Those who attended the many exhibits that attended the “Life Interrupted” project in 2004 will recall the tremendous art generated by the Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II at camps in Arkansas. The work of Henry Sugimoto, a professional artist before his government locked him up at Jerome, was on display at the Cox Creative Center; drawings by children interned at Rohwer were exhibited at the Baum Gallery at UCA, and a show titled “Lasting Beauty: Miss Jamison and the Student Muralists” was at UALR.

The Butler Center announced today that it has received “Miss Jamison’s” collection of art and other materials generated at Rohwer, a gift of Rosalie Gould of McGehee. Gould and Rohwer art teacher Mabel Jamison Vogel made it their cause to preserve the memory of Rohwer, which was dismantled, and Jamison Vogel gave Gould her collection in her will.

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From the Butler Center’s news release (in full on the jump):

Appraiser Jennifer Carman describes the materials Gould has given the Butler Center as “unique among internment collections” and cites experts Franklin Odo and Delphine Hirasuna who have said it contains artwork and documents that are “truly unmatched among objects in public collections.” The collection also includes a large amount of material documenting day-to-day life in the camp, which had its own school system, police department, and mayor.

David Stricklin, Butler Center director, says in the release that he looks forward to sharing the work with the people of Arkansas. We look forward to that, as well.

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