This Sunday is a free screening of "Toyo's Camera" , a documentary of Toyo Miyatake, a photographer who after studying with Edward Weston open his own studio in Los Angeles until 1942 when the war broke out and was sent to Manzanar interment camp. Toyo smuggled in materials to construct a camera to photograph life in the camps.
He was discovered after nine months and called into Merritt's office. The Director told him that Edward Weston was concerned about him, and had written Merritt concerning him.
Merritt permitted Miyatake to continue to photograph, at first accompanied by a Caucasian WRA employee who released the shutter. The first "helper" incurred Miyatake's wrath when he carelessly ruined an exposed film. He quit and was replaced by a series of wives of Caucasian employees, who went around with him or sat in the studio, and took the camera lens home at night.....All told, Miyatake made about 1500 exposures during his more than three years at the camp from 1942 to late 1945. (Via)
Over 500 photographs taken by Toyo as well as his friends Ansel Adams and Edward Weston are included in the film. At the screening there'll be speakers to share their stories of their life in the camps. The event is free and open to the public.
His studio, Toyo Miyatake Studio still exists today in the San Gabriel Valley now run by his grandson Alan Miyatake.
Sunday May 23, 2010 Noon.
St. Francis Xavier Chapel
Japanese Catholic Center
222 S. Hewitt Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Info
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