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 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 Arnes Collection of Japanese Prints.
Sunday's dinner,
in the nature of a testimonial, will be attended by 160 friends
including Erie 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
Berkeley Daily Gazette. (21 May 1953), p.10.
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