New Art Exhibition Opens at the Battleship Missouri Memorial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW ART EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE BATTLESHIP MISSOURI MEMORIAL
World War II artwork created and donated to the Mighty Mo by a Japanese artist

Pearl Harbor, HI – (May 20, 2022) – A new exhibit, titled Legendary Naval Warriors – The World of Hiroyuki Sugano’s Pencil Drawings, just opened at the Battleship Missouri Memorial featuring remarkable World War II artwork from legendary Japanese artist, Hiroyuki Sugano.

Sugano has been working as a pencil artist for about 10 years and has decided that the purpose of his creative work is to honor the memory of our ancestors by creating precise and dynamic drawings of historic warships and their crew.

The new exhibit will feature an initial showing of 12 of Sugano’s drawings, including both U.S. and Japanese warships from WWII. Also included will be short biographies of U.S. and Japanese Sailors who served aboard the ships on display. The exhibit will not only showcase intricate naval artwork, but also insight into the men who bravely served aboard these historic ships.

“This is more than just an exhibit, but a dedication to the people who built and operated ships and aircrafts in WWII and further acknowledging the strong ties between Hawai‘i and Japan," said Mike Carr, president & CEO of the USS Missouri Memorial Association. “We are honored Hiroyuki Sugano has generously donated 16 pieces of his powerful artwork to the Mighty Mo as a new home to display such a significant time in history.”

A total of 16 of Sugano’s art pieces are now permanently in the Battleship Missouri Memorial’s collection and will be rotated in the new exhibit thorough January 2023. Sugano and the Missouri have a shared hope that the exhibit will inspire future generations to reconsider the history of war that our predecessors walked through.

About the Battleship Missouri Memorial
Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 9-million visitors from around the world with a fascinating tour experience showcasing the USS Missouri’s unique place in history. Located a mere ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial, the Mighty Mo completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the “day of infamy” and sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and ends with Japan’s formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

The USS Missouri had an astounding career over five decades and three wars – World War II, the Korean War, and Desert Storm – after which it was decommissioned and donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Association operates the Battleship Missouri Memorial as a historic attraction and oversees her care and preservation with the support of visitors, memberships, grants, and donations.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Military, kama‘āina (local resident) and school group pricing is available. For information or reservations, call (808) 455-1600 or visit USSMissouri.org.

For information or reservations visit USSMissouri.org.

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Please credit the following images to the Battleship Missouri Memorial.

Link to image: https://bit.ly/3ljxwRX
Caption: Portrait of Hiroyuki Sugano

Link to image: https://bit.ly/3wnebWr
Caption: Battleship Missouri by Hiroyuki Sugano

Media Contact:
Shere’e Quitevis
(808) 741-1668
Sheree.Quitevis@finnpartners.com

Jaclyn Hawse
(808) 455-1600 x246
JaclynH@ussmissouri.org