Exhibits Happening in Jtown During Nihonmachi Street Fair
During the Nihonmachi Street Fair weekend there will be great exhibits being presented in Japantown. Come and see the artistic creativity of Leland Wong who created many of iconic poster design of the Nihonmachi Street Fair. at Studio Gen You’ll also get to see and have a hands on experience at the Washi Ningyo exhibit inside the US Bank Community Room.
Photo courtesy of Mark Shigenaga
Studio gen - leland wong at work
Leland Wong At Work exhibit features Leland’s visually stunning art and includes the various poster art he created for Nihonmachi Street Fair. Exhibit runs from July 1 - August 5, 2023
Leland Wong is a San Francisco illustrator, photographer, and screen printer renowned for his documentation of the Asian American experience. The iconography used in his work is a testament to the influence of Asian art combined with his own unique experiences of being American-born Chinese. The posters Leland created Nihonmachi Street Fair were a limited run and has been collected by many!
Studio Gen is located inside the Japan Center East Mall on the 2nd floor.
National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) - Nihonmachi Street Fair T-shirt Retrospective
The look of the Nihonmachi Street Fair from 1974 - 1998 was created by local community artist, Leland Wong. His concepts and vision for each poster design captured what was happening in our community and sometimes in the world. These beautifully silk-screened posters were also a community effort where many Street Fair volunteers assembled in Leland’s garage to help screen his work of art. The poster images were applied to the coveted Nihonmachi Street Fair T-shirts. For those of us who were lucky to receive one meant a badge of honor to be part of an important community celebration that continues today.
NJAHS is located at 1684 Post Street.
Washi Ningyo Exhibit and Workshop
The traditional art of Washi Ningyo, Japanese Paper Dolls, has been cherished in Japan since the early 1500s. Through our exhibits, demonstrations, and workshops, we aim to educate and inspire individuals about the remarkable beauty that can be crafted from paper. This unique art form is not only a testament to our rich cultural heritage but also a creative expression that we hope will endure for generations to come.
With over 30 years of experience, Yurie Nakamura and Rochelle Lum have been dedicated to exhibiting and teaching the art of Washi Ningyo. Their expertise and passion have allowed them to share this captivating tradition with countless enthusiasts.
The public is welcome to come by and try to make a simple doll during the exhibit.