Society for Asian Art Programs: Member Events

Member Events

The Nobility of Failure: The Spirit of the Samurai
With David Buchanan

When: Saturday, June 27
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Place: Education Studio
Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members

Samurai were redoubtable warriors, frequently faithful to a cause to the bitter end. In fact, the samurai most remembered were those whose adherence to a hopeless cause persisted far beyond any reasonable hope of victory. In glorious defeat, they chose death as evidence of fealty unending. We shall pay our respects to these dedicated men, and consider their effect on Japanese behavior in our time.

Examples of tragic heroism date to the 4th century. Prince Yamato Takeru, the archetype of a long line of lonely poignant heroes ended his days writing a poem to a lone pine tree, under which he died. But we shall begin with the conquering general Yoshitsune. Then we’ll consider Amakusa Shiro, who led Japan's early Christians to their deaths. The tale leads onward to end in 1974 but many a stalwart warrior must perish before we finish.

It is not the bravery of the Samurai, nor his success in battle that is remembered. It is the completely Japanese sense of compassion, sincerity and dedication. There is a Japanese term "aware" pronounced "ah-wa-ray.” It is hardly limited to warlike scenes, but is also the predominant emotion in the classic Japanese novel, Tale of Genji. Perhaps it may best be seen as elegant pity. Although there is not a shred of violence in Genji, there is murder, incest, betrayal and lost love. Yet we can relate to the characters in such a way that we feel only understanding and deep loving pity - a form of "aware." So, in our doomed warriors, despite the brutal nature of the setting, both we and the Japanese feel a strange sense of sympathy, respect and even admiration.

Dr. David Buchanan is a retired medical doctor and one of the Asian Art Museum’s most revered docents. He has been a student of Japanese art, history and culture for most of his adult life.

Going to the Dogs: Samurai Encounters with the West in the 16th and 17th Century Japan
With Laura Allen

When: Friday, July 10
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Place: Education Studios
Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members
Note: Registration Required

What effect did the brief presence of Portuguese traders, adventurers and priests have on samurai life and culture in late sixteenth and early seventeenth century Japan? This lecture takes a closer look at so-called "Namban art," as well as the ways in which military technology, cartography, and fashion were altered through contact with the West. Attracted to the religious beliefs of the Jesuits, warrior conversions also influenced the arts; as new Christian imagery, artistic formats and media sprang briefly into use. Dr. Allen will explore how lasting or widespread was the impact of Portuguese trade and missionary activity on warrior taste and interests.

Dr. Laura W. Allen received her doctorate in Japanese art history from UC Berkeley in 1989. Her research interests are reflected in publications on illustrated narrative painting, 19th and 20th century woodblock prints, and artistic responses to the West during the Meiji and Taisho eras. As an independent scholar and consultant since 1997, she has provided expertise on Japanese art for many private clients and institutions throughout the country. She is a regular speaker for the Society’s Arts of Asia lecture series, and teaches Asian art history as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco.

Photographic Memories
With Bob Del Bonta

When: Saturday, July 18
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Place: Education Studio
Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members

The visually stunning collection of photographs from the renowned Ehrenfeld collection in the Asian Art Museum’s exhibition Photographic Memories will be the subject of this presentation. A walkthrough of the exhibit is included. These beautiful, professionally taken photographs reflect attitudes from a time when “oriental” and “exotic” were synonymous. They also reflect the deeply personal significances of individual encounters with the East: memories of “a grand adventure,” a time when someone lived in Asia, graphic proof of exposure to the wonderments of cultures so little known to most Europeans in the 19th century, or fantasies about trips one wished to toke.

The pictures were avidly consumed in Europe, and together they constitute a fascinating study of the current western “take” on the world beyond familiar horizons. Dr. William K. Ehrenfeld’s collection broadens our understanding of the evolution of “East meets West” in ways other art forms cannot. We can look at the material from our own perspective, perhaps a little more knowledgeable than some of the tourists of yesteryear, but still with a sense of discovery that Dr. Del Bonta’s guidance will sharpen. Don’t miss this chance to deepen your appreciation of this exquisite collection.

