LEFT: The Nakayama
NIKKI NOJIMA LOUIS
family pictured in Las Cruces. Roy Nakayama was born near El Paso to Japanese parents in 1923. He went on to serve in World War II and was captured at the Battle of the Bulge.
group, developed the local stories in the Keleher Gallery exhibition. Louis herself was interned with her mother and siblings in an Idaho camp. “I really tried to capture the environment at the time, not just with the Asian community but in general. That generation was very stoic … veterans would come home shell-shocked (now called PTSD) or damaged in some way and put their lives back together,” Louis said.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Hiroshi Miyamura was born and raised in Gallup, New Mexico, and later became one of the city’s best known residents.
Interpreting Tradition Casa San Ysidro offers slate of educational programs.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese during World War II, Miyamura recalls how the
CASA SAN YSIDRO:
resource for research and
principal of his school told students not to blame
The Gutiérrez/Minge
a gathering place for the
their Japanese classmates for what had happened.
House opened for the
community,” says Aaron
Two months later, as Japanese
season in February with a
Gardner, site manager.
residents on the West Coast
new and comprehensive
were sent to internment
schedule of programs. The
of a nineteenth century
camps—and some towns and
Corrales-based satellite of
rancho, Casa San Ysidro’s
cities voluntarily incarcerated
the Albuquerque Museum
historic adobe, stone, and
their Japanese and Japanese
is filled with artifacts
log structures, originating
American residents—the town
from Spanish Colonial
from throughout New
of Gallup declared that they
and Territorial periods.
Mexico, are energized with
would stand by their Japanese
Programming at Casa
historic traditional arts
neighbors and not participate.
this spring focuses on the
and furnishing typical of
artisan skills appropriate
frontier life in New Mexico.
Korean War. During the Korean War he was taken
to the environment, and to
Its programs include the
prisoner while providing cover for his squad. For
Casa’s history. “We want to
Second Saturday workshops
these actions, President Eisenhower awarded him the
create a lot of opportunities
and talks.
Medal of Honor. Miyamura still lives in Gallup where
for people to get involved
he has a high school and an overpass named for him.
in Casa San Ysidro as a
Miyamura served in World War II and again in the
Revitalized in the style
(continued on page 9)
AlbuquerqueMuseum.org
7
