Society for Asian Art Newsletter for Members

The Society for Asian Art is a support organization for the

Don’t miss the special exhibition at the Asian Art Museum, Painting Is My Everything:

Art from India’s Mithila Region, on view now through

December 30th.

November - December 2018 No. 6

Daughters Are for Others, 2006, by Shalinee Kumari (Indian, b. 1985). Ink and colors on paper. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Museum purchase, 2018.7.

© Shalinee Kumari. Photograph © Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.

Ancient city of Gaochang, outside Turpan. Photo courtesy of John Nelson.

Here is a photo along the Silk Road, which is the

topic of this fall’s Arts of Asia lecture series,

Desert Encounters: Arts, Cultures and Kingdoms of

the Silk Roads. Look for additional photos

in this newsletter.

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Society for Asian ArtNovember - December 2018, No. 6

Members’ Newsletter Edited by John Nelson,

Trista Berkovitz, and Susan Lai

Published bimonthly by Society for Asian Art

200 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102

www.societyforasianart.org (415) 581-3701

saa@societyforasianart.org

Copyright © 2018 Society for Asian Art

Board of Directors 2018-2019

President Trista Berkovitz Past President Anne Adams Kahn Vice President Margaret Edwards Vice President Ehler Spliedt Secretary Greg Potts Treasurer Ed Baer

Margaret Booker Agnes Brenneman

Deborah Clearwaters* Sheila Dowell      

Phyllis Kempner Etsuko Kobata

Myoung-Ja Lee Kwon Barbara Levinson Forrest McGill* Lawrence Mock

Howard Moreland John Nelson

Merrill Randol Pamela Royse        

Marsha Vargas Handley Diane Weber Kalim Winata Sylvia Wong Kasey Yang

*ex officio

IN THIS ISSUE

Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28 Excursion to Monterey and Orientations

Saturday, November 3 Study Group: History and Culture of Tea with John R. Wallace

Saturday, November 10 Visit to the Theatre of Yugen for a Performance in English of The Mad Words of Kyōgen

Sunday, December 9 Annual Holiday Party at Zentner Collection

Fridays, January 25 – April 26 Spring 2019 Arts of Asia Lecture Series The Architecture of Asia: From Baghdad to Beijing, Tehran to Tokyo, and Persepolis to Kabul and Kyoto

Monday, March 11 – Saturday, March 16 Trip to Heavenly Hawaii: Asian Art and Hawaiian Culture

Object on view in Painting Is My Everything. Tree of life with Krishna, 2015, by Ranjan Paswan (Indian, b. 1989). Ink and colors on paper. Asian Art Museum, Museum purchase, Mortimer-Harvey Fund, 2018.10. © Ranjan Paswan. Photograph © Asian Art Museum.

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ARTS OF ASIA SPRING 2019 LECTURE SERIES

The Architecture of Asia: From Baghdad to Beijing, Tehran to Tokyo, and Persepolis to Kabul and Kyoto

When: Fridays, January 25 – April 26 Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Place: UC Hastings College of the Law, Snodgrass Hall, 198 McAllister Street Fee: $175 Society members, $200 non-members for the series. $20 per lecture drop-in, subject to availability.

Join us as we explore the architecture of Asia and how geography, technology, cultures and beliefs are reflected in Asia’s built environment of gardens, palaces, temples and tombs. The architecture of Asia reflects the religious, cultural and social values of the people who ruled, built, and worshipped over the millennia.

Our roster of distinguished scholars will examine ancient, medieval, modern and contemporary Asian architecture while offering insights into what “globalism” meant in the past and what it means today. Architectural monuments will include the great Buddhist sites of India, Nepal, Cambodia and Thailand; Mughal and Islamic mosques, tombs and gardens of Indian and the Near East; Japanese Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples and gardens; the extraordinary and unique stepwells of India; the Chinese classical palace and gardens of the Qianlong Emperor; and the contemporary works of the celebrated architect, I.M. Pei. Our Instructor of Record is Mary-Ann Milford-Lutzker of Mills College.

