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Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz

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Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz
Born1933 (age 90–91)
Orange, California
Alma materCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills
Occupations
Known forIllustrations of Japanese American internment

Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz (born 1933) is an American artist and art educator; her paintings depict her memories of a childhood during the Japanese American internment.

Early life and education

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Chizuko Judy Sugita was born in Orange, California, the youngest of nine children; her mother died from complications soon after Chizuko's birth. Her Hiroshima-born father owned a nursery.[1] In 1942, her family was sent to Poston War Relocation Center in Arizona, as part of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.[2] They were released from Poston when Chizuko was twelve. After the war, she returned to Southern California with her father, and settled in Huntington Beach.[3][4]

Chizuko Judy Sugita earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills.[4] In 1953, she was chosen as Nisei Week Queen.[5][6]

Career

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"Unanswered Prayers", one of her paintings displayed in the Camp Days exhibit

Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz worked as an art teacher at Palos Verdes High School, and served as chair of the school's art department.[7] After early retirement following a workplace injury, she turned to watercolor painting full-time, and took up her childhood memories of camp life as her theme.[8][9] Her illustrated memoir, Camp Days, 1942-1945, was published in 2004, with an introduction by George Takei.[10]

An exhibit of her watercolors about her childhood in Poston, "Camp Days, 1942-1945," was first shown at the Palos Verdes Art Center near her home, in 2009.[11] It has since appeared at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (in 2010-11).[12][13] She lectures on her life and work, saying "This is what I wanted to leave for my grandchildren, I wanted them to know what their parents and family went through."[14]

Her paintings in the exhibit are mostly of one of two styles: a representational style, or an abstract style with impressionistic abstracts.[15] "Unanswered Prayers", shown to the right, is one of her more abstract paintings.[15] She remarks "Camp made me realize that my prayers would never be answered. I knew my mother would never come back to life, and I would never be a blue-eyed blond."[15] She features to the top right of the painting, which depicts her coming out of a cement shower room, "uncomfortable, sad, and depressed."[15] Many of the paintings in the exhibit depict similar emotions like sorrow, loss, loneliness, and longing; this one also illustrates her insecurity about her body as she moved towards puberty in the camp, where she was required to shower naked with the other women.[15]

Montez Productions made a film of her story, "Childhood Memories of Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz," in 2011.[16] Her art also appears in the documentary "Heart Mountain: An All-American Town," by Raechel Donahue.[17]

Personal life

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Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz is married to Richard de Queiroz.[6][failed verification]

References

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  1. ^ "Orange County Nikkei Heritage Museum Exhibition / New Birth of Freedom:Civil War to Civil Rights in California". Japanese Art & Culture in LA. 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Interviews with Artists: Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz". A Bitter Legacy. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  3. ^ Walker, Theresa (13 August 2010). "Artist spent part of youth in relocation camp". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b Villaneda, Rebecca (12 February 2009). "Exhibit Explores the Japanese-American Experience: Artist Paints the Colors of an Internment Camp". Peninsula News.[dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Photographs of Nisei Queens Through the Years". KCET. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Queens Reunion 2013". Rafu Shimpo (Photograph). 23 August 2013. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  7. ^ Baird, Barbara (12 May 1989). "Injured Teacher Pained by Suspension". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  8. ^ Soto, Erin Yasuda (25 November 2010). "Artist shares camp memories in Japanese American Museum of SJ exhibit". Nichi Bei. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  9. ^ Lee, Jonathan H. X.; Nadeau, Kathleen M. (2011). Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife. Vol. 2. ABC-CLIO. p. 611. ISBN 978-0-313-35066-5 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Queiroz, Chizuko Judy Sugita de (2004). Camp Days, 1942-1945. Edinger Printing – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Wyszpolski, Bondo (12 February 2009). "Rendition then and now: The Japanese American internments and their relationship to today's renditions are explored in a Palos Verdes art show and a Torrance performing arts series". Easy Reader. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  12. ^ "'Camp Days' Exhibit Closes Dec. 30". Rafu Shimpo. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  13. ^ "Camp Days: 1942-1945, Childhood Memories of Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz". Museums of the World. 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  14. ^ Cabana, Steven (5 March 2007). "Colorful Recollection: Painful memories of camp and fading history the inspiration for artist's haunting collection". La Voz News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e Kaku, Will (2011-12-05). "The Emotional Journey into Camp Days". Japanese American Museum of San Jose. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  16. ^ de Queiroz, Chizuko Judy Sugita; Montez, Rick; Montez, Shelley; Montez, Ryan Hirayama (2011). Camp days 1942-1945 : childhood memories of Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz (DVD). OCLC 793256796. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2023 – via WorldCat.
  17. ^ "Story of a Wedding Dress at Santa Anita Event". Rafu Shimpo. 30 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
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