In February, 2008, I was invited by the city of San José to make an art piece commemorating the 50th anniversary of San Josés sister city relationship with Okayama, Japan. The piece was to be gifted from the City of San José to the Mayor of Okayama.
San José, California, is the heart of Silicon Valley, with the largest concentration of technology expertise in the world – more than 6,600 technology companies! Before that distinction, Santa Clara Valley, in which San José is located, was known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight for its rich agriculture and beautiful scenery.
I grew up in San José as the city grew in its new industry, and while there were still fruit orchards, vegetable and flower farms. Some of my fondest memories are of summer mornings, tiptoeing out of the house early on the weekends with my brother. We rode our bicycles to the surrounding orchards, sat under the fruit trees enjoying apricots, plums and cherries warmed by the sun.
I imagine Okayama citizens who enjoy memories of their own much like mine. Among other similarities, Okayama and San José share agricultural foundations. In the northern part of Okayama, approaching the Chugoku Mountains, white peaches are cultivated.
I wanted the art piece to include a peach for Okayama and an apricot for San José. To signify the sister city relationship, I created the two fruits on one branch. The resultant art piece is titled “Sisters”. It was presented to the Mayor of Okayama in March, 2008.
Making this art piece on behalf of the City of San José has been a privilege and honor for me. I am immensely proud to know that a piece of my work, representing the city I grew up in, has significance on the other side of our world.