January 25 The Circle and the Square: The Significance of Geometry and Geomancy in the Early Architecture of India Mary-Ann Milford-Lutzker, Mills College

February 1 Bakong Temple and Sacred Mountains & Landscapes in Khmer Architecture Mark Jarzombek, MIT

February 8 The 5th to 10th Centuries in East Asian Architecture: China, Korea, Japan Nancy Steinhardt, University of Pennsylvania

February 15 Swayambhunath Stupa & Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley Alexander von Rospatt, UC Berkeley

February 22 Seen and Not Seen: The Architecture of the Shinto Shrines of Ise Jonathan Reynolds, Columbia University

March 1 Capturing Paradise: Gardens and Architecture in East Asia Tracy Miller, Vanderbilt University

March 8 Houses For Kings and Divine Beings: The Palaces and Temples of Thailand Pat Chiripravati, Sacramento State University

March 15 Japanese Contemporary Architecture Ken Tadashi Oshima, University of Washington

March 22 Deccan Architecture Richard Eaton, University of Arizona

March 29 An Emperor’s Private Paradise: The Sumptuous Garden Designed By the Qianlong Emperor for His Quiet, Personal Reflection Nancy Berliner, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

April 5 Subterranean Ghosts: India’s Vanishing Stepwells Victoria Lautman, Journalist

April 12 Mughal Architecture Catherine Asher, University of Minnesota

April 19 Islamic Architecture: Miracles of Structure, Space and Surface Henry Matthews, Washington State University

April 26 I.M. Pei, W. Gropius & Japanese Architecture Seng Kuan, Harvard Graduate School of Design

Borobudur, Indonesia Bird’s Nest, Beijing National Stadium, Beijing

MEMBER EVENTS

Excursion to Monterey and Orientations

When: Saturday, October 27 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 28 10:30 a.m. Place: Orientations, G.T. Marsh Building, 700 Camino El Estero, Monterey Fee: $75 Society members; $90 non-members, includes sit-down dinner on Saturday and continental breakfast on Sunday

Join us for another fabulous weekend at Orientations with two of our favorite hosts, Jerry Janssen and Russ Young! The historic Marsh Building was built in the 1920’s as a showcase for Asian art. On view during the weekend will be an extensive collection of antique Japanese Shigaraki pottery, as well as many unusual and fine tansu recently arrived from Japan. There will also be a sophisticated selection of contemporary Asian ink paintings, both Chinese and Japanese from the Roberta English Gallery. Pat Tseng will present a collection of her newest signature works with special attention given to pieces from her personal antique jade collection.

We will enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, followed by one of Jerry and Russ’s signature elegant sit-down dinners in the gallery. On Sunday morning, we continue with a continental breakfast and a lecture by Roberta English giving us insight into the works on display. There will also be a presentation by Deputy Director of the Asian Art Museum, Dr. Robert Mintz, about the antique Shigaraki jars.

Transportation and accommodations are on your own. There are several hotels within walking distance of Orientations. It is highly recommended to book hotels at your earliest convenience!

Come and join us for a very special weekend, and do your Christmas shopping early!

A Stage Performance in English The Mad Words of Kyōgen With Nick Ishimaru and Lluis Valls

When: Saturday, November 10 Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Place: Theatre of Yugen NOHspace, 2840 Mariposa Street, San Francisco Fee: $25 Society members; $30 non-members

Kyōgen ("mad words" or "wild speech") is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater which was historically performed as an intermission between Noh plays and is thought to have originated before the 14th century.

Join us for a rare and hilarious day with the Theatre of Yugen, while we see two traditional Kyōgen plays performed in English. Learn about the history of Kyōgen, and observe a costume change on stage. The Theatre of Yugen is a San Francisco-based non-profit formed to present as genuine a Kyōgen experience as one can get while still seeing the plays in English. It is the only theater company in the world that performs Kyōgen in English.

Nick Ishimaru is Artistic Director of the Theatre of Yugen. Nick received his B.A. in Performing Arts from Colorado State University and his Masters in Drama from San Francisco State University. He has trained in Noh and Kyōgen for over seven years, and has studied Kabuki, Jingju (Beijing Opera), and Nihon Buyo (traditional Japanese dance). Nick has also taught college-level master classes on Noh and Kyōgen. Lluis Valls has studied Noh, Kyōgen, Butoh, and clowning. He is a graduate of San Francisco State University and served as Joint Artistic Director at Theatre of Yugen from 2002 to 2008.

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Exterior of Orientations, Monterey

Lluis Valls and Nick Ishimaru of the Theatre of Yugen, San Francisco

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STUDY GROUP

History and Culture of Tea With John R. Wallace

When: Saturday, November 3 Time: 10:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Place: Samsung Hall, Asian Art Museum Fee: $35 Society members; $45 non-members (after museum admission), includes lunch

How did tea culture get its start in China? When did tea become popular as a drink and what promoted the practice of drinking it? How did tea cultivation and tealeaf crafting change over the centuries? What was tea's influence on the arts in China and Japan? How did tea move from China to Korea and Japan? Where did the Japanese tea ceremony come from and what are its central tenets?

