Launch Reading for “Dear—”

A community reading of letters commemorating “Day of Remembrance” and launching “Dear—” a new book project and online letter archive compiled by Brynn Saito with portraits by Dave Lehl. Visit https://www.youaremissing.com/ for details.

Letter readings by Nikiko Masumoto, Lisa Lee Herrick, Lee Herrick, Nohemi Samudio Gamis, Marion Masada, Janelle Saito, Gregg Saito, Samina Najmi, and others!

“Dear—” was created with the support of an Artists Initiative grant from Densho, a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans to promote equity and justice today; the Santa Fe Arts Institute’s (SFAI) “Truth and Reconciliation” residency; and the College of Arts and Humanities at California State University, Fresno.

Deep gratitude to Gregg Saito, Janelle Saito, Leigh Saito, Marion Masada, Saburo Masada, Nikiko Masumoto, Valarie Kaur, Brandon Shimoda, Devoya Mayo, Akiko Miyake-Stoner, Naser Nekumanesh, Tess Taylor, Lee Herrick, Lisa Lee Herrick, Nohemi Samudio Gamis, Samina Najmi, and Amy Uyematsu for engaging in correspondence with me.

Thank you, Dave Lehl, for the photographic portraits of my family and community.