Augmented reality technology is providing a new and artistic way to explore the diverse history of San Jose’s 130-year-old Japantown district. “Hidden Histories,” a community project started by Susan Hayase and Tom Izu, allows people to use their smartphones to see and interact with AR art overlaid on current-day Japantown.
“We came up with Hidden Histories because it was very apparent that most people don’t know the history of San Jose Japantown,” Izu said. “And that the community wasn’t just about Japanese American history, but it involved the Chinese Americans and Filipino Americans as well. We’re using art as a way to connect with people at a deeper, emotional level.”
The current tour, presented by the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and partially funded by the Knight Foundation, showcases the work of nine artists whose work explores the different cultures and communities that have called Japantown home.
The project formally kicks off June 19 with a free event at the Art Object Gallery, 592 N. Fifth St., from 4 to 6 p.m. The inaugural showcase will provide an orientation to AR-vos, an open source mobile app developed by Tamiko Thiel and Peter Graf, followed by a self-guided walking tour through Japantown. Some of the artists also will be on hand to talk about their inspirations and how they translated their work into an augmented reality world.
You can find out more about the project and the June 19 event at hiddenhistoriesjtown.org.
BIG DAY FOR CITY HALL FALCONS: In what’s become an annual tradition in downtown San Jose, experts from the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group will head up to the nest box atop City Hall on Friday morning to check on the two falcon chicks hatched by Grace and her mate, H2.
Zeka Glucks of the SCPBRG reported that bands will be placed on each chick, and feather samples will be collected for DNA and contaminant testing. And, of course, the sex of each chick will be determined.
The high-flying operation will be showing up on the City Hall nest cams — available on the city website or on YouTube — after 7 a.m., and results will be posted on the falcon group’s Facebook page. Let’s hope nobody’s decided to jump on recent dumb trends by exploding a blue or pink dust bomb over City Hall for the big reveal.
SUMMER FEST LINEUP: San Jose Jazz announced a group of confirmed headliners for Summer Fest, taking place Aug. 13-15, that includes Morris Day and The Time, Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra, Superblue: Kurt Elling Featuring Charlie Hunter, Judith Hill and Ozomatli. Those are just a few of the fan favorites announced among the 45 acts expected to perform.
More information was released on some of the stages besides the Sobrato Organization Main Stage at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The Fountain Blues Foundation, in collaboration with Poor House Bistro owner Jay Meduri, will host a stage on the southern end of Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The San Jose Museum of Art will host a stage spotlighting emerging talent, the historic Montgomery Theater will be an indoor stage for national and regional acts, and the SJZ Break Room at the old Valley Title building will also host live performances with audiences for the first time.
You can check out the lineup and buy tickets for passes at www.sanjosejazz.org.
