It’s M.A.D.ness, I tell you, M.A.D.ness!

Maria Kwong Leave a comment

Yes, today is the first day of our Spring Member Appreciation Days (May 11-13), and we are fielding the online orders that you members were all saving for the special 20% discount (certain restrictions apply!)

But don’t forget the other benefits of May M.A.D.ness–your current/valid JANM membership card will also get you free admission and a 20% store discount (certain restrictions apply) at 19 other Southern California cultural institutions! That means a whole weekend of cultural inspiration and shopping at places like LACMA, MOCA, Pacific Asia Museum, the LA Public Library Store, and MORE! We even have a few partners further south–Orange County of Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. You can find a complete list of our partners here.

Not a member yet? You can join today at the Museum and receive a temporary membership card that will be valid at our partnering institutions.

With three days, you can visit different places in Downtown LA, the Westside, Pasadena, and points south!

Take Mom on a special date this weekend or buy her a gift membership that will be good through our next MADness in November too!

On Their Way to DC!

Allyson Nakamoto Leave a comment

We had three special visitors today at JANM. These elementary school students from Anaheim, California created a History Day Project that won at the school, county, and state levels. So next month they and their families are heading to Washington, DC for the NATIONALS!

This year’s National History Day theme is “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History” and they chose to focus on the Japanese American experience, from the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the 1988 Civil Liberties Act. Here is the link to the fantastic Web site that they created!

Major kudos to these exceptional young ladies. We’re rooting for you!

(And special thanks to Evan for the photo.)

Marie Digby

gwkimura Leave a comment

The musical artist and YouTube phenom Marie Digby is solid with JANM — and JANM is definitely down with her. Recently, Ms. Digby participated in a PSA for The Remembrance Project (www.remembrance-project.org) for JANM. (Remembrance Project is a way of commemorating folks who suffered through the US concentration camp experience and making sure that such civil rights tragedies never occur again in this great nation.)

Watching this music video of Ms. Digby’s made me think of another exhibit at JANM: Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami. So, in honor of that exhibition…and in honor of Marie Digby, JANM is posting this for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

Announcement: no @janm.org email this weekend (May 11-14)

Vicky Murakami-Tsuda Leave a comment

We will be switching email service providers this weekend. Messages to any @janm.org, @ncdemocracy.org, or @discovernikkei.org emails may not be received, so we recommend that you do not send any emails to any of those addresses between Friday, May 11 through Monday, May 14, 2012.

During this time, if you send an email, you may not receive an error message indicating that your message was not delivered. If you have sent an email and were expecting a response, please re-send your message after May 14.

If you need to reach someone at the Museum this weekend, please call 213.625.0414. However, please note that most staff will not be in the office on Saturday through Sunday.

Thank you for your understanding. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Mike Shinoda with Glorious Excess motorcycle

New Silent Auction item just added! Mike Shinoda hand-painted & signed motorcycle

Vicky Murakami-Tsuda Leave a comment

We have another amazing Silent Auction item for the 2012 Gala Dinner!

A Honda Fury Motorcycle, Hand-Painted & Signed by Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda!

Mike Shinoda with Glorious Excess motorcycleTake home this amazing customized Honda Fury motorcycle, hand-painted and signed by Linkin Park vocalist, Mike Shinoda!

This customized motorcycle was featured in Glorious Excess (Dies): Paintings by Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda (2009) at the Museum and has never been driven on the road.

Aside from his musical talents as the rapper, songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist, and rhythm guitarist, Mike Shinoda is incredibly gifted as an artist and painter. He has had a hand in most artistic facets of Linkin Park’s imagery, including album artwork, band merchandise, and on-stage production art.

The Honda Fury is the most distinctive custom Honda has ever created. Long, lean and mean, stretching nearly six feet from axle to axle, this machine literally screams with chopper style. And once you’ve saddled up and fired that big 1312cc V-twin, you’ll know you’ve experienced a motorcycle like none other.

Glorious Excess motorcycle at JANM

Terms: Includes: one (1) custom designed Honda Fury motorcycle, hand-painted and signed by Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda. Bidders must be at least 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license and able to present evidence of adequate insurance. Winner subject to verification of compliance with rules and may be required to execute liability release and affidavit of eligibility/publicity release. Other paperwork pending which may delay final delivery of motorcycle to winning bidder. The winning bidder is responsible for the pick-up and/or delivery of the Motorcycle from the Japanese American National Museum located at 100 N. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The winning bidder is responsible for any income, sales taxes or other taxes, license, title, registration and other expenses associated with receiving the Motorcycle. Winning bidder agrees to release the Japanese American National Museum, and American Honda Motor Co. Inc., from any liability, including without limitation, property loss, injury, or death resulting from participation in this auction.

Donated by: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Check out the other Silent Auction packages >>

For more information about the 2012 Gala Dinner & Silent Auction and After-Party at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live on Saturday, May 5: janm.org/dinner2012

2012 Gala Dinner After Party

2012 Gala Dinner After Party

2012 Gala Dinner this Saturday!

Vicky Murakami-Tsuda Leave a comment

Our 2012 Gala Dinner & Silent Auction is just 2 days away!!!

Staff, volunteers, and leadership are busy with the many, many final preparations for the big event. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year where we raise much of our annual operating funds. It’s also a great event to attend!

