2023 is not yet over: we have two exciting new stories coming up between now and 2024. But as the new year approaches, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our contributors, team members, subscribers and followers for their support.
2023 was a “development” year; while our exhibit traveled in Utah via the Utah Division of Arts and Museums Traveling Exhibit program, we recuperated from the year-long exhibit in the Utah State Capitol in 2022; we shared a few Topaz Stories at an event in Manzanar in June; we “reeled in” an astonishing 16 new stories (some upcoming in early 2024)–some of which have been “cooking” since 2021 (this brings our total to more than 90 stories on our website); and we made plans for next year.
Looking ahead: 2024 is looking busy for us. We will present “Topaz Stories: Through the Eyes of Children” on Feb. 24 at Rosie the Riveter Visitors’ Center in Richmond, CA (details to be shared later). We are also in discussions to mount one or two more Topaz Stories exhibits in the SF Bay Area.
We are a small group of volunteers but we have big dreams. Wishing you and your dreams the best in the coming year!
The Topaz Stories Team
Contact us if you have a Topaz Story to share.
Follow us on Instagram @topazstories
Media Coverage:
Read Internee’s story told with ‘Topaz Collages’ (Wheel of Dharma, Vol. 5, Issue 3, March 2023).
Watch Topaz survivors tell their stories (abc4 news, 4/22/2022)
Listen to the “In the Hive” podcast with interviews with Ann Dion, Jonathan Hirabayashi, and Topaz survivors Jeanie Kashima and Joseph Nishimura (KCPW, 4/28/2022)
Read How a Utah exhibit about Topaz Camp looks to find empathy in ‘an ugly stain on American history (ksl.com, 4/22/2022)
Read “Topaz Stories rise from the dust,” (Department of Culture & Community Engagement, 4/2022)
Listen to KQED Forum, Day of Remembrance interview with Ruth Sasaki, 2/15/2022
Listen to Max Chang and Ruth Sasaki interviewed (KRCL RadioActive, 2/9/2022
Read On Topaz Stories and ‘Authentic Voice’, the Discover Nikkei interview with Ruth Sasaki (10/14/2022)
Listen to Remembering the Japanese American Incarceration, the Topaz Stories podcast with Ruth Sasaki and Jonathan Hirabayashi (6/2/2021)