On March 17, 2002 I had the honor of interviewing the late James U. Tanaka.
JT: I was born in Nevada. Near Reno, Nevada in 1917. Let’s
see, I went to an art
school in Los Angeles and I was always interested in art and I thought
maybe
if I went to art school I would learn more about what they did,
how they did
it and so forth.
MK: Did you have an interest in art when you were
a child? Or did the art
come later?
JT: A little later, I guess, yes. Perhaps when I was in high school.
MK: When did you start working with Walt Disney?
JT: At Disney? Oh, that was…I guess…let’s
see…You know it was after Disney
that I went to art school ‘cause I never had a chance to go
to art school.
Didn’t have any money actually, but anyway, I went to school….
Yeah…after I
worked at Disney. A friend of my brother knew a friend who had a
friend who
worked at Disney. They were looking for artists so I went for an
interview
and I got the job.
MK: I recall a Donald Duck orange juice can. Was that one of your creations?
JT: It could have been. It’s been so long ago
now, I can’t remember too many
things, but I guess it was one of the things that I worked on.
MK: What made you decide to leave Walt Disney?
JT: I retired actually. When I was 60 years old
I retired from
Disney and started doing some freelance work.
MK: I believe you had a jazz series at the Turning
Point in Piermont, New
York many years ago.
JT: That was the first time I had a chance to meet
with people who were in
that field. You know, selling posters and original paintings. That’s
the
first contact I had, was right there and it was a very exciting
period for
me.
MK: I remember a collage that you created where
you’re playing the
trumpet. Are you also a musician?
JT: No I’m not. I did have a painting like that?
MK: It was a collage and in the middle of the collage you’re holding a trumpet.
JT: I've always been interested in jazz since I
was in high school I guess. I didn’t play any
instruments and I wasn’t in with a jazz group but I loved jazz
and always
went to jazz shows in New York, in the Village. And there I got
to know the
feeling of what jazz was about and I really enjoyed it.
MK:‘Stomping at the Savoy’, was that a series that you painted?
JT: Yeah…Stomping at the…gosh…you
remind me of so many things. Stomping at
the Savoy, I believe is a title of a song.
MK: Benny Goodman, it was a Benny Goodman piece.
JT: Yeah, right. Yes, I title, I guess, a lot of
my paintings from popular
songs.
MK: Whenever I ride my bicycle up Clausland
Mountain I'm
reminded of your woodcut of Clausland Mountain.
JT: Oh, you bring me back such memories. I vaguely remember that.
MK: You made this for a benefit.
JT: Oh yes. I know that I did some paintings for
a benefit and I forget who
it was for or what.
MK: I think it was a project to preserve Clausland Mountain.
JT: Oh yeah, yeah. I remember that now, yes.
MK: A while back I recall watching a sitcom and finding one of your paintings in the set.
JT: Oh is that right? God! I remember…off and
on I see my paintings in
the background of a program or something.
MK: Have you had the opportunity to do any painting recently?
JT: No ... very little. You know I’m 85 years
old now and I haven’t done very
much. Though I’m thinking of going back to painting. The thing
that I’m
interested in right now are abstract paintings. I found an old painting
and
I was looking at it and I said you know it's pretty good. I think
probably I'll go back to abstract painting.
MK: With oil or watercolor?
JT: With acrylic.
MK: Acrylic?
JT: Yeah.
MK: Well thank you very much for calling.
JT: Well, it was nice talking to you.
'Stompin' at the Savoy' : the Art of Jim Tanaka
The Alpine Community House Show
An Interview With Jim Tanaka (Complete Unedited Text) (Edited QuickTime Audio File)
Email your comments: mkatzhope@aol.com
Jim Tanaka's Jazz “Mini Posters"
'Stompin' at the Savoy' : the Art of Jim Tanaka
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