Oregon Nikkei Endowment continues celebrating its 20th year in 2010 with an exhibit featuring the history and story of how the Japanese American Historical Plaza came to be. Through the trials and tribulations of building the first memorial to Civil Rights, the Japanese American community came together to realize a dream, and the Plaza was dedicated in August of 1990. The poetry of Lawson Inada, among others, combines with the stunning and thoughtful design of landscape designer Robert Murase and sculpture of Jim Gion to form not only a place of respite within the city, but also a place of remembrance, and a place to both acknowledge and educate.

Not only does the Plaza bear the great national legacy as the first memorial to civil liberties. Additionally, it has been celebrated and recognized for both its design and purpose, with a multitude of awards and acclaim including the Portland Beautification Association Appreciation Award (1991), the American Institute of Architects Design and People’s Choice Awards (1990), the ACLU Honor Award Commendation for Civil Liberties (1990) and The Waterfront Center (Top Honor, Excellence on the Waterfront , 1991).

July 30 - November 14, 2010
at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center
121 NW 2nd Avenue, Portland
503-224-1458
www.oregonnikkei.org