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

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

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]

Montez Productions made a film of her story, "Childhood Memories of Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz," in 2011.[15] Her art also appears in the documentary "Heart Mountain: An All-American Town," by Raechel Donahue.[16]

Personal life

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

References

  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. 1 2 Villaneda, Rebecca (12 February 2009). "Exhibit Explores the Japanese-American Experience: Artist Paints the Colors of an Internment Camp". Peninsula News.
  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. 1 2 "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. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ "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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