Arts & Recreation Day, April 8, 2022, took us to Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA), Suquamish House of Awakened Culture, and Suquamish Museum for an in-depth look at the intersection of art, history, and social justice in Kitsap.
BIMA Chief Curator Greg Robinson led the class on an engaging tour of the art museum. The tour featured“Americans Incarcerated: A Family’s Story of Social Injustice,” a powerful show memorializing the eviction of Japanese Americans during World War II. One participant commented on how well a story can be told through art. We continued the discussion in the afternoon by sharing a video about the Japanese Exclusion Memorial located on Bainbridge Island.
David Emmons (LK14), President/CEO Bremerton and Silverdale Chambers of Commerce led the class through a discussion of our final Positive Leadership capacity of Gratitude. Positive Leadership views gratitude from multiple vantage points: appreciation, celebration, reciprocation, connection, fulfillment, repair, and happiness. David shared tools for the many ways to express gratitude.
We wrapped up our morning at BIMA with an insightful arts panel representing music, theatre, photographic, and visual arts. Panelists included Eugenie Jones, Music Discovery Center Founding Board President; Stacey Saunders, Central Stage Theatre Executive Director; Oriana von Specht, Purple Squid / Photography, and Marie Weichman, Olympic College Arts Faculty. One participant shared, “(I learned) that few of the speakers discovered their art talent later in life, and that we all can do some self-reflection and may discover more talents into ourself.”
The class moved to the Suquamish House of Awakened Culture for lunch. We were greeted with a wonderful history of the longhouse and song by Barb Santos (LK06) and Denita Holmes (LK18). Jeanine Greco of the Kitsap History Museum opened the archives to share photos and stories of Kitsap’s unique history.
The class concluded the day at the Suquamish Museum. It was a meaningful walk through Suquamish tribal history with Education Program Facilitator Ashley Weller. “This was my first time visiting all 3 locations. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to explore more of Kitsap County Art & Museums.”
Thank you to our hosts Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, the Suquamish Tribe, and the Suquamish Museum.