Island City Waterways

The Experience:

Performing Arts Celebrate Alameda’s Lost Japantown

Friday, September 17^th 5-8pm

The Island City Waterways® Japantown Art Walk honors Alameda’s Japanese American community with traditional Japanese folk arts, contemporary dance, traditional taiko and world music in Alameda’s historic Japantown district lost lost during WWII. Each performance reflects a different aspect of Alameda’s Japanese American community in conjunction with the City of Alameda’s Tonarigumi historic marker project.

 Start: Alameda Free Library – 1550 Oak St,  5-5:30pm Introduction & Welcome

ODC/Dance– San Francisco’s premier contemporary dance company – presents May’s Letters, an original work by ODC choreographer Kimi Okada, with Brenda Way, inspired by letters written by her mother while in Tule Lake internment camp.

Buddhist Temple of Alameda – 2325 Pacific Ave, 6-6:45pm

• Ensohza Minyoshu presents traditional Japanese folk dance and music evoking the festival spirit and character of Japan’s diverse rural communities.
• PJ Hirabayashi, taiko artist & founder of TaikoPeace, invites the community to participate in “Ei Ja Nai Ka,” a dance, rhythm, song, and chant in celebration, gratitude and commemoration of our immigrant ancestors.
• Jane Suiei Naito will create a contemporary art installation using a traditional form of ikebana (flower arranging).

Buena Vista United Methodist Church – 2311 Buena Vista Ave, 7-7:45pm

Maze Daiko performs original music that combines taiko with world rhythms and melodies creating a unique sound that is influenced by the cultural diversity of the Bay Area.

About the Japantown ArtWalk

The Japantown Art Walk is part of the Island City Waterways project that celebrates Alameda’s rich cultural past and present. The Japantown Art Walk is a collaboration between Rhythmix Cultural Works, the Buddhist Temple of Alameda, Buena Vista United Methodist Church, the City of Alameda Free Library and Economic Development and Community Services Department.

Rhythmix Island City Waterways Japantown Art Walk is presented in conjunction with Tonarigumi – Alameda’s Historic Japantown Neighborhood, a partnership between the City of Alameda, Buena Vista United Methodist Church and The Buddhist Temple of Alameda to raise awareness and reclaim the memories of the past, to remember the Issei elders and all they endured, and to be uplifted by the strength and resilience of a community. Four markers are being created to share a forgotten history of Alameda’s Japantown and impart a lesson from the past, to embrace diversity and advocate civil liberties for all people.

Rhythmix Cultural Arts is a  cultural arts destination in Alameda for theater, art, classes, live music & performances. Rhythmix brings the world to you.  510-865-5060

Photo/COurtesy of Ensohza Minyoshu

Where:

2513 Blanding Ave
Alameda

http://www.rhythmix.org

The Experience:

Live Music Celebrates the West End!

With live music at three locations, Webster Street will be rockin’ at the Rhythmix Island City Waterways ArtWalk, Friday, July 16th from 5 – 8pm. 

Highlighting the diversity of Alameda’s West End, the Rhythmix Island City Waterways ArtWalk: Webster Street honors the people and cultures, past and present, who have defined and continue to shape the character of the neighborhood.

Local businesses and artists have revitalized Webster Street into a vibrant, thriving commercial and arts district in Alameda. Casting off the outdated reputation of being the raucous location for off-base Navy recreation, ICW ArtWalk: Webster Street presents live music at 3 locations, representing the mixed population of Hispanic, Eastern European and African Americans that live(d) near the former Naval Air Station. Free to the public, the Art Walk is intended to invigorate the streets with vitality and recognition of the West End’s changing demographics.

Locations & Schedule

Al Fresco Dining Park, 1435 Webster St, Alameda

Trio Sin Lio (Latin Music) Trio Sin Lio energizes the dance floor with rocking son, salsa, boogaloo, merengue, and post-Latin psychedelic jams. 5:30–6, 6:30–7, 7:30–8

Feathered Outlaw, 1506 Webster St, Alameda

Karamo Susso & Nicco Tyson (West African Kora & Guitar) Combining traditional West African kora, guitar and harmonica, Nicco Tyson and Karamo Susso produce a unique sound built upon melodies and rhythms from West Africa, Brazil, and Cuba with Blues and American Folk. 5:20–5:50, 6:20–6:50, 7:20–7:50

Youth Expressions (Spoken Word & More) Unite Alameda 4 Change and Black Achievers Alliance present “Honor the Differences and Connect the Similarities” Youth Expressions of Unity through the Arts. 5:00–5:15, 6:00–6:15, 7:00-7:15

Former US Bank, 1414 Webster St, Alameda

KELMO! (Roma Music) The travels of four international musicians merge in KELMO!, a project dedicated to making the beauty, joy and depth of the Roma musical traditions of Turkey, the Balkans and Romania. 5:00–5:30, 6:00–6:30, 7:00–7:30

Five Island City Waterways ArtWalks will expand the project’s community impact throughout 2021 and 2022 on Alameda’s historic main streets and new development sites on Alameda Point. The ArtWalks will celebrate and honor the community’s inhabitants, past and present, with music, art, and stories, creating opportunities for social engagement and a positive outlook for the future.

Unite Alameda 4 Change seeks to bring UNITY to Alameda, from east to west, north to south, for all Alamedans. It is time to come together and communicate, create, and grow our community to truly belong to everyone.

The Black Achievers Alliance is an intentional community for Black Alameda youth, families, and guardians to honor their heritage, advocate for their children’s education, and discuss the resources needed to help them achieve personal and future success.

Rhythmix Cultural Arts is a  cultural arts destination in Alameda for theater, art, classes, live music & performances. Rhythmix brings the world to you.  510-865-5060

Where:

2513 Blanding Ave
Alameda

http://www.rhythmix.org