Symposium to explore experiences of atomic bomb survivors during OU Art Gallery exhibition

Oakland University will host the interdisciplinary symposium “Plumbing the Depths of A-Bomb Sufferers’ Trials and Tribulations” on March 20 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in conjunction with the Oakland University Art Gallery exhibition Memorializing the Hibakusha Experience.

The symposium will explore the lived realities of atomic bomb survivors through scholarly and artistic perspectives. Drawing on materials presented in the exhibition, faculty from a range of disciplines at Oakland University will examine the hibakusha experience and the role of visual culture in deepening understanding of nuclear history and its human impact.

The exhibition was created in partnership with the Peace Resource Center (PRC) at Wilmington College, Ohio, and features the Hiroshima–Nagasaki Memorial Collection, developed by Quaker nuclear abolitionist Barbara L. Reynolds (1915–1990). Reynolds lived in Hiroshima during the 1960s and dedicated much of her life to documenting and sharing the stories of atomic bomb survivors.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Peace Resource Center and the 80th commemoration of the atomic bombings of Japan, the exhibition presents a rich collection of artifacts and artworks reflecting the hibakusha experience. The display includes handicrafts, photographs, photobooks, scrapbooks, monographs, periodicals, poetry, sculptures, videos, installations and contemporary photo-based art.

The symposium is free and open to the public, and complimentary food and refreshments will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to review the full program and RSVP in advance.