Dr. Robert J. Del Bonta has been associated with the Asian Art Museum since 1978, teaching classes, giving lectures, and guest-curating over a dozen exhibits. He is currently working on an exhibit of Jaina art for the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City and an Indian painting exhibit for Notre Dame de Namur University, both to be mounted this fall.

Visit Kiku Gallery, followed by dinner at Alborz Restaurant

When: Tuesday, August 11
Time: 5:30 pm, dinner at Alborz at 7:15 pm
Place: Kiku, 1420 Sutter Street (between Gough and Franklin); Alborz, 1245 Van Ness at Sutter
Fee: $42 members, $55 non-members

Join SAA for one of our indulgent evenings of viewing beautiful objects and enjoying fabulous Asian food. Tonight we start at a favorite Japanese gallery, Kiku, San Francisco. Here we will partake of wine and hors d’oeuvres and be treated to a walk-through of the most interesting and unusual pieces currently in the gallery. At 7:00 pm, we will adjourn to one of San Francisco’s premier Persian restaurants, Alborz, a short walk from Kiku. Alborz will provide a sumptuous feast of Persian delights in a charming setting. This will be fun. Don’t miss it!

Fukusa (Japanese Gift Covers) and the Art of Gift Giving in the Samurai Era
With Peter Sinton

When: Saturday, August 15
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Place: Education Studio
Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members

Join Society board member and docent Peter Sinton for a detailed look at the gift-giving culture of Japan. The practice of presenting gifts with ceremonial cloth gift covers (fukusa) became widespread during the Edo and Meiji periods for annual festivals, marriages, and many other occasions. The richness of the woven, embroidered, dyed and painted fukusa was a sign of the giver’s wealth, while its design reflected his scholarship, aesthetics and cultural sensitivity.

Discussion of gift covers, a luxurious subset of Japanese textiles, will be illustrated with more than one hundred images from Peter’s collection and from museums around the world. You will be introduced to the major themes: Chinese and Japanese folktales, myths and gods; aristocratic culture; auspicious birds and beasts; landscapes and nature; and family crests. You will also learn about the different styles of fukusa and how they were designed and made with silk as well as gold- and silver-wrapped thread. Some required months or even years to make.

Peter Sinton has collected Japanese gift covers and altar cloths for more than a decade and has written articles on both subjects for Daruma Magazine.




