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The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946
In 1942, Executive Order 9066 mandated the incarceration of 110,000 Japanese Americans, including men, women, children, the elderly, and the infirm, for the duration of the war. Allowed only what they could carry, they were given just a few days to settle their affairs and report to assembly centers. Businesses were lost, personal property was stolen or vandalized, and lives were shattered. The Japanese word gaman means "enduring what seems unbearable with dignity and grace." Imprisoned in remote camps surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by soldiers with machine guns, the internees sought courage and solace in art. Using found materials at first and later what they could order by catalog, they whittled and carved, painted and etched, stitched and crocheted. What they created is a celebration of the nobility of the human spirit under adversity. THE ART OF GAMAN presents more than 150 examples of art created by internees, along with a history of the camps.
". . . demonstrates the poignancy of the internment experience and the strength of the human spirit."—Alaska Airlines Magazine
". . . demonstrates the poignancy of the internment experience and the strength of the human spirit."—Alaska Airlines Magazine
128 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 28, 2021
I learned about this book from this article, well worth reading in its own right: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/26/st... . Gaman, as Grace Loh Prasad explains in that article, means "to bear the unbearable with patience and dignity."
This is one of the most visually beautiful books I have seen in my entire life. I can't remember when I last saw so many exceptionally lovely, excitingly varied, emotionally rich, and imagination-stirring images collected in one place.
In addition to its aesthetic value, of course, this book is also invaluable for documenting -- from a different angle than usual -- a period, and a cohort of human beings, in the United States' history that we must make sure all Americans know and never forget. One of the artists, George Tamura, when asked why his watercolor landscape paintings of the Tule Lake concentration camp were bare of human presence, responded matter-of-factly, "I felt that this was simply no place for people to be living."
Lastly, I believe this book also has spiritual value, in that it reminds us of how absolutely anything can be turned into material for art (the artists in the book were driven by the strictures of their imprisonment to find inspiration in common pebbles, the smallest bits of discarded wire and scrap paper, etc.), how meaningful it can be to live an environmentally sustainable life where nothing is allowed to go to waste unregarded, and how anyone, no matter their age or level of training, has the innate potential to become an artist. What a testament to the human spirit -- I'm itching to shelve this on my "poetry" shelf, even though it's prose and pictures!
This is one of the most visually beautiful books I have seen in my entire life. I can't remember when I last saw so many exceptionally lovely, excitingly varied, emotionally rich, and imagination-stirring images collected in one place.
In addition to its aesthetic value, of course, this book is also invaluable for documenting -- from a different angle than usual -- a period, and a cohort of human beings, in the United States' history that we must make sure all Americans know and never forget. One of the artists, George Tamura, when asked why his watercolor landscape paintings of the Tule Lake concentration camp were bare of human presence, responded matter-of-factly, "I felt that this was simply no place for people to be living."
Lastly, I believe this book also has spiritual value, in that it reminds us of how absolutely anything can be turned into material for art (the artists in the book were driven by the strictures of their imprisonment to find inspiration in common pebbles, the smallest bits of discarded wire and scrap paper, etc.), how meaningful it can be to live an environmentally sustainable life where nothing is allowed to go to waste unregarded, and how anyone, no matter their age or level of training, has the innate potential to become an artist. What a testament to the human spirit -- I'm itching to shelve this on my "poetry" shelf, even though it's prose and pictures!
April 13, 2018
I picked this up on a whim and figured it would be something to browse over a few days' time.
Two hours after starting it, I realized I was at the end.
This book is really well done. The author starts with an brief history of the internment of Japanese people in the US during WWII, then goes on to describe some of the conditions in the camps. It's not a huge amount of detail -- for that, she suggests several other excellent books -- but just enough to put the arts into context. Then follows pages upon pages of beautifully photographed arts and crafts that were produced by the prisoners (hey, let's call it what it was: they were held prisoner) in these far-flung and desolate surroundings. The art is amazing. So many beautiful things made with the most basic tools and supplies.
I read this as an e-book, and have high praise for how well the book navigated and was linked. I do think the e-book format can't begin to do the photographs justice, so suggest finding a print copy to fully appreciate the art.
Two hours after starting it, I realized I was at the end.
This book is really well done. The author starts with an brief history of the internment of Japanese people in the US during WWII, then goes on to describe some of the conditions in the camps. It's not a huge amount of detail -- for that, she suggests several other excellent books -- but just enough to put the arts into context. Then follows pages upon pages of beautifully photographed arts and crafts that were produced by the prisoners (hey, let's call it what it was: they were held prisoner) in these far-flung and desolate surroundings. The art is amazing. So many beautiful things made with the most basic tools and supplies.
I read this as an e-book, and have high praise for how well the book navigated and was linked. I do think the e-book format can't begin to do the photographs justice, so suggest finding a print copy to fully appreciate the art.
May 23, 2023
Devastatingly powerful and beautiful homage to Delphine’s parents, and their entire generational experience. Never forget that powerful racist assholes imprisoned tens of thousands of American citizens, median age 17, without trial or recourse. My parents generation witnessed this, and some profited from it directly, it isn’t ancient history. These families lost everything, yet most kept a truly courageous dignity, glistening in these beautiful pages.
Many of the displayed artifacts are breathtaking, and her family experience deserves every America’s solemn witness.
Many of the displayed artifacts are breathtaking, and her family experience deserves every America’s solemn witness.
