Boise Art Museum

                                                                                    © 2016 Teresa Tamura 

Sandy Harthorn, then curator of art for the Boise Art Museum, called me in January 2015. She was working on a grant application for the National Endowment for the Arts new "Imagine Your Parks" initiative. This was a big year for both the NEA and National Park Service, each celebrating 50th- and 100th-year anniversaries respectively. 

The grant was funded. Sandy retired from the museum. Minidoka: Artist as Witness opens next month. Some of my photos from the book will be exhibited with artwork created by Takuichi Fujii (1892-1964), Kenjiro Nomura (1896-1956), Roger Shimomura (b. 1939), and Wendy Maryama (b. 1952). 

In preparation for a short audio recording for the museum, I remember my entry into Minidoka's history in March 2001. It began with a lecture by Dr. Robert Sims, professor of history emeritus and former dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs at Boise State University. Bob, as I came to know him, spoke about art in the camps at the Hailey Public Library. He introduced me to the work of Roger Shimomura. Roger had a new series of Minidoka paintings being exhibited at BAM the next month. My first portrait for the book was made of Roger at BAM.

This exhibition has special significance on many levels. I have heard from classmates from Nampa High School ('78 is great!), friends and family members who plan to attend the opening reception on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cost is $10 for non-members, free for BAM members. Please join us.

I hope many of you will be able to see the exhibition: Oct. 8, 2016 through Jan. 15, 2017. For hours and information, please visit: www.boiseartmuseum.org