Former students, faculty colleagues and other friends of
Prof. Chiura Obata, associate professor of art at the University of
California, will honor the distinguished Japanese artist at a dinner Sunday
at the Yamato Sukiyaki House in San Francisco. It is a farewell to the
graying, 68-year-old artist, who will retire at the end of the academic
year.
A prolific and versatile artist,
Obata is widely known both in this country where [he] has lived for half a
century and in his native Japan. He has been a member of the University
faculty for 21 years with the exception of three years during World War II
when he was evacuated with other Japanese to camps of the War Relocation
Authority. In addition to being professor of art, Obata is curator of the
William Dallam Armes Collection of Japanese Prints.
Sunday's
dinner, in the nature of a testimonial, will be attended by 160 friends
including Erle Loran, chairman of the University of California Art
Department, and prominent members of the Japanese-American colony. Prof.
Stephen Pepper, one of those active in planning the affair, will serve as
master of ceremonies. In addition to Prof. Pepper, others instrumental in arranging
the affair include Merle Weidmen and Doris Heinz of San Francisco, former
pupils; and William F. Calkin, a friend.
Time
to coincide with Obata's retirement Paul Bishop, noted portrait
photographer, has arranged for a showing of the artist's watercolors at the
Bishop studio, 2125 Durant Ave., for Sunday, May 31, [1953], from 2 to 5
p.m. At this time friends and admirers of the Japanese artist will have an
opportunity to greet him and view his latest work.
__________
_____. "Prof. Chiura Obata Soon to
Retire From Faculty of UC." Berkeley
Daily Gazette. (21 May 1953), p. 10.
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