			Member Events The Nobility of Failure: The Spirit of the Samurai With David Buchanan When: Saturday, June 27 Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Place: Education Studio Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members Samurai were redoubtable warriors, frequently faithful to a cause to the bitter end. In fact, the samurai most remembered were those whose adherence to a hopeless cause persisted far beyond any reasonable hope of victory. In glorious defeat, they chose death as evidence of fealty unending. We shall pay our respects to these dedicated men, and consider their effect on Japanese behavior in our time. Examples of tragic heroism date to the 4th century. Prince Yamato Takeru, the archetype of a long line of lonely poignant heroes ended his days writing a poem to a lone pine tree, under which he died. But we shall begin with the conquering general Yoshitsune. Then we’ll consider Amakusa Shiro, who led Japan's early Christians to their deaths. The tale leads onward to end in 1974 but many a stalwart warrior must perish before we finish. It is not the bravery of the Samurai, nor his success in battle that is remembered. It is the completely Japanese sense of compassion, sincerity and dedication. There is a Japanese term "aware" pronounced "ah-wa-ray.” It is hardly limited to warlike scenes, but is also the predominant emotion in the classic Japanese novel, Tale of Genji. Perhaps it may best be seen as elegant pity. Although there is not a shred of violence in Genji, there is murder, incest, betrayal and lost love. Yet we can relate to the characters in such a way that we feel only understanding and deep loving pity - a form of "aware." So, in our doomed warriors, despite the brutal nature of the setting, both we and the Japanese feel a strange sense of sympathy, respect and even admiration. Dr. David Buchanan is a retired medical doctor and one of the Asian Art Museum’s most revered docents. He has been a student of Japanese art, history and culture for most of his adult life. Going to the Dogs: Samurai Encounters with the West in the 16th and 17th Century Japan With Laura Allen When: Friday, July 10 Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Place: Education Studios Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members Note: Registration Required What effect did the brief presence of Portuguese traders, adventurers and priests have on samurai life and culture in late sixteenth and early seventeenth century Japan? This lecture takes a closer look at so-called "Namban art," as well as the ways in which military technology, cartography, and fashion were altered through contact with the West. Attracted to the religious beliefs of the Jesuits, warrior conversions also influenced the arts; as new Christian imagery, artistic formats and media sprang briefly into use. Dr. Allen will explore how lasting or widespread was the impact of Portuguese trade and missionary activity on warrior taste and interests. Dr. Laura W. Allen received her doctorate in Japanese art history from UC Berkeley in 1989. Her research interests are reflected in publications on illustrated narrative painting, 19th and 20th century woodblock prints, and artistic responses to the West during the Meiji and Taisho eras. As an independent scholar and consultant since 1997, she has provided expertise on Japanese art for many private clients and institutions throughout the country. She is a regular speaker for the Society’s Arts of Asia lecture series, and teaches Asian art history as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco. Photographic Memories With Bob Del Bonta When: Saturday, July 18 Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Place: Education Studio Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members The visually stunning collection of photographs from the renowned Ehrenfeld collection in the Asian Art Museum’s exhibition Photographic Memories will be the subject of this presentation. A walkthrough of the exhibit is included. These beautiful, professionally taken photographs reflect attitudes from a time when “oriental” and “exotic” were synonymous. They also reflect the deeply personal significances of individual encounters with the East: memories of “a grand adventure,” a time when someone lived in Asia, graphic proof of exposure to the wonderments of cultures so little known to most Europeans in the 19th century, or fantasies about trips one wished to toke. The pictures were avidly consumed in Europe, and together they constitute a fascinating study of the current western “take” on the world beyond familiar horizons. Dr. William K. Ehrenfeld’s collection broadens our understanding of the evolution of “East meets West” in ways other art forms cannot. We can look at the material from our own perspective, perhaps a little more knowledgeable than some of the tourists of yesteryear, but still with a sense of discovery that Dr. Del Bonta’s guidance will sharpen. Don’t miss this chance to deepen your appreciation of this exquisite collection. Dr. Robert J. Del Bonta has been associated with the Asian Art Museum since 1978, teaching classes, giving lectures, and guest-curating over a dozen exhibits. He is currently working on an exhibit of Jaina art for the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City and an Indian painting exhibit for Notre Dame de Namur University, both to be mounted this fall. Visit Kiku Gallery, followed by dinner at Alborz Restaurant When: Tuesday, August 11 Time: 5:30 pm, dinner at Alborz at 7:15 pm Place: Kiku, 1420 Sutter Street (between Gough and Franklin); Alborz, 1245 Van Ness at Sutter Fee: $42 members, $55 non-members Join SAA for one of our indulgent evenings of viewing beautiful objects and enjoying fabulous Asian food. Tonight we start at a favorite Japanese gallery, Kiku, San Francisco. Here we will partake of wine and hors d’oeuvres and be treated to a walk-through of the most interesting and unusual pieces currently in the gallery. At 7:00 pm, we will adjourn to one of San Francisco’s premier Persian restaurants, Alborz, a short walk from Kiku. Alborz will provide a sumptuous feast of Persian delights in a charming setting. This will be fun. Don’t miss it! Fukusa (Japanese Gift Covers) and the Art of Gift Giving in the Samurai Era With Peter Sinton When: Saturday, August 15 Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Place: Education Studio Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members Join Society board member and docent Peter Sinton for a detailed look at the gift-giving culture of Japan. The practice of presenting gifts with ceremonial cloth gift covers (fukusa) became widespread during the Edo and Meiji periods for annual festivals, marriages, and many other occasions. The richness of the woven, embroidered, dyed and painted fukusa was a sign of the giver’s wealth, while its design reflected his scholarship, aesthetics and cultural sensitivity. Discussion of gift covers, a luxurious subset of Japanese textiles, will be illustrated with more than one hundred images from Peter’s collection and from museums around the world. You will be introduced to the major themes: Chinese and Japanese folktales, myths and gods; aristocratic culture; auspicious birds and beasts; landscapes and nature; and family crests. You will also learn about the different styles of fukusa and how they were designed and made with silk as well as gold- and silver-wrapped thread. Some required months or even years to make. Peter Sinton has collected Japanese gift covers and altar cloths for more than a decade and has written articles on both subjects for Daruma Magazine.