Art Exhibit of Hiroshima Children’s Drawings

On view Sundays, 9/6 – 10/25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On this 70^th anniversary of the atomic bombing that ended WWII, we ask ourselves, “How could the children of Honkawa School create such joyful, colorful drawings while living among the ruins of Hiroshima in 1947?

This fall, First Universalist Church presents an exhibit inspired by the powerful documentary, “Pictures of a Hiroshima Schoolyard.” The film tells the story of how one Unitarian Universalist minister’s critique of the atomic bomb led to post-war gifts to Hiroshima school children and the cycle of peace and reconciliation that followed.

All Souls Church Unitarian in Washington D.C., responding to a postwar request for help, collected and sent a half ton of school materials to Hiroshima schools. Pictures by the schoolchildren, drawn with these gifts of paints, crayons, pencils and paper in 1947, were sent back to All Souls as a thank you. In 1995, the drawings were rediscovered and professionally restored. In 2010, members of All Souls Church took the pictures back to Hiroshima where they were reunited with the artists in an exhibit in the very building where they were created.

This fall’s exhibit at First Universalist includes a selection of drawings by the children from Honkawa Elementary School in Hiroshima, photos from Metro State University’s Hiroshima collection, and more information to explain this fascinating story. Two film screenings will be offered in conjunction with the exhibit on Sunday, Sept. 20.

A similar exhibit, film screenings, and activities for children will be presented in St. Paul (Nagasaki’s sister city) at Landmark Center Sept. 19 – Oct. 25. For more information, visit stpaulpeace.org and landmarkcenter.org.

Drawings are from All Souls Church Unitarian, Washington D.C. Sponsored by the U.S.–Japan Foundation. Support comes from the Saint Paul-Nagasaki Sister City Committee and First Universalist member Lynn Elling.