JAPAN HOUSE

Japan House Celebrates 10th Anniversary!

Japan House celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year!  Yes, it was a decade ago that this unique facility opened its doors and the gardens were planted.  What a lot we have to celebrate! We have many special events planned to thank all of you that have supported Japan House through the years----following are just a few of the highlights.  Please mark the dates of October 20-26, 2008 on your calendar and plan to join us!

Noh, one of the most time-honored theater arts of Japan, will be presented at Krannert Center in the afternoon of October 25, 2008. Shozo Sato, Professor Emeritus of the UIUC Art & Design faculty will be back on the Krannert Center stage to graciously share his expertise on Japanese traditional theater by giving a brief introduction to the Noh performances.

Kyoko Ibe, the renowned washi artist, will enhance the Noh performance stage with an installation of her artwork. She will also be the subject of an exhibition, The World of Yugen: Japanese Paper Artworks by Kyoko Ibe at Krannert Art Museum from August 29, 2008 through January 4, 2009.   

 

Niwa Zenkyu, kokoro artist, will conduct painting workshops while sharing with us his warm kokoro messages during the week of October 20-24, 2008. Kokoro is a Japanese term translated to mind, heart or spirit.

Masaji Terasawa performs the ancient art of amezaiku, a method of sculpting hot taffy-like candy into fantastic shapes of animals and other creatures. He has been creating his artwork for the last 30 years throughout the US and Canada and he will perform at Japan House in the afternoon of October 26, 2008.

A celebration banquet is planned for the evening of October 25, 2008. Look for more information here on the blog or the Japan House website. With these events and programs, we hope to express our sincerest gratitude to all of you for your kind and generous support and to renew our friendship for years to come.

Listening to the koh....

Spring Open House at Japan House
Saturday, April 12, 2008
10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
2000 South Lincoln Avenue
Urbana, IL 61802

Japan House is delighted to announce a very special presentation on KODO, the art of  traditional Japanese incense by our distinguished visitors, Mr. Gyosetsu Maruyama and Ms. Nobue Irako from Nippon Kodo, Inc. of Tokyo.

Breathing in and appreciating the different varieties of incense is called “listening to the koh.”  Join us in listening to the koh in the serenity of Japan House. Presentations at 11:00 and 2:00.

Tour the gardens with James Bier, Designer and Builder of the Japan House gardens, at 1:00 and 3:00.

Tea ceremonies will be performed throughout the day by the Urbana-Champaign Association of Chado Urasenke Tankokai. Ikebana by Art 108 students will be on display.

Free admission, all are welcome!

More Trunk Show artwork.....

Here are a few examples of some of the artwork you will find at the Japan House Designer Trunk Show 2: Simple Elegance.  Exhibiting artists include Lisa Alan, Laurel Campbell, Mindy Gardner, Melissa Huff, Kyoko Ibe, Laurie Jacobi, Masako Onodera and Jo Yoshimura.  Things may go quickly....call in advance for a reservation and  your admission will only be $10 instead of $12 at the door!

Champaign artist Lisa Alan creates felted wool clothing and accessories:

Champaign artist Laurel Campbell creates gemstone and glass bead jewelry and felted accessories:

Champaign artist Melissa Huff is known for her one of a kind sculptural jewelry, based on botanical forms and made of enamel, electroformed copper and fine silver.

Japanese artist Kyoko Ibe will be the subject of an exhibition at Krannert Art Museum next fall but you will have the chance to purchase some of her artwork at the trunk show.  She will have washi art, lighting and jewelry available.

Minneapolis artist Laurie  Jacobi creates garments made from 100% wool fabric she has designed herself.  The designs are inspired by Scandinavian legends about nature.

Urbana artist Masako Onodera  works with both metal and glass in creating her jewelry and sculptural items.

Japanese artist Jo Yoshimura creates beautiful one of a kind weavings.

Such a busy semester....and now a Trunk Show

It has been such a busy semester here at Japan House that we have neglected keeping this blog up to date!  I will start with letting you know about an exciting event coming up soon.  Japan House Designer Trunk Show 2: Simple Elegance will take place on Saturday November 10, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Local, national and international artists will offer wearable art, ranging from jewelry to textiles to washi (Japanese paper) art for sale. The artists have agreed to generously donate a portion of their sales to Japan House.  The event will take place in the homes of two Japan House supporters, at 2404 and 2428 Prairie Ridge Place in Champaign.  Admission to both homes is $12 at the door or $10 if paid in advance.

