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Arts and craft clubs provided opportunities to share knowledge and culture. Artists gave lessons in painting and sketching, and provided their own equipment and supplies. Many had been successful artists before they were sent to Manzanar. The classes allowed internees to pass the time while creating beauty in the bleak camp.
Before he was sent to Manzanar, Charles Isamu Morimoto was a well-known commercial artist in Los Angeles. Through pencil drawing, pen and ink sketches and watercolor paintings he documented life in the camp. Scenes ranged from the camouflage net factory to the baseball fields. Morimoto also sought to capture the power of the Sierra Nevada Mountains rising dramatically to the west of camp. By teaching his craft at Manzanar, Mr. Morimoto inspired young and old artists alike.
Many become reknowned artists after leaving Manzanar.
![Mt. Williamson and the Manzanar Barracks](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ7578_painting.jpg)
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![Manzanar Hospital Watercolor](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ2223_painting.jpg)
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![Manzanar Hospital Watercolor Manzanar Barracks](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ2224_watercolor.jpg)
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![Poston Relocation Camp, Arizona Poston Relocation Camp, Arizona](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ7586_waterColor.jpg)
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![Poston Relocation Camp, Arizona Poston Relocation Camp, Arizona](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ7587_watercolor.jpg)
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![Paper Painting of People Paper Painting of People](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ7575_painting.jpg)
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![Manzanar Woodblock Manzanar Woodblock](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ7545_woodblock.jpg)
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![Merrit Park, Manzanar Merrit Park, Manzanar](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ7551_painting.jpg)
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![Two Manzanar Barracks, Latrine and the Alabama Hills Two Manzanar Barracks, Latrine and the Alabama Hills](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ7552_painting.jpg)
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![Manzanar Block 18 Manzanar Block 18](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ5172_painting.jpg)
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![Playing Baseball at Manzanar Playing Baseball at Manzanar](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7598_painting.jpg)
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![Manzanar Barracks and Mt. Williamson Manzanar Barracks and Mt. Williamson](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7597_painting.jpg)
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![The Judo Dojo Building at Manzanar The Judo Dojo Building at Manzanar](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7599_painting.jpg)
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![Manzanar Barracks 2 Manzanar Barracks 2](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ7560_drawing.jpg)
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![Manzanar Drawing Manzanar](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ2222_sketch.jpg)
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![Manzanar Barracks 1 Manzanar Barracks 1](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ7559_drawing.jpg)
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![Tall Trees Surrounding Manzanar Barracks Tall Trees Surrounding Manzanar Barracks](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7589_drawing.jpg)
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![Looming Mountains and Barrack Rows at Manzanar Looming Mountains and Barrack Rows at Manzanar](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7590_drawing.jpg)
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![People, Trees, Latrines and Manzanar Barracks People, Trees, Latrines and Manzanar Barracks](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7591_drawing.jpg)
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![People at Work with Vehicle and Barracks People at Work with Vehicle and Barracks](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7592_drawing.jpg)
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![Drawing Drawing](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7593_drawing.jpg)
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![Misshapen Tree and Manzanar Barracks Misshapen Tree and Manzanar Barracks](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7594_drawing.jpg)
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![Mt Williamson Mountain Top Mt Williamson Mountain Top](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7595_drawing.jpg)
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![Manzanar Landscape with Mt. Williamson Manzanar Landscape with Mt. Williamson](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7596_drawing.jpg)
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![Lakeside Pagoda at Sunrise Lakeside Pagoda at Sunrise](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7600_painting.jpg)
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![Lakeside Pagoda at Sunrise Snowcapped Eastern Sierras, Barracks, Guard Post with Kanshi Poem](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7610_Acc167_drawing.jpg)
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![Full Moon Rising over Manzanar Full Moon Rising over Manzanar](thumbs/Camp/past_times/MANZ5167_woodPainting.jpg)
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![Bearded Man with Japanese Characters](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7609_Acc167_drawing.jpg)
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![Woman's Portrait Woman's Portrait](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7601_drawing.jpg)
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![Preliminary Sketch Preliminary Sketch](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7603_Acc167_drawing.jpg)
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![Preliminary Sketch Preliminary Sketches for a Portrait](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7602_Acc167_drawing.jpg)
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![Preliminary Sketch Preliminary Sketch](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7605_Acc167_drawing.jpg)
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![Lady in Pillbox Hat Lady in Pillbox Hat](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7607_Acc167_drawing.jpg)
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![Fashion Plate Lady Fashion Plate Lady](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7606_Acc167_drawing.jpg)
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![Arm Sketch Arm Sketch](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7604_Acc167_drawing.jpg)
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![Preliminary Fashion Plate Lady Preliminary Fashion Plate Lady](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ7608_Acc167_drawing.jpg)
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![Pencil sketch of Mr. Wakita playing Go Pencil sketch of Mr. Wakita playing Go](thumbs/camp/past_times/MANZ4635_Mr_Wakita_playing_Go.jpg)
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