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Fukuhara (Henry) Paint Out Collection
SPC.2011.002
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Henry Fukuhara Paint Out Collection
Creator:
Fukuhara, Henry
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2011.002
Physical Description:
3 boxes
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1992-2011
Abstract: The focus of the Henry Fukuhara Collection is the art, life, and work of watercolor artist Henry Fukuhara. It includes photographs
and notes from various workshops called "paint-outs," held at former Japanese American concentration camps. The collection
also includes photographs from exhibits, hand painted correspondence, flyers, gallery information, books, magazines, news
clippings, and DVD's. Some of this collection has been digitized and is available online.
Language of Material:
English
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
Henry Fukuhara (April 25, 1913 – January 31, 2010) was a Japanese American abstract watercolor artist. He is best know for
his watercolor paintings of Santa Monica, CA. and Manzanar, a World War II era Japanese American concentration camp where
he and his family were imprisoned in 1942 and 1943. He began painting in his later life and quickly became a teacher and mentor
to many modern artists and continues to influence watercolor artists today. Fukuhara has permanent collections at Los Angeles
County Museum of Art, San Bernardino Museum of Art, and the Japanese American Museum of Art. He was also a member of the National
Watercolor Society.
Fukuhara was born in Fruitland, California but grew up in Santa Monica. He attended Santa Monica High School where he first
became aware of his artistic talents. After he graduated from high school he enrolled in Otis College of Art and Design, but
was soon forced to drop out in order to help his family through the depression era. Aside from a few art shows in the 1930's,
Fukuhara did not pursue any sort of career in art. After the U.S. was attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, Fukuhara and
his family, like many other Japanese Americans, were forced into concentration camps. They arrived at Manzanar, in the California
Owens Valley, in April of 1942. Fukuhara lived in a one room home with his wife, daughter, parents, and brother and sister-in-law.
While at Manzanar, he worked in the drafting department as a grave surveyor. During this time art was a way for him pass the
time. The family left Manzanar in 1943 when they agreed to leave the west coast. They soon settled in Long Island, New York,
where they started a retail and wholesale flower growing business. Art was put on the backburner while the Fukuhara's raised
their family. Years later, with his children grown, Fukuhara took to painting.
It was during the 1970's that Fukuhara began to study painting with a real focus. He attended workshops and studied with many
prominent artists such as Edgar Whitney, Robert E. Wood, Rex Brandt, George Post, and Carl Molno. In 1987 Fukuhara moved back
to his home town of Santa Monica CA. when he inherited his childhood home. He has gotten tremendous praise for his watercolors
of Santa Monica which he created during this time. He also studied and taught art at Emeritus College in Santa Monica, a section
of Santa Monica College dedicated to serving the older adult community.
Perhaps Fukuhara is most well know for his paintings of Manzanar and the "paint outs", or workshops, he organized at the site
of the concentration camp and its surrounding areas of Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, Independence, Keeler, and Mt. Whitney. The
first Manzanar workshop took place in 1998 as a fundraiser to preserve the Manzanar site and he continued them yearly to help
raise awareness about the concentration camps. Manzanar was not the only site for the "paint-outs," others took place in Torrance
and San Pedro, California and various other California areas. He went blind from glaucoma but continued to paint with the
help of his friends who would visit him regularly. Fukuhara died in a nursing home in Orange County CA. in early 2010. Even
after his death the Manzanar workshops continue with the help of his friend and fellow artist Al Setton
This collection contains photographs and notes from Henry Fukuhara's Manzanar Workshops in which he painted for and instructed
other painters on his watercolor techniques; the photos are from the 1999 through 2002 workshops. There are also photos from
other workshops, or "paint outs" in places other than Manzanar such as Torrance, Santa Monica, and San Pedro California. The
collection also contains photos from Fukuhara art exhibits. In addition to photos the collection includes hand painted correspondence
between Fukuhara and his colleague Mary Higuchi, gallery flyers, DVD's, and magazines, books, and news clipping in which Fukuhara's
works are featured.
Arranged in two series:
- Series I. Albums (1999-2004)
- Series II. Papers, Books, and DVD (1992-2005)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The initial collection was donated by Mary Higuchi in Spring 2011. Later accessions included a DVD donated by Watercolor West
and two books donated by ADC Fine Arts gallery.
This collection was processed by Shannon Salcido in 2011. All photos were left in original albums; other materials were arranged
chronologically and by type of item.
This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. For related materials please
consult:
CSU Japanese American Digitization Project.
Availability of Digitized Materials
Some of the collection has been digitized and is available at the CSU Japanese American Project site:
Henry Fukuhara Paint-Out Collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Japanese Americans
Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
Manzanar War Relocation Center
Manzanar (Calif.)
Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945 -- Pictorial works
Japanese American Painters
Manzanar War Relocation Center--1940-1950
Watercolorists
Watercolor Painting, Abstract
Watercolor Painting, American
Alabama Hills (Calif.)
Independence (Calif.)
Lone Pine (Calif.)
San Pedro (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Torrance (Calif.)