Wednesday, March 27, 2013

It's Cherry Blossom Time

We're celebrating with a Japanese Tea Ceremony and Taiko Demonstration!

Enjoy the cherry trees on Eureka's Old Town Gazebo with a demonstration of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and traditional Taiko drumming on Sunday, April 7 from noon to 2:00 p.m., Second and F streets in Old Town, Eureka. This event benefits the newly-revitalized Eureka-Kamisu Sister City Association. Kimono or other traditional attire is encouraged.


Presented by the Horai Center for the Study of Pacific Culture, a DreamMaker program of the Ink People Center for the Arts. 

For more information or to participate, email horai.center@gmail.com or visit our Facebook event page!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Inspiration

The wind of Mount Fuji 
I've brought on my fan 
A gift from Edo 

— Bashō 


A breath, a breeze. That's how brief it seemed as we presented an introductory course on "Chado: The Japanese Way of Tea" through Humboldt State University's OLLI program.

There is so much to learn about the Way of Tea that it seems impossible to even contemplate such a course, but our intrepid class seemed to enjoy the presentations — from the first aisatsu to the influence of Zen. Each of three two-hour class meetings incorporated a slide show and discussion of history, philosophy and aesthetics followed by a presentation of usucha, or the thin tea ceremony.


Harvey discusses wabi as part of the the philosophy
of Chado. Wabi is always a topic of particular interest,
but is a such a difficult concept to explain!

Awesome hanto prepared many bowls of tea in the mizuya.

A makeshift tokonoma with a Valentine's Day theme.

Laura and Harvey present usucha, the thin tea ceremony

So many books to read!

Laura and Pia in a four-and-a-half mat "room"

Laura and Pia in a four-and-a-half mat "room"

Holly makes tea for Laura and Pia

Pia prepares to make tea for some of the students

Laura, Pia and Holly (Ann, not pictured, was a
hard worker behind the scenes.)

Of the many joys of Chado is the sharing of poetry and art. Several students read haiku in class, and two students were inspired to bring hand-made cards with the haiku featured in this post. Another shared a reading from a book on shodo and ink painting. Before and after class we discussed travel, gardening, pottery … as we should at any tea gathering.

So many memories
flood my mind —
cherry blossoms 

— Bashō

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Pan-Asian Pacific Islander Perspectives Festival, March 25-30, 2013

The Pan-Asian Pacific Islander Perspectives week-long festival, sponsored by the HSU Asian Pacific Islander American Student Alliance (A.P.A.S.A.) will gather together, on one common calendar, different events around pan-Asian Pacific Islander (API) ethnicity, and share pan-API resources in Humboldt.

Most events are free and open to the public.

The events throughout the week highlight some different API people in Humboldt County, their perspectives and experiences. It will bring us together to enjoy different cultures, draw attention to the local API community (which can be invisible to many), and to have opportunities for dialogue around what it means to be "Asian Pacific Islander."

Come participate and enjoy music and dance performances, workshops, lectures, art showings, and dance classes, including:

  • Tuesday, March 26, 5 pm, HSU Science B 133: Key Note by Betty Chinn: "Turning Hatred Into Hope, Perspectives of a Survivor of the Cultural Revolution"
  • Thursday, March 28, 7:30 pm, HSU Jolly Giant Commons: Non-Stop Bhangra and Dohlrhythms Dance Company, live from SF!

For a full calendar of events, visit the online Zine at http://agoile.wix.com/pan-api. On the online Zine, you will also enjoy articles, art, and sharing of reflections highlighting the API community in Humboldt, as well as API resources.

Also visit the facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AsianPacificAmericanStudentAlliance.

Persons who wish to request disability-related accommodations, should contact the MultiCultural Center 707-826-3364 or mcc@humboldt.edu as soon as possible.
Sponsored by HSU Diversity, Associated Students, Dept of Theatre, Film & Dance, MultiCultural Center, Wells Fargo Bank, and All Under Heaven