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| Lawson Fusao Inada |
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Print Profile |
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| Oregon's Poet Laureate 2006-2008 |
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Lawson Fusao Inada was appointed Oregon's fifth poet laureate by Governor Ted Kulongoski, in February 2006. He is a third-generation Japanese American from Fresno, California. During World War II, he and his family were interned in camps in California, Arkansas and Colorado.
Mr. Inada is a graduate of Fresno State University, earned a MFA from the University of Oregon, and is Professor Emeritus of English at Southern Oregon University.
 Mr. Inada is the author of BEFORE THE WAR, the first book of poetry by an Asian American to be published by a major firm. LEGENDS FROM CAMP, his next book, received the American Book Award in 1992, and was featured on "CBS Sunday Morning". He was one of twenty-one poets honored at the White House for a "Salute to Poetry and Amerian Poets".
Mr. Inada has been featured on Oregon Art Beat, televised on Oregon Public Broadcasting. He was also featured on The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, on National Public Broadcasting in October 2008.
Mr. Inada is the recipient of two Poetry Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a 2004 Guggenheim Fellow in Poetry.
He is the winner of the Pushcart Prize, a Governor's Arts Award, and the Oregon Book Award in 1997. He is also Steinbeck Chair at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA. Mr. Inada is professor emeritus of writing at Southern Oregon University.
Mr. Inada's poetry is carved in stone at the Japanese American Historical Plaza at Waterfront Park along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Inada has published many other works of poetry, essays, and fiction since 1966.
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He has taught at the Universities of New Hampshire, Oregon, and Hawaii, at Lewis and Clark College, Eastern Oregon State College, Wayne State University and Southern Oregon University.
Other Honors include:
Project Grant, Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, 1997
Governor of Oregon Lifetime Achievement Award, 1997
U.S. Representative, World Cultures Festival, Berlin, 1985
State of Oregon Excellence in Teaching Award, 1972
Mr. Inada is available to work with school children, for poetry readings, and poetry concerts with jazz music accompaniment.
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Above photo, L to R, Nola Bogle, vocals,Larry Nobori, clarinet and alto sax and Lawson Inada
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Summary of "Sentimental Journey" Concerts:
POETRY WITH JAZZ CONCERT
“SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY” a Concert with Poetry and Jazz, presented by LAWSON FUSAO INADA, Oregon’s Poet Laureate, with award-winning, Portland-based jazz artists, Larry Nobori on alto sax and clarinet, Rick Homer, whose father wrote the famous standard, on trumpet and melophone, Andre St. James, acoustic bass, vocalist, Nola Bogle, and internationally acclaimed, musician/composer, pianist, Gordon Lee.
Above photo, L to R, Andre St. James, bass, Derek Sims, trumpet.
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The program explores the theme of finding new ways home for the internment camps of WWII, and how Inada’s memories of hearing jazz in the camps has influenced his life and writing ever since. The theme that runs throughout is about having resilience while dealing with profound loss, and finding hope for a better future.
Inspired by his love of jazz, Mr. Inada’s compelling verses, intertwined with the improvisations in the music weave a parallel, “Sentimental Journey” between the music, and lives redirected by circumstance. The program is both evocative and humorous, blending the rhythms and emotions of jazz, with Inada’s poignant, playful and memorable words.
The families of Larry Nobori and Nola Bogle were also interned during the war.
The poetry and music of the program can be customized to suit the client's audience.
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"Sentimental Journey" concerts have been presented in Portland, OR. at The Old Church, the First Unitarian Fellowhsip, at the Planetarium at Mt. Hood Community College, Lewis & Clark College, Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner, OR, Willamette University in Salem, OR, and the Columbia Arts Center in Hood River, OR.
The following letter was written by an audience member at the concert in Hood River on October 23, 2009
Joanie. I was so impressed with the performance, I sent the letter below to the Governor. Kathy suggested I send you a copy. Thanks for your efforts. Doug Crow
October 26, 2009
Douglas M. Crow
P.O. Box 331
Mosier, OR 97040
Governor Ted Kulongoski
State Capitol, Room 160
Office of the Governor
Salem, OR 97301
RE: Poet Laureate’s Hood River Appearance
Dear Governor:
What an outstanding appointment for Oregon and the arts!! Oregon’s Poet Laureate, Lawson Inada and an ensemble of jazz musicians offered an artistic and heart warming performance in Hood River last Friday evening. As you know Mr. Inada’s Japanese roots are of particular connection to Hood River, the site of some of the worse actions against American Japanese in the World War II period. The jazz included “Sentimental Journey,” “Tuxedo Junction” and “Mood Indigo” in remembrance of those days. The poetry set a similar tone—elegant, humorous and understated.
Especially poignant to me was the venue, the former American Legion Post building recently converted to the Columbia Center for the Arts. With music and verse, Mr. Inada exorcized these spirits! The audience of about 100 persons was all exhilarated! Mr. Inada offered some of his own works and those of Gorge residents, read a few collected from local students that very day and of course honored the Stubborn Twig. He really connected to the community during his visits.
So in honor of Oregon’s great poet, an amateur effort at Haiku:
a poet’s verse
gorge winds blow
ghosts on the run.
Sincerely,
Douglas M. Crow
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Our program is particularly relevant as Ken Burns’ award-winning, new series, “The War”, about World War II, premiered on Oregon Public Broadcasting in September 2007. A segment about the internment camps is featured in the series.
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ANOTHER RAVE REVIEW:
From Philip Hanni, retired professor, and head of the Willamette Friends of the Library. February 2008
“With obvious lyrical enthusiasm I want to say again that this was the finest event in the life of Willamette University! I still believe that three days later. It was not preceded by so much of the hype and promotion surrounding so much that we do. It emerged from what Willamette has actually become - a place that knows the beauty, joy, and humility of the school’s motto: “Not unto ourselves alone are we born.” That comes from the fact that so many of our leaders are just that, leaders, not cheerleaders, in my estimation. And, the manner in which Lawson Inada presided and wove together music, reflection, excerpts from a student paper, and his own poetry made it a superlative evening. Beauty, art, friendship, conversation – all so loved by Virginia Woolf – attested to the promise that here and there, now and then, sweet moments are present as we make the transitions in life. And these sweet moments become what we remember about this place.”
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DVD
Lawson Fusao Inada - What it Means to be Free Available for Purchase
Oregon's Poet Laureate, 2006 - 2008, and American Book Award winning poet Lawson Inada reads ten poems from his books, "Legends From Camp" and "Drawing the Line".
Inada discusses his experiences and his poems about growing up in the internment camps his family was sent to during World War II.
Shot in California, Fresno, Lava Beds National Monument, in the ruins of the Tule Lake Relocation Center, and in Ashland and Portland, Oregon, the video also contains historical footage and photographs from Inada family albums, the National Archives, and the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.
Produced by Michael Markee and Vincent Wixon, creators of award-winning videos on William Stafford. Original music by Todd Barton, Resident Composer and Music Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
DVD (25 minutes) contains a Viewer's Guide:
Text of three poems
Copies of the Evacuation Order 1099 & Map of
Camp Locations
Biography
Commentary, Questions and Writing ideas for
Classes, Study Groups, and Workshops.
Makes a great gift for students and teachers of writing, history, the Japanese American Experience, Poets, Artists, Musicians, and many others.
$15.00 plus $3.00 postage
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Call 503-774-2511 or email: nwartmgt@bigplanet.com to order. |
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