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***