March 31, 2019
The art is stunning! The story behind it... heartbreaking.
October 24, 2011
Although this is more of a coffee table book, it is fascinating. Gaman (accept what is with patience and dignity) was practiced by the Issei (1st generation Japanese immigrants) and their families when they were relocated to internment camps during WWII. The living conditions were extremely primitive;they could only take clothing and some household goods - what they could carry with them when they left their homes. When they reached the internment camps, which had been thrown together with raw woods, there was no furniture other than beds, so they scavenged wood scraps to make tables & chairs. There were no activities, so they started their own school for the children and programs and arts & crafts classes for anyone wishing to attend. Materials used in the arts & crafts included shells, rocks, small pieces of wood, twine from string bags that had held vegetables, anything they felt might be used again. The works of art they created are beautiful. The book is a lovely tribute to the author's parents and grandparents and all those who were forced into the camps by the U.S. government.
June 4, 2024
This book is beautiful. The overview of the incarceration at the beginning gives enough detail for someone with no knowledge to be able to navigate the book with context without getting into minute specifics. The photographs are beautifully shot and the accompanying text points out details that the reader may have missed. I do wish there were more entries about textile art, but it’s understandable that much of the book focused on art using Indigenous materials that incarcerated Issei could forage around the camps. For those who are familiar with the incarceration, this book highlights a component that is often overshadowed. It strikes a tricky balance between pointing out the incredible resilience of internees and expressing how deeply unjust the entire incarceration was.
October 6, 2018
The Art of Gaman or “perseverance” showcases the arts and crafts created by some of the more than 120,000 Japanese-Americans incarcerated in internment camps during World War II. It is a beautiful book recording a terrible injustice in our nation’s history, and how those who suffered from it coped with that injustice by creating things of beauty.
January 3, 2020
Fascinating book. The ebook formatting was not particularly well-done, but the art and ingenuity of the Japanese people in concentration camps is stunning. We should forever feel a deep shame for putting people into concentration camps then and we should feel an even deeper shame that we’ve allowed this to happen again with migrants now.
September 9, 2020
Absolutely stunning book. I think it’s a must read for all Nikkei - and I hope anyone willing to learn about the indignities of the treatment of Japanese Americans during WWII will read this book.
It shows the spirit of gaman within the hearts of a group of people who were greatly wronged by the US.
It shows the spirit of gaman within the hearts of a group of people who were greatly wronged by the US.
June 21, 2018
Incredibly beautiful handcrafted items from refuse, little treasures from a million personal hells.
June 9, 2021
To me, the word "gaman" translates as persevere, endure or bear up - it's not a thing one does lightly. It's from deep within.
May 31, 2022
3.5 stars
January 24, 2016
The author opens the book with an explanation of what happened at the start of the internment process. She includes some good photos with this. After this section, she moves on to the main part of the book, showing the kinds of arts and crafts things that were made in the camps.
They are nothing less than absolutely amazing. Working without free access to the normal tools of artists, the artists in the camp made objects out of wood, stone, shells and thread. They also did a lot of really good drawings.
The book is very large, dimension-wise, and this helps to bring out the full beauty of these objects that were created. The colors are incredibly; the detail in the work is nothing less than amazing. Even in places as ugly and controlled as were the camps, great beauty could still arise and flourish.
They are nothing less than absolutely amazing. Working without free access to the normal tools of artists, the artists in the camp made objects out of wood, stone, shells and thread. They also did a lot of really good drawings.
The book is very large, dimension-wise, and this helps to bring out the full beauty of these objects that were created. The colors are incredibly; the detail in the work is nothing less than amazing. Even in places as ugly and controlled as were the camps, great beauty could still arise and flourish.
November 2, 2025
Gaman, a Japanese word that means "enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity"
This book is in a sense a tribute by Delphine Hirasuna to her parents. After the death of her mother she found a bird pin. This find sent Hirasuna on a search for what other items could be found that were made in the Relocation Camps.
There is brief overview of the sentiment of the country at the start of the war, the relocation, and how the some of the Japanese/ Japanese American tried to adjust to their confinement. Then there is the art.
The art shown is beautifully photographed. That these items could be made from nothing is stunning. Gaman.
This book is in a sense a tribute by Delphine Hirasuna to her parents. After the death of her mother she found a bird pin. This find sent Hirasuna on a search for what other items could be found that were made in the Relocation Camps.
There is brief overview of the sentiment of the country at the start of the war, the relocation, and how the some of the Japanese/ Japanese American tried to adjust to their confinement. Then there is the art.
The art shown is beautifully photographed. That these items could be made from nothing is stunning. Gaman.
April 25, 2008
This is a beautiful book; it accompanies an art show for which Hirasuna, the daughter of detained Japanese Americans, collected arts and crafts from survivors and descendants of Japanese Americans Internment Camps in the US. The arts and crafts capture the pathos of life in the camps; the photography and layout in the books is beautifully done.
August 25, 2010
I must admit I didn't "read" all of this book...I loved seeing all the collected forms of art that remain from the Japanese-American internments camps from the early-mid 40's...a true monument to the creativity and spirit of so many!
August 19, 2010
Saw recent show at DC's Renwick Gallery.
Read
November 29, 2010Fascinating.
March 29, 2011
I am so grateful to the author of this book for putting together the works of these artists, I have the utmost respect for them!!!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews