mural 29

9.45M x 3.35M (31’ x 11’), CROFT STREET

the winning float

Painted in 1991 by Joyce H. Kamikura,
Richmond, BC

The Artist

Born in Steveston and raised in Japan, Joyce Kamikura came late to life as an artist. When she returned to Canada in 1956, she studied to obtain a degree in Commerce and Business Administration. Only in 1982 did she return to college to formally study art. She has since worked as a full-time artist.

The painting of The Winning Float was a challenge in which Kamikura wished to achieve a sense of the ethereal light and transparency of watercolour, as well as capturing the richness of the pigments found in traditional Japanese fabrics.

Kamikura works in watercolour and mixed media, and has developed a style recognizable for its jewel-like colours and sense of movement. The artist has achieved recognition in many exhibits in Canada and internationally. Her works may be found in collections as far afield as England and Japan.

The Art

The date was June 30, 1939 - the Golden Jubilee of the Victoria Lumber and Manufacturing Company, the lifeblood of the modern town of Chemainus. The summer breeze rustled leaves and pulled at the lengths of the swaying silk kimonos worn by members of the Japanese Canadian community. Theirs was the winning float in a record-breaking parade that stretched over three-quarters of a mile (1km) and began two days of festivities.

In stark contrast to the gentle dance of the women’s clothing are the sturdy siennas and rusts of an expanse of forest and rock across the bay, the eternal backdrop to all activity in the town. Japanese culture likewise survived side by side the picket fence propriety of a dominant society that became increasingly intolerant of differences as war loomed. By 1942, there was not a single Japanese Canadian resident in town - all had been forcibly moved to internment camps.

In the summer of 1991, special efforts were undertaken to commemorate the rich and valuable contribution of Japanese Canadians to the community of Chemainus. The Winning Float is a result of those efforts, and pays tribute to citizens who so long ago took such joy in celebrating the history of the town. Next Mural >