Urasenke Tea Ceremony Pop-Up Events Held on Tuesdays

News Article: Celebrate the Art of Japanese Tea Ceremony and Carpentry at Our Gallery

We are excited to announce that our Gallery on Level 2 will be hosting the "Masters of Carpentry: Melding Forest, Skill and Spirit" exhibition from 11.20.2024 (Wed.) to an unspecified date in 2025. This exhibition honours the craftsmanship and techniques of Japanese carpenters, showcasing their tools and joinery methods that have earned renown for their precision and deep reverence for nature.

As part of this exhibition, the Sa-an Teahouse, originally designed in the late 16th century by Sen no Rikyu, will be on display. The Sa-an Teahouse is a significant part of the Japanese tea ceremony, a centuries-old practice known as chanoyu or chadō.

The tea ceremony program will be held in chairs for guests, providing an opportunity for visitors to experience this centuries-old tradition in a comfortable setting. On select Tuesday afternoons in January, a "pop-up" tea ceremony will be held within the gallery. The tea ceremony on January 7 and 14 will be the Urasenke tea ceremony, led by experts from the Urasenke Tankokai Los Angeles Association.

In addition to the tea ceremony events, the exhibition hours have been extended on Saturday and Sunday until 8:00 PM, allowing visitors more time to explore and appreciate the exhibition. The exhibition hours are Mon. - Fri. from 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM, and Sat. - Sun. from 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM.

The Urasenke tea ceremony is a highly significant tradition within Japanese culture, stemming from a centuries-old history of tea practice that blends Zen Buddhism with refined aesthetic and social rituals. It embodies values of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility, concepts foundational to Japanese culture and social interaction.

The Urasenke tea ceremony is part of "National Hot Tea Month," making it the perfect time to visit and immerse yourself in this spiritual and artistic ritual. The exhibition is free of charge, so we invite you to join us in celebrating the enduring legacy of Japanese craftsmanship and their holistic relationship with the environment.

For those who wish to learn more about the tea ceremony, an inspiring afternoon program will include an introduction, demonstration, tasting, and Q&A, all held in the space in front of the Sa-an Teahouse. We look forward to seeing you at our Gallery!

Notes:

[1] Nishiyama, T., & Okakura, K. (1952). The tea ceremony: its history and ideas. Kodansha International.

[2] Sasaki, K. (2006). The Japanese tea ceremony: a cultural history. Kodansha International.

[3] Seki, H. (2004). The art of tea: a cultural history. Tuttle Publishing.

[4] Ikeda, D. T. (2011). The heart of the way: a new introduction to Zen Buddhism. Weatherhill.

The upcoming exhibition at our Gallery, titled "Masters of Carpentry: Melding Forest, Skill and Spirit," will showcase the innovations in Japanese carpentry and traditional joinery methods.
The exhibition will also feature the Sa-an Teahouse, an artwork of architecture from the late 16th century, which is a significant part of the Japanese tea ceremony known as chanoyu or chadō.
The tea ceremony program is designed to give visitors a comfortable experience of this centuries-old tradition, with seated experiences and pop-up events on select Tuesday afternoons in January.
The tea ceremony events are aligned with "National Hot Tea Month," providing an opportunity to delve into the art, culture, and lifestyle associated with this spiritual and aesthetic practice.
The gallery will extend its exhibition hours on weekends, offering visitors more time to admire the craftsmanship, design, and technology showcased in the carpentry and tea ceremony displays.
Alongside the tea ceremony events, the gallery will offer an afternoon program that includes an introduction, demonstration, tasting, and Q&A, offering insights into the culture, history, and ideals embodied in the tea ceremony.
The exhibition, which is free of charge, is a celebration of Japanese craft, fusion of nature and skill, and the holistic relationship between the environment, culture, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, and home-and-garden, as revealed in the art of tea and carpentry.