"In Tribute to Chiura Obata"
1885-1975 (小圃 千浦)
Always go with nature, anywhere, in any circumstance, with gratitude.
The renowned and highly respected Japanese American artist Chiura Obata was a popular member of the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley from 1932 to 1942. He maintained his studio and gallery at 2525 Telegraph Avenue (a City of Berkeley landmark), where his wife, Haruko, taught ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, bullets were fired at the studio. It then closed in 1942 during the forced internment of Berkeley's entire Japanese Armerican community, including 450 U.C. students. Provost Deutsch and University President Sproul criticized the internment, and Berkeley residents supplied art materials to Obata's art schools at the internment camps at Tanforan, California and Topaz, Utah. By providing art education to fellow internees the Obatas helped to instill a sense of calm in the face of hardship and injustice.
After the war ended in 1945, the Obatas returned to Berkeley where Chiura resumed teaching until 1954. His paintings and drawings, predominantly focusing on California landscapes, have been exhibited and collected by museums worldwide.
Erected 2016
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Asian Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.
Location. 37° 51.871′ N, 122° 15.522′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in South Berkeley. It is at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Dwight Way, on the right when traveling south on Telegraph Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Berkeley CA 94704, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area and on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Soda Works Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Mrs. E.P. (Stella) King Building
Also see . . .
1. Chiura Obata, Artist. Berkeley Historical Plaque Project website entry (Submitted on September 2, 2018.)
2. Chiura Obata. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on August 10, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 601 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 2, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2. submitted on August 10, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on September 2, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
