The Japantown Art and Media (JAM) Workshop 50th Anniversary event taking place on October 11th from 1:00-5:00pm at Studio Gen and the National Japanese American Historical Society’s Peace Gallery in San Francisco Japantown. The event will open with a taiko performance at Studio Gen, and will flow to the Peace Gallery across the street for the program beginning at 2:00pm. Two exhibits featuring JAM artists will be on view at both locations beginning October 11th through February 2026.
Full details bellow:
50th Anniversary for JAM slated for October 11th at NJAHS
On Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 2PM in San Francisco Japantown, a
multi-generational task force of artists and community activists will honor the 50th
Anniversary of Japantown Art and Media (JAM) Workshop – featuring music, spoken
word and the most comprehensive display of JAM’s significant work to date. This event
and accompanying exhibits will tell the visual stories of Asian American history during
the final turbulent quarter of the 20th Century.
Wes Senzaki, Gail Aratani and Richard Tokeshi jumped at the chance to provide their
artistic skills in the name of social and political causes, not just in Nihonmachi but in the
expanse of communities across the Bay Area. They were the first of dozens of artists
who contributed by way of the JAM Workshop during a 25-year period. In 1975, these
three artists were among the dozen pioneers dedicating their time and skills in the initial
year of the JAM Workshop. It represented Nihonmachi’s first art movement in modern
times.
“Although JAM existed for 25 years, its impact on the Asian American movement was
significant,” said Leon Sun, another of the early JAM artists. “Our work visualized some
of the most important historic events of that era. Even today, we still recognize JAM’s
contributions because the art has been saved in the archives, reminding us that our
past lessons show us the road forward.”
The celebration will take place at the National Japanese American History Society
(NJAHS) at 1684 Post Street in San Francisco from 2pm to 5pm. The opening
performance for the celebration will take place at Studio Gen at 1:15pm, located across
the street from NJAHS on the second floor of Japan Center East Mall. The public is
invited to RSVP and discover JAM’s timeless work. Additionally, a new generation of
artists and community supporters will offer details on the future of community art
through a pathbreaking concept called the JAM Salon.
In conjunction with the anniversary will be an exhibit featuring the works of JAM’s
women artists at Studio Gen, which will be on view from October 11th, 2025 through
February 28, 2026. Studio Gen will be open to the public from 1:00-2:00pm on October
11th, and by appointment for future dates.
PRESS CONTACT: Melissa Bailey Nihei
Email: jamvisioning@gmail.com