If you are in Walla Walla on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3:30 p.m., I will be speaking about  "The Minidoka Project" in Olin 130 on the campus of Whitman College. Daniel Forbes, director of The Donald H. Sheehan Gallery, will show the Minidoka work in the alcove spaces in conjunction with an exhibition of artwork of Makoto Fujimura. The exhibit opens on Oct. 17 and will be shown until Dec. 12, 2014.

Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Northwest Director Mark Elsbree - See more at: http://www.conservationfund.org/contacts/mark-elsbree/#sthash.kvBPZhLu.dpuf

Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Northwest Director Mark Elsbree - See more at: http://www.conservationfund.org/contacts/mark-elsbree/#sthash.kvBPZhLu.dpuf

Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Northwest Director Mark Elsbree - See more at: http://www.conservationfund.org/contacts/mark-elsbree/#sthash.kvBPZhLu.dpuf

Sun Valley, ID
(208) 726-4419
melsbree@conservationfund.org

Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Northwest Director Mark Elsbree
- See more at: http://www.conservationfund.org/places-we-work/idaho/#sthash.o7wca7hU.dpuf

Sun Valley, ID
(208) 726-4419
melsbree@conservationfund.org

Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Northwest Director Mark Elsbree
- See more at: http://www.conservationfund.org/places-we-work/idaho/#sthash.o7wca7hU.dpuf

Sun Valley, ID
(208) 726-4419
melsbree@conservationfund.org

Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Northwest Director Mark Elsbree
- See more at: http://www.conservationfund.org/places-we-work/idaho/#sthash.o7wca7hU.dpuf

Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Northwest Director Mark Elsbree - See more at: http://www.conservationfund.org/contacts/mark-elsbree/#sthash.kvBPZhLu.dpuf

Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Northwest Director Mark Elsbree - See more at: http://www.conservationfund.org/contacts/mark-elsbree/#sthash.kvBPZhLu.dpuf