On September 17, 2022, Bryce Kanbara, guest curator of Start Here: Kiyooka, Nakamura, Takashima, joined us at the Gallery to share more about the broader relevance of this exhibition, opening at this particular moment in time.

This year, there were significant events for the Japanese Canadian community in BC with respect to redress and the recognition of internment history. This exhibition also opened in conjunction with a city wide arts symposium Gei organized by the National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC), in collaboration with UVic with funding from the Canada Council. One hundred Japanese Canadian artists from across Canada gathered in Victoria for a three day symposium (September 16-18, 2022) at the newly restored pavilion at Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavillion, the historic site of the original Japanese tea house run by the Takata family. The Takata’s were forced to abandon the tea house in 1941 when Canadians of Japanese ancestry were sent to internment camps.

Learn more: https://aggv.ca/exhibits/start-here/#

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is located on the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples, today known as the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. We extend our gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to live and work on this territory.

Videography and editing by Marina DiMaio.On September 17, 2022, Bryce Kanbara, guest curator of Start Here: Kiyooka, Nakamura, Takashima, joined us at the Gallery to share more about the broader relevance of this exhibition, opening at this particular moment in time.
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