Oliver Wang, author of “Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture in Los Angeles,” at the JANM exhibition “Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community” at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena.
Santa Monica Public Library presents an author talk with Dr. Oliver Wang on Monday, Nov. 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Main Library’s Multipurpose Room, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.
Professor/writer/DJ Wang goes behind the wheel of the Nikkei community for his new book, “Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture in Los Angeles” (Angel City Press), a companion piece to the current exhibition produced by the Japanese American National Museum and hosted at the Mullin Gallery at ArtCenter College of Design.
He will be joined by members of the Atomettes, a teenage girls’ social club formed in the Sawtelle neighborhood in the 1950s, known for taking road trips by themselves across the state and to Nevada, who will share stories, rare photos and film clips from their adventures. A book sale and signing follow.
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and on a first arrival basis.
The Santa Monica Public library is wheelchair-accessible and welcomes persons of all abilities. For special accommodations, contact Library Administration at (310) 458-8606 at least one week prior to the event or email library@santamonica.gov. Library Administration office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. TTY/TDD users may call (310) 395-8499.
About the Presenter
Oliver Wang is a professor of sociology at CSU Long Beach and curator of the “Cruising J-Town” exhibition, currently open through Dec. 14 at the Peter and Merle Mulin Gallery, ArtCenter College of Design, 1111 S. Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena.
Wang is also the author of “Legions of Boom: Filipino American Mobile DJ Crews of the San Francisco Bay Area” (Duke University Press, 2015). He is a regular writer on music, arts and culture for outlets including NPR’s “All Things Considered,” the Los Angeles Review of Books, Los Angeles Times, and KCET’s “Artbound.”