COMMEMORATING: The 75th Anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombings

There was to have been a well-orchestrated commemoration centered at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when the athletic events would have been halted at the exact moments of the bombs dropping on Hiroshima August 6th 75 years ago and on Nagasaki on August 9th. My dear friend, Richard Fukuhara, had been orchestrating a ringing of bells throughout the country at those two moments in coordination with the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki until his untimely death last year. The global pandemic has forced the cancellation of the Olympics and prevents the full range of public programs planned throughout the world. This occasion must not pass by unnoticed.

This is also the 25th Anniversary of my Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial Project that I pursued to coincide with the auspicious 50th Anniversary of the bombings. The project was organized around an exhibition of my 35 paper sculptures reflecting the human devastation of the bombing. It garnered broad support of government and community organizations in the US and Japan, making possible exhibitions and programs without any major financial support. The exhibition was shown at LA Artcore in Los Angeles and traveled to the University of Hawaii, UC Berkeley, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Osaka with community and educational programs, dance performances and related arts events at each venue.

I invite you to view the contemporaneous YouTube video of my walk through of the exhibition:

The Iona Pear Dance Theater (now Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre) under the direction of Cheryl Flaharty, produced an amazing interactive Butoh-influenced performance inspired by the exhibition:

As a fundraiser for the traveling exhibition, I produced a limited edition folding screen in handmade paper packaged in a Japanese style portfolio. I still have 2 sets left at $750.00 each. Please contact me if you’re interested.

I have never been content to simply produce artwork, but to find vehicles whereby I can bring the art into a context whereby it can stimulate reflection and change on broad social issues. The Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial Project is part of this Social Practice.

I am always seeking to build a wider community around art and social issues. To learn more about my art, visit my artist website.

(PAPER: Social Practice book available for purchase here)