Funds raised by this event will support the continuing programs of Japan House----so it's a wonderful way to support the things we do here AND have a chance to meet artists and buy some wonderful works of art! Kimonos will also be available for sale.  Please contact Japan House for more information, or to make a reservation, at 217-244-9934.

In addition to the items for sale there will be a silent auction.  Local artist Mindy Garder has created--and generously donated---a beautiful work of art specifically for this event and it will be available by silent auction.  The beautiful steel artwork of gingko leaves is accompanied by the framed original drawing Mindy did.  Bidding started at $500---you can stop by Japan House to see the work (call to check times) or call to place a bid.  The final bids for this stunning work of art will be on the day of the trunk show---results will be announced at 2:00 p.m.

We hope you join us---it will be a very special day....

Tours this afternoon....

We'll be open for tours this afternoon as we are every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  No cost and no need for reservations---and you can take a break in the cool Japan House gardens afterwards....

An evening of folding...

Japan House was full of friends and supporters busily folding cranes for peace last night.  It was a wonderful evening with many different groups coming together.  There were third graders from Ellen Baranowski's class at Kenwood Elementary School, who helped us fold and delivered hundreds of cranes they had already folded in class.  There were teachers and students from the Campus Middle School for Girls, members of our volunteer group and University students from the Peace  Over a Bowl of Tea Group. It was heartening to see so many different ages working together with a common wish for peace.

Professor Gunji will deliver the cranes to Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima later this month, when she leads a tour of Campus Honors Students in Japan.

Paper Cranes for Peace

In these times of war, and horrors like the Virginia Tech killings, our need for peace is more important than ever. The evening of Wednesday, May 2, 2007, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. will be a very special one at Japan House.  Members of our Cultural Enrichment Volunteer Group, students from the Peace Over a Bowl of Tea Group, and all others who wish to attend, will come together to talk about the need for peace in this world and within ourselves, while folding cranes for peace.  Professor Gunji will conclude the evening by serving all a bowl of tea.

It is a Japanese legend that upon folding 1000 cranes (senbazuru) the folder is granted a wish. People from around the world have long sent origami cranes to Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan as a symbol and wish for peace.  Professor Gunji will be leading a Intercultural Study Tour, sponsored by the Campus Honors Program, to Japan on May 21st and will bring the cranes to Peace Memorial Park.  Each crane will include the name of the folder and any wishes they want to include. 

The Japan House Cultural Enrichment Volunteer Group is a group of current and prospective Japan House volunteers who meet monthly during the academic year for presentations of Japanese culture and the chance to drink tea and share good conversation.  The Peace Over a Bowl of Tea Group is a new group consisting of Campus Honors students that meets monthly.

No experience in origami is needed, only the desire to join us in wishing for peace.   We also invite school groups, other groups, and individuals to contribute cranes (please contact Japan House for necessary details). Call (217) 244-9934 or email japanhouse@uiuc.edu for more information.

Japanese Calligraphy

Next Wednesday will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about contemporary  Japanese calligraphy----as well as practice creating your own!  Krannert Art Museum joined us to bring renowned Japanese calligrapher, Eishi Sakuta, here to campus.  He will give a lecture/demonstration at the museum at 2:00 next Wednesday and his work will be on display in the gallery.  The event is free and open to the public---we hope you join us!

That evening at 5:30 he will conduct a workshop here at Japan House.  Participants will be limited to twenty people so please contact us asap if you are interested.  No experience or particular knowledge is required for participation.  Download the flyer for more details or call us at 244-9934.

Download sakuta_workshop_flyer_42007.pdf

Spring Open House

Despite the cold rain and intermittent snow (!), our Spring Open House was a great success.  You KNOW visitors really want to learn about the gardens when the willingly take a tour in the pouring rain!

Chancellor Emeritus Morton Weir was honored by Consul General Kenji Shinoda with a commendation by Foreign Minister Taro Aso.  Congratulations Mort and thanks also to the Consul General for his wonderful talk!

Spring Open House

Please join us for our Spring Open House this Saturday, April 14 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  The Honorable Kenji Shinoda, Consul General of Japan at Chicago, will give a short talk at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Japan and Illinois: Partners for Today and Tomorrow. 

James Bier, designer and builder of the Japan House gardens will lead a garden tours at  1:00 and 3:00 and tea ceremonies will be performed throughout the day by the Urbana-Champaign Association of Chado Urasenke Tankokai.  Ikebana by Art 108 students will also be on display.  It's a wonderful chance to see Japan House and the gardens, learn about Japan and of course, enjoy a bowl of tea.  We hope to see you!