National Nikkei Museum: The Art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani

Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitami is a survivor. The  Japanese-American artist was born in Sacramento California in 1920 but raised in Hiroshima, later returning to the States to pursue his art career.  His art reflects his past with memories of picnics in Hiroshima, the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the years of internment at the Tule Lake internment camp.  After the war he moved to New York and tried to revive his art career but ended up homeless, living on the street near the World Trade Center, making a meagre living by selling his paintings.  After the tragedy of 9/11, he had the good fortune of meeting film maker Linda Hattendorf who helped him and produced an award winning film “The Cats of Mirikitani”. Jimmy, now 90, lives in an assisted-living residence in central New York City.  

The Japanese Canadian National Museum celebrates Jimmy Mirikitani’s survival with an exhibit of his paintings  and a showing of the film with an opening on January 15 to March 26.

“Make Art Not War” is the theme of Jimmy Mirikatani’s work.  He paints the atomic bomb destruction of Hiroshima and the dramatic explosive collapse of the World Trade Centre, but he’s best known for his whimsical paintings of cats, tigers, flower, fruits and the beauties of nature.

This exhibit, curated by Roger Shimomura and produced by the Wing Luke Asian Museum, was created in association with “The Cats of Mirikatani”.  The award winning film will be screened February 3 at 7 pm and February 26 and March 26 at 2 pm.

National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre: 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby, BC (map)

The Art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitami Exhibit: January 15 – March 26; Exhibit Opening Celebration, January 15, 4- 6 pm

Photo credit: National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre.