Japanese Canadian National Museum presents The Sakura Tree

National Nikkei Heritage Centre
6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby, BC

Friday, May 23, 2008 | 7:00 p.m.
Artist talk by Karen Brownlee.

RSVP to nogiwara@nikkeiplace.org

Saturday, May 24, 2008 | 2:00 p.m.
Reception.
Gallery tour and book presentation by Karen Brownlee.
Book signing by Karen Brownlee and author Carolyn McTighe.

Paintings by Karen Brownlee created to illustrate the children's book of the same title, written by Carolyn McTighe, published by Red Deer Press. The Sakura Tree is a gently eloquent tale which follows the progress of three "picture brides" who immigrated to Canada in the early twentieth century. Based on extensive research, oral histories and family photo albums, thirty four models and four cultural consultants, Karen's watercolours explore and present elements of Japanese Canadian life circa 880-1920 (the so called "picture bride" era) until 1940 in the Lower Mainland. Karen Brownlee is an Alberta artist with long standing friendships in the Southern Alberta Japanese Canadian community, an interest in exploring history, and a background in Loatian and Chinese brush painting.

For more information on Asian Heritage Month events happening in and around Vancouver, visit explorASIAN.