The Art of Incense & Calligraphy

Upper Category Member Events

The Art of Incense & Calligraphy

When: 
April 13, 2023
Time: 
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Place: 
Iwasawa Oriental Art, 75 University Ave., Los Gatos
Fee: 
$20 per person Society Sponsor and Donor members only. Advance registration must be received by SAA by April 3, 2023.

Advance registration for this event is now closed. Please email the SAA Office Manager with any questions.

An Invitation to a Society for Asian Art Sponsor-Donor Member Event

The Art of Incense & Calligraphy

Thursday, April 13, 2023
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Iwasawa Oriental Art, 75 University Avenue, Los Gatos

Fee: $20 per person Society Sponsor and Donor members only.
Advance registration must be received by SAA by April 3, 2023.
 





	Iwasawa Oriental Art

	

	Join us for a fascinating day or art, incense, and calligraphy as we present an exclusive morning at the Iwasawa Oriental Art gallery in Los Gatos. Our event will begin with an introduction and private viewing of the Iwasawa collection by proprietor Kumiko Iwasawa Vadas. Following the gallery tour, incense master Kihachiro Nishiura of Japan will discuss the history of incense and its use in samurai society as a tool for self-enlightenment.


Known as Kodo (literally, the "way of scent"), the appreciation of delicate fragrances produced by burning incense has a long and proud tradition in Japan. Highlighting the Mon-Koh style of incense that evolved in the Muromachi era, Mr. Nishiura's incense demonstration will allow you to "listen to" incense and experience a profound ancient art. He will also demonstrate the art of calligraphy.


Following the demonstration, attendees can lunch in beautiful Los Gatos on their own. In addition, nearby Hakone Gardens has agreed to give our members a discounted entrance fee, should you decide to visit the gardens after the gallery event. We will provide directions to Hakone Gardens, as well as information on parking, and a list of Los Gatos restaurants within walking distance of the gallery.

	 




	

	Kihachiro Nishiura was born in Tokyo and has a master's degree in geophysics from Ohio University. He has been studying incense, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and calligraphy since childhood. With many years of discipline and his deep love for Japanese traditional arts, he founded the Nishiura Style in 2002. Nishiura Style is a blend of modern and traditional art forms, which allows people to express their own uniqueness freely.

	

	

	

	

	Kumiko Iwasawa Vadas is the proprietor of Iwasawa Oriental Art, a gallery of Japanese art and antiques in downtown Los Gatos. She is the former regional chairperson of the International Netsuke Society and the founder of the Netsuke and Japanese Art Online Research Center. In 1982, she commissioned the design and construction of a traditional Japanese building to house the gallery, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.


 



  
  
  
Registration Policies
  
  

  The Society for Asian Art's cancellation policy requires at least one week's advance written notice in order to receive a refund of registration fees. This excludes our Travel programs, which have separate cancellation policies, as well as any programs where a specific refund policy is stated on the event page. Your fees will be returned to you through a check in the mail. To cancel, please contact us.
  


  

  For programs located within the Asian Art Museum, the museum entrance fee must be paid separately and is not included with your registration fee.
  


  

  Please note that by registering for a program, you are giving consent to the SAA to be photographed or videoed as a participant.