San Francisco Japantown Task Force

DATA SHEET

Place/Event: JAM Workshop

Address: 1830 Sutter Street, San Francisco

Description:

JAM Workshop opened a new community art workshop in Japantown in November of 2004. Based on the original JAM, the JAM Workshop keeps its hand on the pulse of important happenings and events in the community, provides arts services to local organizations and offers classes in a variety of art fields. The JAM Workshop sees art and literature as reflecting the universal experiences and feelings of the people and strives to make them accessible. JAM continues to work towards creating opportunities for people to participate in the creation, education and enjoyment of art.

History:

For 23 Years, Japantown Arts & Media (JAM) provided a creative outlet for the Bay Area Asian American community. It was a group of talented artists who were drawn together by their love of both art and their community. These artists produced their own work; taught classes in photography, drawing, writing, graphic design, video production, and silk-screening; published collections of poetry, literature and visual art, which reflected the Asian American experience; and provided quality, community-based graphic arts services to many non-profit organizations. They continued a tradition of creativity and lively arts dialogue that arrived in San Francisco with the first immigrants from Japan. Sadly, due to the lack of funding, JAM closed its doors in 2000; however, its spirit lives on in the new workshop as it takes root in the Japantown community.

Significance:

Cultural, Educational, Social

Recognition of Significance:

JAM achieved recognition for providing quality, community-based graphic arts services for many community events throughout its existence.

Sources:

Advisory: Rich Tokeshi, Dean Ito Taylor, Richard Wada, Peter Yamamoto, Leon Sun, Boku Kodama, Leland Wong, Judy Hamaguchi

Other Comments:

Prepared By: Darryl Abantao Date Prepared: 12/16/04