Buddha, Jesus, and the Japanese American Community in Chicago: Wood Carvings by Harry Koizumi
Exhibition dates: March 19, 2022 – June 4, 2022
Location: The Joseph Regenstein Library, Fifth Floor Reading Rooms, 1100 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
Photo by Paride Stortini, used with permission of the Buddhist Temple of Chicago
The scene represents the moment when Siddhartha achieves enlightenment while meditating under the bodhi tree, becoming the Buddha, and calls the earth to witness his enlightenment by touching it.
After learning woodcarving in an internment camp for Japanese Americans during WWII, Harry Koizumi moved to South Side Chicago and made Stations of the Cross and scenes of the life of the Buddha for the local Episcopal Church and Buddhist temple. This exhibit explores Koizumi's art, opening a window on the complex entanglement of religious and national identities of the Japanese American community during and after World War II.
Curator
Paride Stortini, PhD Candidate, History of Religions, the University of Chicago
Thanks to Rev. Patti Nakai, Rev. Barnabas Pusnur, Jerry Morishige, Roy Koizumi, and Mary Naftzger for their collaboration.
Visiting the Library
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Photo by Paride Stortini used with permission of St. Paul and the Redeemer Episcopal Church
This is one of the 14 Stations of the Cross made by Harry Koizumi for the Church of St. Paul & the Redeemer. They were dedicated to the memory of parishioners who served in the army during WWII. The Stations of the Cross represent moments in the day of Jesus' crucifixion.
