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Na Omi Judy Shintani’s Dream Refuge for Children Imprisoned


  • Japanese American Museum of Oregon 411 Northwest Flanders Street, Suite 100 Portland, OR, 97209 United States (map)

The Japanese American Museum of Oregon presents Na Omi Judy Shintani’s Dream Refuge for Children Imprisoned, an installation exploring the trauma experienced by children that have been incarcerated. Shintani has arranged cots, life-sized drawings of children, space blankets, and woven fabrics into a circular formation in the museum, creating a sacred space for listening to the stories of those incarcerated. The piece draws parallels between Japanese American children held at concentration camps during WWII, Native American children who were denied their culture at boarding schools, and Central American children separated from their families and currently living in unsafe conditions at the border.

Shintani started the project with a drawing of one Japanese American girl that represented those children imprisoned in American concentration camps during WWII. She stuffed the girl’s mattress with hay and “was instantly transported to that time, experiencing the smell and itchiness, and the insult of having to make my bed to sleep in a horse stable.” Shintani then added to the project, drawing more children, including young Native Americans who were isolated from their families and culture at boarding schools and Central American children who are imprisoned at the US-Mexico border in the present time.

The artist also collected stories and testimony from people who had been incarcerated as children—she sent out email questionnaires and conducted interviews. Passages of the stories can be heard playing throughout the exhibition. Binders containing the full interviews will be available at the museum.

A community altar will be set up at the museum during the exhibition where attendees can contribute by writing down their own thoughts and blessings.

There will be an opening reception for Dream Refuge at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon on April 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the artist in attendance.

About The Japanese American Museum of Oregon
The mission of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon is to preserve and honor the history and culture of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest, educate the public about the Japanese American experience during WWII, and advocate for the protection of civil rights for all Americans. Formerly known as the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, our museum is a venue for culture and research as well as an invaluable resource for exploring Nikkei experiences and their role in Oregon’s multicultural community. Our permanent exhibit space highlights Issei immigration and early life in Oregon, Nihonmachi (Japantown), and the experience during World War II through Nikkei life today.

Website: https://jamo.org/exhibits/na-omi-shintani-dream-refuge/

Visitor information: Open Friday-Sunday, 11am - 3pm

ALT Text: 12 white cots with children drawn on them are placed in a circle. In the center, more drawings of children lay on top of space blankets and woven fabrics.

Cost: Free

Venue Type: Museum

Event Type: Exhibition

Diversity: AAPI , Women/Femme

Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible