Densho and BelRed Arts District Artist-in-Residency: Seraphim Hong Program

​Join Artist Seraphim Hong for a program and exhibition culminating her Artist-in-Residency with Densho and the BelRed Arts District.

​When Bellevue was a town of only 2,000 people, it drew nearly 15,000 visitors to its annual summer Strawberry Festival. The luscious berries were grown by Japanese American families who shaped the area and represented one-fifth of the population — until they were unjustly removed and incarcerated during WWII. Seraphim Hong’s artwork reflects on their lives and contributions to the Bellevue we see today.

​Hong’s work contains literal and metaphoric weaving with themes of possibility, hardship, and hope. The exhibit features a traditional garment, reimagined and transformed with motifs inspired by the geography of Bellevue and the people who grew extraordinary strawberries. The artist’s residency has been informed by research on local history, including conversations with Bellevue community members, and exploration of documents and images in the Densho Digital Archive.

​During the program, Artist-in-Residence Seraphim Hong will share her work in conversation with Alice Ito, a community historian from a Bellevue farming family. After the discussion, guests are invited to view the artwork and reflect on connections between history and current events.