Birds, Bombs, and Beauty began as a research undertaking that included a seminar course led by Kyoko Kurita (Japanese Literature) and a trip to Japan (unfortunately suspended due to the pandemic shutdown in March 2020). The Pomona research team also includes Phillip Choi (Physics), Nina Karnovsky (Biology), Tom Le (International Relations / Politics), and Rebecca McGrew (Art History, the Benton). This research was supported by EnviroLab Asia and the Henry Luce Foundation.
![enola gay exhibit 1995 opening day enola gay exhibit 1995 opening day](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/9150988374_cabd3e647c_z.jpg)
![enola gay exhibit 1995 opening day enola gay exhibit 1995 opening day](http://www.urban75.org/blog/images/comacchio-ferrera-italy-33.jpg)
The exhibition title Each Day Begins with the Sun Rising is drawn from the name of Fukuda’s installation, and it evokes the mundane yet awe-inspiring act of the sun rising. The title links the work of the four artists with a daily occurrence that unites people across space and time during a period of ongoing global political conflict, humanitarian catastrophes, and the climate emergency.In 1995, the Enola Gay exhibit was intended to open for the 50th anniversary of the day the Atomic Bomb was dropped on Japan. Michael Heyman, Secretary of the Smithsonian, had a vision of creating an exhibit that would inspire people to have more profound discussions about the atom bomb. A script was written to point out the different phases that took place before the decision to drop the bomb and the aftermath of that decision. The controversy surrounding the Enola Gay exhibit stems from disagreements between the Smithsonian, historians, members of Congress, veterans, and those who were there for the event that shook the world.