jcccnc / about / press / 2003 summer art & dance camp concludes

SAN FRANCISCO (August 20, 2003) – For the past two weeks, starting from August 11th, the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) has been holding the stART with ART and Gotta Dance and Tumble Summer Art Camp for children ages 5 to 10. At the end of this week, the program will conclude with a big bang. There will be a fun-filled Open House featuring dance and storytelling performances and a student art showcase on Friday, August 22nd, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the JCCCNC, located at 1840 Sutter Street in San Franciscon. Call (415) 567-5505 for information.

After an exciting performance by the young dancers, Chiyo Fujihara, a stART with ART guest artist, will conduct a reading of a kamishibai, or Japanese story-telling book, followed by two kamishibai shows created by the children. Finally, take a look at the children’s works of art over the two weeks course, which will proudly be displayed at the JCCCNC Exhibit Hall. The children have experienced everything from metal bracelet making, papermaking, and sculpting, to Chinese brush painting, making shibori-dye T-shirts, and marbling. The art gallery is open to the public, and we welcome and encourage all to come and marvel at what wonders children come up with. So come join the fun and excitement at JCCCNC this Friday for a moment to enjoy artwork, meet with the local artists, and munch on snacks.

Shibori, Puppet Trees & Kamishibai - Artists-in-Residency, Field Trips and More!

According to Jill Shiraki, JCCCNC program director, this unique children’s arts education program, now in its fourth year, “introduces kids to a variety of art activities led by a rich array of artists-in-residency and guest artists from the Bay Area and beyond, in the context of the hustle and bustle of community life in Japantown. In this way, they can get a taste of how the art they are making is connected to the cultural life around them.”

This year’s Gotta Dance and Tumble program consisted of one week of instruction by Corinne Nagata, a professional modern dancer now based in New York. In the second week, students are working with local modern dancer soloist, Lenora Lee (Red Jade, SambAsia). At the August 22nd Open House, the Gotta Dance and Tumble dance camp students will perform a piece featuring improvisational movement and traditional steps like the cha-cha, directed by Lee.

During the stART with ART camp program, students explored the theme of “Storytelling through Art” with a core of guest artists. Yuki Sorrell, shibori tye-dying artist, along with her advanced level students, worked with the children to design t-shirts. Kaori Kasai, multi-media artist now based in Vancouver, led children in painting a canvas mural with movable puppets; whimsical papermaking; clay sculpture; and fanciful mobiles. Kasai’s work is exhibited and sold at various Bay Area galleries and boutiques. Chiyo Fujihara, a kamishibai storyteller from Japan led students in watercolor paintings and the creation of their own kamishibai. Fujihara is currently visiting the Bay Area from Japan, to share the captivating kamishibai storytelling tradition with more audiences. A field trip to the Mission’s Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center was also included, where students viewed nearly 40 murals and heard about the artists and stories that inspired them.

Other guest artists for the program included Lily Wong, who led a paper marbling session; Feng Chen who patiently taught Chinese brush painting; and Judy Hamaguchi, who led a copper bracelet making activity based on the National Japanese American Historical Society’s recent exhibit, “Asian Roots, Western Soil – Poetry in Metal.”

“Finally, woven throughout the two weeks, the kids read an assortment of children’s picture books which showed how art makes a difference to individuals and to the world around us,” added stART with ART coordinator, Julie Hatta.

About the JCCCNC

Envisioned by the Japanese American community, JCCCNC will be an everlasting foundation of our Japanese American ancestry, cultural heritage, histories and traditions. The JCCCNC strives to meet the evolving needs of the Japanese American community through programs, affordable services and facility usage. The JCCCNC is a non-profit community center based in San Francisco.

For more information, please contact:

Paul Osaki, Executive Director
Sandy Kajiyama, Marketing and PR Manager
Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC)
415.567.5505