On April 28, 1942, one quarter of Broadway High’s student body failed to report to class. These 200 or so young Japanese Americans and their families were mandated to assemble at the Puyallup Fairgrounds for eventual transfer to inland Internment Camps for the duration of World War II. Prior to Internment, Broadway High School—the future site of Seattle Central Community College—was an integral part of life for the residents of Seattle’s Nihonmachi (Japan town). Between 1902 and 1942, scores of Japanese American students passed through Broadway High’s classrooms, among them renowned artist, George Tsutakawa. By the ’70s, Tsutakawa was internationally recognized as a major modern artist. He continued to influence and shape contemporary art throughout his long and prestigious career until his passing in 1997.
In 1973, George Tsutakawa honored Seattle Central Community College with Fountain, one of only 70 fountain-works the artist produced worldwide and the only one installed at a community college. Crafted at the height of Seattle’s ’70s grassroots equality movements, Fountain serves as a reminder of Seattle Central’s Japanese American past, of Tsutakawa’s roots in a community whose presence was devastated by injustice, and of the struggles for social justice embraced by Seattle Central students.
Currently, the fountain has fallen into disrepair and no longer serves as a focal point for the college. The community is taking action to restore it.
Memory and Interlude: An Evening of Music with the Tsutakawas takes place at the Broadway Performance Hall at Seattle Central Community College on Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. The event raises funds to revitalize the George Tsutakawa Fountain located on campus.
The evening includes performances by the Deems Tsutakawa Trio, the Bach Street Boyz of Garfield High School, and Kore Ionz. Doors open for check in is at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Tina Young at (206) 934-4085 and [email protected] or Melanie King at (206) 934-6939 and [email protected].
To donate, visit https://sccd.ejoinme.org/?tabid=450084
Memory and Interlude:
An Evening of Music with the Tsutakawas
Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Broadway Performance Hall at Seattle Central Community College
$25 admission
All proceeds go to the Tsutakawa Fountain Renovation Fund
