| Monday, August 18, 2008 |
| My 1001 Cranes Weekend |
 What a whirlwind of a weekend! It was the official launch of 1001 CRANES and it began at the Japanese American National Museum on Saturday, August 16. Here I'm reading an excerpt. (Photo courtesy of Diane Siegel of the Pasadena Museum of History--thank you, Diane!)
 The book launch was only a small part of the museum's Summer Festival on the Courtyard. There were craft and other activities galore. The theme involved contemporary twists on tradition, in honor of the museum's current Living Flowers exhibition. The volunteers held a contest on creative flower-like arrangements. One group knitted baby socks and created a beautiful display. The socks will eventually be donated to a premie hospital unit.
 The winning entry used recycled items.
 Can you see the straws, soy sauce takeout packages, cork screws, etc.? It was amazing. This is truly Japanese American art--beautiful and sensible at the same time!
 There were all sorts of craft activities. I tried my hand at making a sun print out of leaves.
 So cool, isn't it?
 And no Japanese American craft day is complete with the folding of cranes. Here volunteer June Aoki (right) teaches youth and adults how to make a crane. June and her friends have been making origami cranes for the peace memorial for Japanese American interned during World War II organized by 14-year-old Michelle Reed and Carly Gultzmann. (See early post.) June report that the volunteers have folded 2,000 so far! |
posted by Naomi Hirahara @ 11:08 AM   |
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