Los Angeles/Nagoya Sister Cities Affiliation (LANSCA)

LANSCA ORGANIZATION STATEMENT>>>

THE SUNFLOWER ART EXCHANGE PROJECT

The Sunflower Art Exchange Project has completed its 7th year of sending depictions of sunflowers to the Nagoya Sunflower Painting Exhibition at Hisaya Odori Park in Nagoya.  This year, in collaboration with the Los Angeles University of Notre Dame Club, the USC Institute for Genetic Medicine Art Gallery, Watts Learning Center Charter School and Mother of Sorrows Elementary School in South Los Angeles, over 50 artworks were provided by the K- 8 students.  Ann Stacy, Mother of Sorrow's School Development Coordinator is seen here passing over the paintings by a class that painted in the style of Vincent Van Gogh.  Other art works were contributed from the Watts Learning Center Charter School and schools organized by Joyce Chinn. 

Currently the schools are being invited by LANSCA and the USC IGM Art Gallery to join in a program designed to prepare them to participate in the future in programs such as the one organized by the Japan America Society in which  all high school students residing in Southern California are invited  to enter the Japan America SAKURA Manga Poster Contest!

The year 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from the people of Japan to the people of the United States. Planted in Washington, D.C. in 1912, these cherry blossom trees have become a symbol of the warm relationship between Japan and the U.S. for the past century.  Our on-going partnership is designed to inform, engage and empower a generation to empower itself, the nation and the globe in the practice of local and global citizen diplomacy.

Thank you letter from Nagoya Geijutsunomori Organizing Committee

Mr. Ernest T. Hida
President, LANSCA
312 E. 1st Street, Suite 510
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dear Mr.

I wish to express my appreciation for your efforts and cooperation in organizing the 7th
Sunflower Painting Exhibition at Hisaya Odori Park in Nagoya. It was a great opportunity for Nagoya citizens to watch the paintings sent form your city. We all watched your masterpiece of sunflowers with deep emotion and were so much impressed.

We made notebooks by ourselves in order to express our appreciation. Would you kindly     please hand these notebooks to the children or the one who had participated in painting
for this exhibition?

In the future, I intend to work towards further internationalization of Nagoya. I wholeheartedly believe that after the 7th Sunflower Painting Exhibition, a firm, strong relationship has been born between Los Angeles and Nagoya. It is my heart’s desire that you will participate in the 8th Sunflower Painting Exhibition in Nagoya where I will be able to watch more of your paintings.

Sanzo Wanibe, President
Nagoya Geijutsunomori Organization Committee
Cc: International Relations Division, Office of Mayor, City of Nagoya