OPEN APRIL 4th, 2025
Exhibition Statement
This body of work focuses on the refugee crisis in Greece, with more than 1.3 million refugees sought asylum legally in 2015, with many more unaccounted illegal migrants trying to take the dangerous path to Europe. With the influx of the large number of refugees, the smugglers take advantage of the refugees' desperation and force them into large dinghies in the most dangerous conditions in the Mediterranean waters. In 2016, over 5000 refugees have drowned trying to cross their way into a new life and dreams.
I had the privilege of being able to volunteer on Lesvos island in Greece in winter of 2016 to help some of the refugees land, provide dry clothes and hot meals. Words cannot describe the overwhelming flood of emotions and thoughts that went through my mind, and there is no greater feeling than receiving the grateful smile on these strangers' faces. These pieces here aim to honor the bravery of these refugees' journeys.
Artist Bio
Jave Yoshimoto is an artist and educator of multi-cultural background. He was born in Japan to Chinese parents and immigrated to United States at a young age. He has since traveled and lived in various parts of the country which influenced his artistic practice. He believes in creating art works that are socially conscious and true to his authentic self. Similarly in his teaching philosophy, he encourages his students to explore their personal identity and experiences to put into their creative compositions while developing their technical skills.
Yoshimoto has received his Bachelors from University of California Santa Barbara in Studio Art, his Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Painting and Drawing and Masters of Art in Art Therapy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and his Masters of Fine Arts in Painting at Syracuse University.
He has experiences working as an art therapist/mental health professional in Chicago, IL, as well as being a painting instructor at Syracuse University and as a teaching artist in Seattle, WA. He has worked with various age groups and diverse ethnic populations in both rural and urban settings. As an artist, he served as an artist-in-residence at various artist colonies across the United States. Yoshimoto currently works as an Associate Professor of Art at University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Exhibition Statement
This body of work focuses on the refugee crisis in Greece, with more than 1.3 million refugees sought asylum legally in 2015, with many more unaccounted illegal migrants trying to take the dangerous path to Europe. With the influx of the large number of refugees, the smugglers take advantage of the refugees' desperation and force them into large dinghies in the most dangerous conditions in the Mediterranean waters. In 2016, over 5000 refugees have drowned trying to cross their way into a new life and dreams.
I had the privilege of being able to volunteer on Lesvos island in Greece in winter of 2016 to help some of the refugees land, provide dry clothes and hot meals. Words cannot describe the overwhelming flood of emotions and thoughts that went through my mind, and there is no greater feeling than receiving the grateful smile on these strangers' faces. These pieces here aim to honor the bravery of these refugees' journeys.
Artist Bio
Jave Yoshimoto is an artist and educator of multi-cultural background. He was born in Japan to Chinese parents and immigrated to United States at a young age. He has since traveled and lived in various parts of the country which influenced his artistic practice. He believes in creating art works that are socially conscious and true to his authentic self. Similarly in his teaching philosophy, he encourages his students to explore their personal identity and experiences to put into their creative compositions while developing their technical skills.
Yoshimoto has received his Bachelors from University of California Santa Barbara in Studio Art, his Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Painting and Drawing and Masters of Art in Art Therapy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and his Masters of Fine Arts in Painting at Syracuse University.
He has experiences working as an art therapist/mental health professional in Chicago, IL, as well as being a painting instructor at Syracuse University and as a teaching artist in Seattle, WA. He has worked with various age groups and diverse ethnic populations in both rural and urban settings. As an artist, he served as an artist-in-residence at various artist colonies across the United States. Yoshimoto currently works as an Associate Professor of Art at University of Nebraska at Omaha.
