SEATTLE — "The exhibition is titled, 'Side By Side: Nihonmachi Scenes by Tokita, Nomura and Fuji.' Nihomachi or Japantown, is the name that immigrants, Japanese immigrants gave to the larger communities in which they settled," said Barbara Johns, co-curator of the exhibit at the Wing Luke Museum.
The exhibit features paintings by three award winning Japanese American artists from Seattle in the '30s. According to Johns, all three were born in Japan in the 1890s, moved to the US in the early 20th century and eventually settled in this neighborhood.
"It features paintings of the '30s by three award winning immigrant generation, Japanese American artists in Seattle. Each of the three were born in Japan in the 1890s and came to this country in the early 20th century, settled in this neighborhood."
"They received a lot of recognition in the 1930s and then World War Two wiped that out,” said Johns. "During World War II, they and their families were incarcerated."
"There are about 38 paintings in the exhibition. Most of the paintings are within the immediate neighborhood around third and Yesler, Japantown," said Johns. "They're accessible paintings. They are beautifully crafted paintings of places we recognize."
With this exhibit, Johns hopes that people leave with not just an appreciation of the artists featured – but with multicultural art at large.
"I hope they come away with an appreciation of the multicultural wealth of American art, and I hope they come away with an understanding of the value of Nihomachi or Japantown and the importance of protecting and preserving what remains of it," Johns said.
"Side By Side: Nihonmachi Scenes" is on display at the Wing Luke Museum till May 11, 2025.
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