A photograph at the now-cancelled auction features Saikiko Shiga, the mother of AirTalk guest Yoshinori Himel, at one of the internment camps during World War II.
A New Jersey auction house has cancelled an auction of art and artifacts made by detainees at Japanese American and Japanese internment camp detainees during World War II.
Rago Arts and Auction Center in New Jersey said it’ll cancelled the planned auction originally slated for Friday. Japanese American activists, including actor George Takei, have called for the auction to be delayed or cancelled, equating the sale of the cultural and historical artifacts as exploitation. They want to see the collection donated to a museum or other cultural institutions.
The auction house says it’ll be working with the owner of the artifacts going forward, and says there are no plans for the collection now. Rago has not disclosed the identity of the consignor, but the collection once belonged to former Oregon state legislator Allen H. Eaton, who passed away in 1962.
The following is a statement from Rago Arts and Auction Center:
We have always wanted to see this property where it could do the most good for history. We’ve been working behind the scenes from day one to come to an agreement with our consignor. We returned to the consignor last night after a conversation with George Takei and persuaded him to withdraw.
There are no plans for the collection now. We will be involved in this planning going forward, working with the owner. We have spoken to George Takei. We are at the very start of this process.
There is an essential discussion to be had about the sale of historical items that are a legacy of man's inhumanity to man. It extends beyond what is legal. It is something auction houses, galleries and dealers are faced with regularly. We hope this controversy will be the beginning of a discourse on this issue.
Guests:
Yoshinori Toso Himel, Japanese American living in Sacramento. He is one of the leaders of the protests against the auction of internment camp art in New Jersey
Patty Gerstenblith, Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Art, Museum & Cultural Heritage Law at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago. She specializes in cultural heritage law