Artist Initiative

The social aspect of this project has been fascinating. It has opened up what I see as numerous ideas documenting various ethnic groups. While the project allowed me to explore my Japanese heritage, I was also able to inform the public of the Japanese in Minnesota. The public's interest in the interviews was encouraging which I see as essential when exhibiting portraits. This project also improved my interviewing techniques which will be useful in the future. Since its completion I've been considering many projects which have come from this one. My research revealed how progressive Minnesota has been in regards to diversity. Some of my research materials were The Orientals," A Report to Governor Luther W. Youngdahl of Minnesota By The Governor’s Interracial Commission in 1949 and "They Chose Minnesota," a survey of the ethnic groups in the state published by the Minnesota History Center. 2: This is the most exposure my work has received in such a short period of time (estimated at 950). I would like to expand the project and take the exhibit to other areas of the state. (i.e. Photographing Mexicans in Worthington, Somalis in St Paul). I was pleased by the interest in the portraits and especially the interviews. At the exhibitions I was engaged with the public much more than with previous work."