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The Art of Gaman: Crafts from the Japanese Internment Camps
During World War II, Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps used scraps and found materials to create beautiful works of art. (04:59)
Produced by: Amelia Knight
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Comments (9)
I have visited lots of blogs just because i am fond of art and crafts, i am here for the same reason, and found here great crafts related video, there is great wooden crafts in this video. I want to say thanks for sharing this great post. customised artwork
Posted by millerandrea on October 10,2012 | 03:12 AM
What strikes me the most when viewing this video, is just how much the aura of suffering and intolerance still emanates from each crafted piece of art. As explaned, alot of these people were never artisens or crafts people before coming to the internment camp, which lends even more gravity and credibility to the pain, suffering and the will to survive. This haunting, painful and dark reminder goes to show that when we are stripped away of the frivolous and forced to come face to face with the essentials of the human condition, then the truest of emotions are expressed with the boldest of realities.... we are all the same and dependent upon one another to feel the greatness as well as the sadness that life has to offer.
Posted by Robert Gracom on May 14,2012 | 06:53 PM
I saw the Renwick Gallery exhibit Easter sunday after riding by the cherry blossoms. The blossoms were spectacular and the art of gaman at the Renwick was very moving to see what Japanese people in spite of their advertisity accomplished with meager tools. Thank you Smithsonian for a fine exhibit.
Posted by Fred Calvert on April 8,2010 | 08:33 PM
I found this video haunting, inspirational, and a great demonstration of the resiliency of the human spirit. Watching these brave souls, find beauty, in the midst of despair, humiliation, and prejudice, was inspirational, uplifting, and truly motivating.
Thanks for bringing this beautiful story to light in a beautiful way.
Posted by Napoleon Knight on March 22,2010 | 10:10 PM
This is a very important video. I was aware of such camps for Japanese during WWII. It enhanced the facts which I had no of idea being. Of course, the most significant - Gaman refering to the creative impulse to express something. Sometimes words don't get lose enough to the feeling. Thank you.
Posted by Bill Welborn on March 17,2010 | 09:42 AM
I found this gaman video interesting since I was in camp as a young boy. But I remember my father making a ring for me out of a coin with two hearts as center piece. If I remember right, he used a spoon and hit the coin along the edge to make it wide. How he carved the hearts and the center finger hole I don't recall.
Posted by Tony Kusumoto on March 15,2010 | 11:25 PM
reminiscing the art during in the middle of the WW II
indicates HOPE & freedom!
Posted by erick J. Balasta on March 15,2010 | 09:39 PM
Absolutely beautiful works of art.
Posted by Echo Wilson on March 15,2010 | 09:39 PM
I was rivited by this video and learning about the Japanese concept of Gaman. Gaman is a universal spirit but oddly, no other culture seems to have a name for the quiet, noble tolerance of the intolerable. I was moved by the art and wish there were more examples from the exhibit in the piece.
Posted by Kathryn Nelson on March 15,2010 | 08:43 PM