Name/Title
Nourishing HeritageEntry/Object ID
2023.1.75Description
Powder coated steel, wire meshType of Sculpture
Site Specific InstallationCopyright
Copyright Holder
Lauren IidaInterpretative Labels
Label
This design began as a hand-cut paper tapestry of foods commonly found and enjoyed in both Japan and the Pacific Northwest. The artist, a biracial Japanese American, grew up watching her grandmother prepare these foods with meticulous care for the family. As the artist grew older and began to research Japanese concentration camps and life for Japanese immigrants and first-generation American-born Japanese Americans, their struggles and triumphs became a profound inspiration. This artwork celebrates food as an important remnant of heritage still carried through generations and acknowledges the Japanese immigrants who introduced many of the foods and flowers commonly enjoyed in the region.