Howard Ikemoto

Howard came to mind while I was ruminating over the current horrors of the the federal government disappearing immigrants to foreign prisons. I remembered a talk that I attended at the McPherson Center in Santa Cruz at the opening of Howard's gallery installation reflecting on his experience at Tule Lake Japanese internment camp. He wept as he spoke and it stirred me deeply as did the art. I recall one piece which was a small table with a bowl on top and other meager articles representing...

I didn't know Howard well, only meeting him a few times. I worked for his with Jeanne at Santa Cruz Operations in the 80's and I was also a student at Cabrillo where he taught. His contribution to the art world is significant and I know he will be missed. My condolences to his family and friends.

In 1976 I started attending Cabrillo College, hoping to take courses I could transfer to UC Berkeley to study Architecture. In those days it required skills in architectural rendering, and I had less than none, so I was pointed to the Art department to take a drawing class. Dumb luck put me in a class with Howard. I never studied architecture again. He was a gifted teacher, not only at the fundamentals of the craft but addressing the elusive nature of making images. He could conjure the magic...

I am sorry to hear about the loss of Howard, my condolences to Reiko and Ami.
I have fond memories of Howard growing up and he and my father were good friends. He used to host ping pong tournaments at his house, and he would join my dad and I going to see SF Giant games.
I always remember Howard's smile and great energy. May he Rest In Peace.

Significant artist, great teacher, exemplary human being, and my friend

My heart goes out to Howard’s family and closest friends. I can only imagine the sadness that you all may be experiencing. May your lovely memories of him sustain you as you process your great loss.

Howard was a treasured artist, teacher, and friend to all who were blessed by his presence. I will especially remember him when I see a lotus floating in murky water.

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of this incredible person who brought so much light into the world. After he retired from Cabrillo I became Howard's first saxophone teacher in 2000 when he began a new adventure after retirement of learning to play some of his favorite jazz tunes, starting first on his old Buescher and then with a new Yamaha tenor sax. Howard was incredibly kind and supportive to the student who followed his lesson, a kid who had since become a professional jazz artist in...

I took my first class in 1971 and a total of 3 including printmaking and color and design, I never forgot that the first time he read my name in class he looked at me and said I have a good name for an artist. I was offered a job in the Sculpture dept. in 72 and worked on campus till 95. Howard came to my show in Capitola with Holt Murray and whispered that he liked my new paintings a lot. That made my year/life to hear a compliment from him. He didn't mix words and spoke his mind/truth. We...

Howard was my teacher for Drawing and Composition in 1967. Although I was not an art student (Math major), I very much appreciated his influence. I may have been his least talented student ever. My grade in the class was a C. I remember drawing in the class and Mr Ikemoto was walk around the room and make suggestions to students about their work. His comment to me was "draw what you see, not what you think you see". I think there was more to that suggestion that its application to...