Turner donates sculpture to Kawasaki Reading Room

· 2 min read

Turner donates sculpture to Kawasaki Reading Room

Dignitaries attending the Aug. 29 installation of the new sculpture at the Kawasaki Reading Room include (from row, from left) Joseph Francisco, Matt Kurushima and Harriet Turner, (back row) Kaye Jesske, Thomas Farrell, Mike Boyle, Jason Hellbusch and Badha Balasubramanian.
Dignitaries attending the Aug. 29 installation of the new sculpture at the Kawasaki Reading Room include (from row, from left) Joseph Francisco, Matt Kurushima and Harriet Turner, (back row) Kaye Jesske, Thomas Farrell, Mike Boyle, Jason Hellbusch and Badha Balasubramanian.

Harriet Turner has donated a sculpture to the Kawasaki Reading Room to honor the memory of Ryoko Sasaki and the generosity of Kawasaki Motors.

Turner, emeritus professor of modern languages and literatures, worked with Sasaki and Takehiko Saeki, former president of Kawasaki Motors, U.S.A., to found the reading room more than 20 year ago. Sasaki was the first director of the reading room.

The Kawasaki Reading Room is a center for Japanese studies at the university that facilitates language learning and cultural understanding. Located in the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center, it houses a library of books and periodicals and hosts speakers, workshops, and outreach events in an effort to expand language learning and cultural understanding.

The sculpture, which is a bow made from wood, was made by Sarah Turner, Harriet Turner’s daughter. It is currently on display in the reading room.

Harriet Turner celebrated the installation of the art at a lunch reception attended by Matt Kurushima, president of Kawasaki Motors, U.S.A.; Joseph Francisco, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and others from the university and Kawasaki Motors.

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