Topaz Toddlers Reception @Central

Join us for to view the exhibit on the 1st and 5th floors, followed by a presentation and Q&A about the Topaz Toddlers Art Project. Exhibit Viewing: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Presentations/Q&A: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm This program will feature: A screening of a short documentary by Berkeley City College Students Background history of the project with Dana Ogo Shew Presentation on the Topaz Preschool and Preschool Supervisor Tomiko Takahashi Sasaki by her daughter Ruth Sasaki Overview of the children's art analysis by Dr. Ayumi Nagase Q&A panel, moderated by Dana, featuring: Topaz Toddlers (including Joyce Inouye and Norm Hayashi), Ruth Sasaki, Ayumi Nagase, SSU students, and BCC student filmmakers About The Topaz Toddlers Art Project: More than 70 years after Topaz closed, a collection of art pieces created by these Topaz preschoolers was discovered among the treasured items of the Topaz Preschool Director, Tomiko Sasaki. With Tomiko no longer here to provide insights, we decided to find as many of these toddlers, now in their late 70s and early 80s, as possible. We sought to uncover their memories of preschool life, hear their family stories, and capture their reactions upon rediscovering their childhood masterpieces. Through this exhibit we offer a glimpse into the world behind barbed wire as expressed in crayon, paint, collage, and chalk by these young artists. Juxtaposed with current perspectives and reflections from those same toddlers today, this exhibit lets us consider the lasting effects of incarceration on children, while also appreciating the challenges and sacrifices made by teachers and parents, who worked to create safe and enriching environments for their Topaz toddlers. This program is part of The Poet and The Silk Girl city-wide read series.