Guided by a dream full of urgency and purpose. I welcomed the emissaries into my life. They told me they would appear if my hands would help from the reality of their spirit. I made twenty-two “Emissaries” that were “planted” throughout Vancouver and its environs in specific “lost” historic Japanese Canadian communities. Each one represents 1,000 of the 22,000 internees. “42” stands for 1942, the first year of internment. The tasks of the Emissaries are to make contact, collect information, offer a gift, return home, and tell the story of the Japanese Canadians. Many returned home with gifts. Some remain at large. The doll-like appearance is intended to make a tragic history approachable for young generations to question and not feel alienated. The blank eye follows from the tradition of the Japanese daruma doll, where only one eye is painted and the other is filled in when a set task has been accomplished.

As this project continues, more details can be found at: emissarymission42