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Art Exhibit Commemorates 2011 Japanese Earthquake, Tsunami

Yoshimoto

A portion of the 30-foot scroll from UNO's Jave Yoshimoto depicting the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011. The full piece will be on display at the Omaha Public Library

OMAHA - A University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) art professor’s work, dedicated to a devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011, will be on display at the Omaha Public Library starting this month.

Beginning Friday, March 4, Jave Yoshimoto, assistant professor of art and art history, will present “The Fractured World,” a series of paintings depicting the aftermath of one of Japan’s largest natural disasters, the Tohoku Earthquake, at the Omaha Public Library’s W. Dale Clark location in the Michael Phipps Gallery.

An opening reception for the exhibit will take place at the Phipps Gallery from 4 to 6 p.m. on March 4.

The exhibit, which runs through Thursday, April 28, will also feature a special one-day unveiling, on Friday, March 11, of a 30-foot-long, hand-painted scroll in recognition of the five-year anniversary of those affected by the earthquake and resulting tsunami.

The earthquake struck the island nation off the coast of Honshu the afternoon of March 11 with resulting aftershocks and waves killing thousands. The earthquake also damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, spilling radioactive material and leaving millions of residents without electricity or water for days.

All told, nearly 16,000 were killed with more than 20,000 still unaccounted for.

I wasn’t able to sleep for a few days before finally I wanted to do something about it, and it came in the form of a 30 feet long painting on paper, commemorating the event and honoring those who lost their lives.

 Jave Yoshimoto - UNO Assistant Professor of Art and Art History

“When I first heard of the news, I was in grad school. I was really taken aback by what a tragedy it all was,” Yoshimoto said. “I wasn’t able to sleep for a few days before finally I wanted to do something about it, and it came in the form of a 30 feet long painting on paper, commemorating the event and honoring those who lost their lives.”

Both the gallery and unveiling will be open to the public. There is no cost to attend. The gallery is open during the library’s normal business hours, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. as well as Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Yoshimoto will be available to answer questions from the community and media at the March 11 unveiling. He wants his art to start conversations and inspire action.

“We live in a digital age where we are constantly bombarded with imagery and news, and yesterday’s tragedy is quickly forgotten like it was a distant memory,” Yoshimoto said. “My hope is to leave an impression with my audience, make them think, and hopefully inspire them to help those in need today.”

For media inquiries, please contact:

Sam Petto, UNO Media Relations Coordinator
 unonews@unomaha.edu
 402.554.2704

or

Charley Reed, UNO Associate Director of Media Relations
 unonews@unomaha.edu
 402.554.2129

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
 Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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