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During the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, I spent time understanding my Japanese heritage and family history. Even more, observing the dramatic cracks in society growing wider each day pushed me to review current and historical events in the United States. The painting, “It Was A Blue Sky Somewhere Else”, was borne out of a way to honor my relatives and others who were forced into Japanese internment camps during the 1940s. The painting is a reminder that, despite hardship and pain, strength and resistance persists. Additionally, there is anger that a government would do this to its own citizens while also demanding their loyalty. Although the wounds from this history remain, various perspectives are crucial for telling the complex story of the United States.

Callan Porter-Romero

callanjurose@gmail.com