Hisako's House: At the Table

Immerse yourself in an exclusive, multi-sensory experience of art, cuisine and conversation in support of visionary artist, Robyn Mineko Williams’ captivating new creation, Hisako’s House. Hosted in the 1950’s mid-century home where Robyn’s family lived and gathered for decades, guests will begin their At the Table experience with the cinematic, promenade-style performance surrounded by music and soundscapes composed by acclaimed Chicago instrumentalist and musician, Macie Stewart. Following the performance, guests will meet the artists around the dining room table for a meal curated by chef Kelly Ijichi of Mom’s Chicago with cocktails by Hoste. Join us at the house on October 14 & 15, fill your senses and support this compelling new work of art by Robyn Mineko Williams. Tickets are limited – reserve your spot now!

More from Robyn Mineko Williams: Hisako’s House is a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary project rooted in an exploration of my Japanese American lineage, my family’s experiences surrounding the incarceration of WWII and the intergenerational ripples of trauma, love, and resilience that followed. Part live performance and part documentary film, the project blends dance, music and soundscapes by composer, Macie Stewart, archival research, film and interviews. This past June, we premiered the performative component of the work in a run of intimate, immersive performances inside my grandma’s house in Lombard, IL. The house has served as a container for the project in many ways. My late grandmother, Nancy Hisako Nishimura, lived for decades in the midcentury home she and my grandfather built together during the late 1950’s. It is the house where my family gathered around the dining room table together countless times and a place that has been witness to the stories, dynamics, connections and ripples that I’m attempting to learn about today. My hope is to further the reach of Hisako’s House and the stories that inspired it by continuing to present this performance in Lombard, IL as well as houses beyond my grandma’s that hold similar histories or share cultural or architectural connections. The 50-minute promenade-style performance is designed to move from room to room throughout the space. Audiences are encouraged to follow the action as they wish, creating their own views and proximities to the work. The documentary component of Hisako’s House is in production, to be released at a future date. It will encapsulate the making of the performance alongside interviews and archival footage speaking to the Japanese American experience before, during and following WWII.

Thank you for your support. We look forward to hosting you at the house!