Margot Zen: Paper Flower Making

During World War II, the U.S. Government incarcerated more than 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese immigrants at remote incarceration centers. At many of these incarceration centers, like the Topaz Relocation Center in Delta, Utah, art flourished in spite of the adverse circumstances. Committed to transforming their living spaces and practicing creative traditions, incarcerated individuals looked to available materials to create beautiful, lifelike floral arrangements. Among many other offerings available at the Topaz Art School (founded by renowned artist Chiura Obata), Japanese Americans incarcerated in the barren, remote desert could practice ikebana, a traditional form of Japanese flower arrangement taught by Haruko Obata.

At the November Art Walk, learn more about Haruko Obata and the Japanese flower arrangement tradition, ikebana. With instruction from local artist, Margot Zen, create your own paper flower inspired by the artistic legacy and resilience of those incarcerated across the West.