Arts & International Affairs: Volume 2, Issue 1 | Page 143

important narrative for the human existence. Right now this point of time,
pre-presidential election in the United States of America in ����, I feel the
work I do is so important because it helps people learn from history. How do
you not repeat the mistakes of the past?
For example, the museum that we just opened up in Los Angeles in May, the
Go For Broke Education Center, is the legacy project for an organization
founded by Japanese-Americans World War II veterans. They and their
families were forcibly interned in “relocation” camps. Their families were
stripped of their constitutional rights and the young men were asked to
fight in the war. Their slogan was “Go For Broke.” We’re going to prove that
we’re true American citizens. We’re going to fight for all the rights that our families
have been denied. When you unpack all of the issues that we call national
insecurity, it mirrors what’s going on today exactly. If I have a chance in the
work Quatrefoil designs for museums to impact even a handful of people I
consider that worthwhile.
JP: This idea of memory and heritage is very different from the patrimonial
ideal that glorifies the culture. As the designer, how did you prepare yourself
for that role?
AC: When I listen I try to listen for the emotion and the undertone in the
answer too. In working with client organizations, they see that I’m a white
American woman. If I go into a group of Japanese Americans to talk about
their family’s experience in the camps, I have to be very honest. I have to
speak from my heart to communicate with people, and reach out to establish
trust and friendship so we can really talk about the deep issues.
In the Spring of ���� we completed a project in Albuquerque, New Mexico:
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. It’s a cultural museum that represents
all �� of New Mexico’s Pueblos. Here I am again a white American woman
from the east coast coming into Pueblo culture. I said to the folks straight
up in our first meeting I just want you to know that if we make a misstep, if we
don’t understand something, if we say something that’s not correct, if we say or do
something that’s offensive please, please tell us immediately so that we learn and
we understand. The curator and I built a really lovely relationship and she
said ask me anything. I learned so much about spiritual traditions, values,
families – things that aren’t shared with outsiders. Most of what we talked
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