The virtual reality artwork Beyond Manzanar has recently been acquired by the San Jose Museum of Art. This presentation celebrates the Museum opening of Beyond Manzanar and with the panelists and artists -- Tamiko Thiel and Zara Houshmand -- explores historical and legal issues the artwork raises. This art piece dramatically casts guests in the unwitting roles of internees inside the Manzanar, California Internment Camp and juxtaposes this experience against the subsequent mistreatment of Iranian-Americans during the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979-80. Now, following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, a similar situation exists. The afternoon's presentation will explore the issues and corollaries of all three situations.

Presenters/Panelists:
Tamiko Thiel, Japanese American new media artist and engineer interested in investigating new forms of narrative structure and in developing socially and culturally meaningful uses of virtual reality.

Zara Houshmand, Iranian American writer, theater director, and multimedia artist whose work focuses on cross-cultural issues. She was involved in pioneering the development of virtual reality on the Internet.

Dave Tatsuno, interned at the Topaz camp in Utah during World War II, will show scenes from his haunting movie of the camp, Topaz, which forms part of the National Registry of films.

Richard Konda, an attorney with The Asian Law Alliance and an active participant in the Japanese-American redress movement.

Shahin Tabrizi, financial consultant specializing in mergers and acquisitions; Founder, Treasurer and past President of the Persian Center.

Moderator:
Susan Hayase, software engineer, a leader in the campaign to obtain redress for former camp internees.

UPDATES:

SJ Mercury News article

Thanks to Tengu Sushi.

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