The Art of GamanThe Art of Gaman

GamanGaman:: Enduring the Seemingly Enduring the Seemingly Unbearable with Patience and DignityUnbearable with Patience and Dignity

Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment CampsInternment Camps

1942-1946 1942-1946

Deliphine HirasunaDeliphine Hirasuna

The Art of GamanThe Art of Gaman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9njHWrMP82k&feature=related

The Art of GamanThe Art of Gaman

Quick Write: PredictionQuick Write: Prediction

What do you think Japanese American What do you think Japanese American internee artwork will be able to tell us about internee artwork will be able to tell us about

life inside the relocation and internment life inside the relocation and internment camps?camps?

The Art of GamanThe Art of Gaman

Think-Pair-ShareThink-Pair-Share

What purpose did art serve in the relocation What purpose did art serve in the relocation and internment camps?and internment camps?

The Art of GamanThe Art of Gaman

Art as a Physical NecessityArt as a Physical Necessity

At first internees created objects to make their living spaces more At first internees created objects to make their living spaces more habitable. Barracks were often empty besides one cot for each person so habitable. Barracks were often empty besides one cot for each person so internees searched for scrap wood and tools. Scrap wood and tools were internees searched for scrap wood and tools. Scrap wood and tools were

available since the camps were still being built even as internees were available since the camps were still being built even as internees were being moved in.being moved in.

Objects Created: tables, chairs, cribs, dressers etcObjects Created: tables, chairs, cribs, dressers etc

The Art of GamanThe Art of Gaman

Art as an Emotional Necessity:Art as an Emotional Necessity:

Art eventually became a way to relieve boredom and the feeling of Art eventually became a way to relieve boredom and the feeling of uselessness the internment created within many people. Camp uselessness the internment created within many people. Camp

Administration supported the creation of art schools as a means of Administration supported the creation of art schools as a means of keeping internees happy so that they would not rebel. Arts skills were keeping internees happy so that they would not rebel. Arts skills were often self taught and objects were most often made out of the natural often self taught and objects were most often made out of the natural

materials surrounding the camp. materials surrounding the camp.

Objects Created: sculptures, paintings, brooches, baskets etcObjects Created: sculptures, paintings, brooches, baskets etc

Art as ToolsArt as Tools

Object:Object: Scissors, Pliers, and Tin Snips Scissors, Pliers, and Tin Snips Material:Material: Scrap metalScrap metal

Artist:Artist: Akira OyeAkira Oye Camp:Camp: Rohwer, ArkansasRohwer, Arkansas

Art as ToolsArt as Tools

Object:Object:

Paintings of Topaz Paintings of Topaz

Material:Material:

Pencil and paintPencil and paint

Camp:Camp:

Tule Lake, Tule Lake, CaliforniaCalifornia

Art as ToolsArt as Tools

Object:Object: Natural Form Natural Form

Snake Snake Material:Material:

Mesquite branch Mesquite branch Artist:Artist:

Takizo Obata Takizo Obata Camp:Camp:

Poston, ArizonaPoston, Arizona

Art as ToolsArt as Tools

Object:Object: Shamisen Shamisen Material:Material:

Wood and pink Wood and pink yarn yarn

Artist:Artist: Unknown Unknown Camp:Camp:

Rohwer, ArkansasRohwer, Arkansas

Art as ToolsArt as Tools

Object:Object:

Chair Chair

Material:Material:

Scrap lumber Scrap lumber

Artist:Artist:

Mits Kaida Mits Kaida

Camp:Camp:

Tule Lake, CaliforniaTule Lake, California

Art as ToolsArt as Tools

Object:Object: ChestChest

Artist:Artist: Yoshitsuchi Ikemoto Yoshitsuchi Ikemoto

Camp:Camp: Rohwer, Arkansas Rohwer, Arkansas

Object:Object:

ChestChest

Artist:Artist:

Frank Kosugi Frank Kosugi

Camp:Camp:

Gila River, Arizona Gila River, Arizona

HomeworkHomework

ReflectionReflection 1 page typed reflection that answers the following 1 page typed reflection that answers the following

question:question:

What does the Art of Gaman reveal about the life and What does the Art of Gaman reveal about the life and experiences of Japanese Americans within relocation experiences of Japanese Americans within relocation

and internment camps?and internment camps?

***Be sure you refer to the pieces of artwork discussed in class******Be sure you refer to the pieces of artwork discussed in class***