November Art Walk
During World War II, the U.S. Government incarcerated more than 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese immigrants at remote incarceration centers. At many of these incarceration centers, like the Topaz Relocation Center in Delta, Utah, art flourished in spite of the adverse circumstances. Committed to transforming their living spaces and practicing creative traditions, incarcerated individuals looked to available materials to create beautiful, lifelike floral arrangements. Among many other offerings available at the Topaz Art School (founded by renowned artist Chiura Obata), Japanese Americans incarcerated in the barren, remote desert could practice ikebana, a traditional form of Japanese flower arrangement taught by Haruko Obata. Pay a visit to the Museum this fall through December 22nd to view “A Moab Prison Camp: Japanese American Incarceration in Utah,” a temporary exhibition accompanied by Topaz Stories, which lends a state-wide historical lens to this dark period of American history.

At the November Art Walk, on Friday, November 1 from 5-8 pm, learn more about Haruko Obata and the Japanese flower arrangement tradition, ikebana. With instruction from local artist, Margot Zen, create your own paper flower inspired by the artistic legacy and resilience of those incarcerated across the West.

Author Talk with E.H. Williams
On November 19 at 6 pm, the Moab Museum will host children’s book author and illustrator E.H. Williams in sharing family stories of unlikely friendship, love, and positivity through war time and through the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans across the West following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Written for children of all ages, her books tell the stories of Uncle Roy (a grumpy old man, except when he was near Okey) and of her parents, declared enemies who met after World War II.

E.H. Williams will share stories and have books available for purchase.

Topaz Stories: Screenings
On November 7 at 3 pm, we’ll screen “Soldiers’ Stories,” a virtual talk put on in collaboration between Topaz Stories and Friends of Topaz Museum.

Whether they volunteered after the attack on Pearl Harbor, were recruited from camp to fight in Europe, or ended up in Asia fighting the propaganda war, the Nisei soldiers in our stories all had one thing in common: they had family behind barbed wire in Topaz. Join us as we share “Soldiers’ Stories” by Eugene Takei, Tracy Takayanagi Hui, and Ruth Sasaki in a salute to veterans.

On November 23 at 3 pm, we’ll screen “Wartime Friends and Allies of Japanese Americans” featuring stories from Doris Yamada Yagi, Frank Kami, Jonathan Hirabayashi, and Jon Yatabe and Ruth Sasaki. Japanese American survivors have many stories of the shock of being shunned by neighbors, coworkers, and prewar Caucasian friends after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. But there are also stories of those who stood by them and helped, in small and big ways–one, at the cost of his career. Stop by the Museum for these virtual screenings of the live events held at J-Sei in Emeryville, California.

For more info call 435-259-1111 or visit www.moablibrary.org.