Monday, July 13, 2015

Counterprotest this Wednesday @ the MFA

Timothy Nagaoka stages a one-man counterprotest at the MFA on July 8th

Please see my original post for background: Monet's La Japonaise Kimono Wednesdays at the MFA.
Write-up about the second counterprotest: Part 2: Protest and counterprotest @ July 15th Kimono Wednesday.

Timothy Nagaoka, who counterprotested at the MFA last Wednesday, asked me to share this message inviting anyone of any race who would like to see the MFA reinstate the try on portion of Kimono Wednesdays to join him this week. If you have a kimono or yukata please feel free to wear it.

Kimono Wednesdays are scheduled to continue through the rest of the month on Wednesdays with Spotlight Talks at 6:00pm - 6:15pm, 6:45pm - 7:00pm, and 7:15pm - 7:30pm. The protesters have stated in the past that they intend to be there every Wednesday.


Date & Time
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
6:00 - 8:00pm

Location
Museum of Fine Arts
Sidney and Esther Rabb Gallery (Gallery 255)
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

Admission
Admission on Wednesdays after 4pm is "by voluntary contribution" so it can be free if you want it to be. Admission is usually $24 for adults.

Invitation from Timothy Nagaoka
My name is Timothy Nagaoka, and last Wednesday, July 8th, I went to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston to protest their decision to limit the visitor's interaction with the "Kimono" drawn in Claude Monet's painting, "La Japonaise."

Before the opposition for the exhibit, the museum allowed visitors to try on the replica of the "Kimono" worn by Monet's wife in the painting. The "Kimono" was commissioned by the Japanese national broadcaster, NHK when the painting toured the country last year, and it was very well received in Japan as part of the exhibit.

However misguided and unfounded the protesters' opposition to the "Kimono" and their claims of "Racism" and "Imperialism" are, with the museum yielding to their demand, the media has portrayed their opposition as the sentiment of the Boston community. I believe that their negative sentiment towards the exhibit is in the minority, and that the majority of people--both, Japanese and Non-Japanese--in the Boston area are in favor of the exhibit and would like to have the opportunity to put on the "Kimono."

I will be protesting one last time at the MFA this Wednesday, July 15th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. With the waning media interest in the topic, I feel that this may be the last chance to make an appeal to the museum to bring back "Kimono Wednesday."

Actions speak louder than words so if you agree with me please join me in the protest on Wednesday and please share this message with your friends and colleagues.
  
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