Ron Kiino

Ron Kiino was born in Berkeley, California, and is of Japanese American Ancestry. He is a third generation, 'Sansei' which is three generations from native Japan. As a young child, he was introduced to bigotry and racism first-hand. His family and relatives were incarcerated and imprisoned because of their color and race, during WWII. Even though they are American citizens they were transported to Topaz, Utah, for the duration of the war. Topaz, Utah is one of several sites that imprisoned over 123,000 Japanese Americans during the war. This was an act of racism at its' worst.
One of his works of art is an acrylic painting entitled 'Guard Tower, Topaz, Utah'. The painting is 16' x 24' and utilizes brilliant colors to dramatize the rage and fury of being imprisoned and humiliated. The guard tower symbolizes that a supposed democratic nation is capable of doing it again.

The artist, Ron Kiino, is a graduate of the University of Southern California with the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Secondary Education with a minor in Art. He has had a wonderfully diverse and interesting career that led him from teaching and coaching for fifteen years with the Los Angeles Unified School District to private enterprise. An entrepreneur at heart, he successfully owned and operated several summer camp programs for children, established a retail sporting goods store, and founded an apparel company that specialized in surf wear.
Upon moving to Portland, and later Battle Ground, Washington, to embrace retirement, he was finally able to enjoy one of his most cherished passions again - painting with acrylics.

Art display at the Battle Ground Public Library
Art Exhibit for The Oregon Humane Society
Canine paintings displayed at the Northwest
Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital
Juried Art Shows in Portland, McMinnville, Wilsonville and
Beaverton, OR.