Here’s a preview of what we have planned for this Saturday night at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live:

2012 Silent Auction catalogAn incredible Silent Auction jam-packed with all kinds of great packages in 8 sections (Art, Buy-It-Now, Entertainment, Food & Wine, Luxury, Sports, Travel, and Treasures). You can get a sneak peek by downloading the Silent Auction Catalog. The Silent Auction is open during our yummy Seafood Reception hosted by American Fish & Seafood Co. and Sumitomo Corporation of America.

Our Gala Dinner & Program theme this year is Transforming a Forgotten Story, and will highlight the evolution of the Japanese American World War II story from almost forgotten to being shared internationally today. We will be presenting former Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta with our Distinguished Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement and Public Service.

The program will also include Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, author of Farewell to Manzanar and filmmaker John Korty who was the director of the made-for-TV film based on the book. Plus, a song from George Takei’s upcoming musical Allegiance will be performed!

2013 Lexus GS 450hWe will also be drawing the winner of the Lexus Opportunity Drawing where a lucky person will win a 2013 Lexus GS 450h, and a live Bid for Education where we raise money that provides free admission and buses for many school groups to visit throughout the year and learn about the Japanese American experience.

2012 Gala Dinner After PartyBut that’s not all! Our Young Professionals Network is hosting an After Party! It’s free for Gala Dinner guests, or $20 for JANM Members / $25 for non-members. Download the flyer for more details.

Check janm.org/dinner2012 for more details!

 

 

 

 

Chris Komai, George Takei, and Akira Boch

Happy Birthday George!

Chris Komai Leave a comment

Happy 75th Birthday to George Takei! The Japanese American National Museum congratulates George and thanks him for all he does for our institution, our community, and our country. Not every celebrity is as civic minded as George, but he has always made himself available when possible to support good causes and to speak out against prejudice and discrimination.

Chris Komai, George Takei, and Akira Boch
George Takei with JANM staff members Chris Komai & Akira Boch

A lot of people know George was on Celebrity Apprentice this year and then got “fired” by Donald Trump. What people probably haven’t heard is that viewers of the program responded to the classy and respectful way George conducted himself on that program and his refusal to blame anyone else. He took responsibility and then with great dignity left the program.

Since George had designated the JANM as his charity, viewers made donations in George’s honor to the Museum right after he was let go.

Today, George is working very hard at creating a musical telling the story of what happened to George, his family, and thousands of innocent Japanese Americans during WWII. The government forced our families to leave their homes and over 120,000 were imprisoned. George knows that it is important that story is shared by all Americans, so he is trying to get “Allegiance” to Broadway.

Happy Birthday, George. You are a great American!

Ben Sakoguchi show in Culver City

Maria Kwong Leave a comment

Just wanted to spread the word that Ben Sakoguchi has a show up at Cardwell Jimmerson Gallery in Culver City until April 21 (ends next week!) I finally got over to see it yesterday and want everyone to go see his complete “Postcards from Camp” series. The paintings from this series was my first introduction to Sakoguchi’s work and this is the first and probably the last time it will be shown publicly in its entirety for awhile. It was purchased by a private collector (who hopefully, someday will donate it to the Museum?)

Ben Sakoguchi was one of the artists in “Drawing the Line” (he’s interviewed on our DVD). Go gaze with awe at his paintings and then come to the Museum Store to buy one of his prints!

The gallery is at 8568 Washington Bl. at Cattaraugus.

April Target FREE Family Saturday — Monster Mash!

Vicky Murakami-Tsuda Leave a comment

Our next Target FREE Family Saturday theme is Monster Mash! Join us on April 14th from 11am-4pm for a full day of monster related fun & crafts for the whole family. It’s FREE ALL DAY!

At 2pm, artist, toy designer, and unofficial Kaiju* Toy and Art Ambassador Mark Nagata will talk about Kaiju toys and how they are made.

You may remember Mark from his participation in our Dreams to Dreams Custom Vinyl Toy Show in 2008 and the Year of the Labbit Custom Show in 2011.

Mark wrote an article for our Discover Nikkei website in 2007 that shared how he got interested in vinyl toys & monsters. (Read “Beyond Ultraman” >>)

 

In addition to Mark’s talk, join us for monster crafts, Kidding Around the Kitchen‘s Healthy Monster Mash Mix, face painting, caricatures, and origami.

Generously sponsored by Target, these special Saturdays are filled with fun activities giving families unique ways to learn, play, and grow together.

Check the full schedule >>

Arts & Culture in LA Survey

Vicky Murakami-Tsuda Leave a comment

Thank you to everyone who came & supported Drawing the Line: Japanese American Art, Design & Activism in Post-War Los Angeles by visiting the exhibition and attending the related public programs.

Drawing the Line was our participation in the Getty Foundation’s Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980 project, a collaboration of more than fifty cultural institutions across Southern California, which came together for six months beginning October 2011 to tell the story of the birth of the Los Angeles art scene and how it became a major new force in the art world.

All of the partners in this ground-breaking collaboration have been asked to issue a survey to its members and supporters to close out the project. The survey will collect general responses on attitudes about arts and culture in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California and is a follow-up to one conducted prior to the project launch.

Could you help us again with this follow-up survey?

Please take this brief survey to help the Japanese American National Museum and other arts institutions across Southern California plan events and exhibitions.

The survey is anonymous and takes just a few minutes. Your responses will help us understand how to improve experiences for our visitors and foster collaboration among arts organizations.

Take me to the survey >>

Thank you for your help!