These are some of the questions that will be answered in a special study group led by John R. Wallace.

Dr. John R. Wallace is Senior Lecturer in the Department for East Asian Languages and Cultures, UC Berkeley. His current interests are in tea culture, haiku poetry, and the neuroscientific and cognitive psychological components of interpretive reading. He has published a book on Heian period Japanese women's memoirs titled Objects of Discourse, and is currently working on a book on interpreting love narratives in modern East Asian cinema.

Red Raku-type teabowl, approx. 1800–1900, attributed to Raku Ryonyu (Japanese, 1756–1834). Glazed earthenware. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, The Avery Brundage Collection, B69P23. Photograph © Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.

MEMBER EVENTS

Annual Holiday Party

When: Sunday, December 9 Time: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Place: Zentner Collection, 5757 Horton Street, Emeryville Fee: $60 Society members; $70 non-members

Join us for our Annual Holiday party which promises to be an evening of wonderful art, music, food and conviviality at the Zentner's fabulous gallery and warehouse, showcasing a cornucopia of objects to delight the eye and tempt your pocketbook. We will enjoy a sumptuous Thai buffet dinner with elegant table seating for all, soft jazz and blues by "Just Us" and a special exhibit of the work of the sensational 20th century Japanese artist, Iwasaki Tsuneo.

This event promises to be a seasonal highlight for the Society!

Please register by Monday, December 3. Ample parking is available near the gallery. Directions will be sent to all participants.

Zentner Collection, Emeryville

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TRAVEL

Heavenly Hawaii: Asian Art and Hawaiian Culture — March 11 - 16, 2019

Beat the winter blues and sign up now for the SAA’s Heavenly Hawaii trip. Please see trip details in the attached flyer and reservation form. You may also access the flyer and reservation form on our website.

The trip application form and full payment will be accepted BY MAIL ONLY. Priority will be determined by the earliest postmark date, and a waiting list will be established. This trip is limited to 20 people, and is expected to fill immediately. You are encouraged to mail your completed application form and check payment immediately.

This trip is open to Society members only. You may join online at our website, https://www.societyforasianart.org/membership. You may also mail a separate check payment for membership along with the trip payment to the SAA office at 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Shangri La, Hawaii. Photos courtesy of Lila Gault.

SAA IS A VENDOR OF CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION INSURANCE

Buying travel protection insurance is easy if you follow the policies detailed in the CSA brochure available from the SAA office. CSA has a wide range of coverage available, from emergency medical insurance to complete trip cancellation protection.

Each time you use CSA, the SAA earns a commission which goes into our general fund. Sign up online at www.csatravelpro.com or call 1-800-834-8853. Be sure to use SAA’s Producer Code 20100719, so we get credit.

Please contact the SAA office at 1-415-581-3701 or info@societyforasianart.org to request a CSA brochure.

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LOTUS LEAVES

The Fall 2018 Issue Will Be Available Online By the End of November!

This issue features three articles. The first is an article by Patricia Yu, doctoral candidate at UC Berkeley on Chinese gardens in the United States, including the Portland and Huntington Gardens. The second article is by Albert Dien, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, on the Sogdians and  how aspects of culture have been brought to life by tombs excavated in China. The third article in this issue also inaugurates a new annual feature, "Around the Asian," which will focus on artworks in or around the Asian Art Museum.  Bob Oaks writes about the statue of Ashurbanipal on the south side of the Asian Art Museum; how it came to be and why it is there.

To access online issues of Lotus Leaves:

• Go to the SAA website, https://www.societyforasianart.org

• Click on the “Lotus Leaves” button on the banner along the top of the screen. This will open the Lotus Leaves page.

• Click on “View PDF” of the issue you would like to read 

To print a copy of Lotus Leaves:

• Press “Ctrl and P” on your keyboard at the same time

• Follow the commands your computer gives you to print a copy 

Cover of Spring 2018 Issue of Lotus Leaves. © Society for Asian Art.

Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar. Photo courtesy of John Nelson.

Mogao Caves at Dunhuang. Photo courtesy of John Nelson.

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q October 27 and 28 Excursion to Monterey and Orientations$75 Members $90 Non-Members

q November 3 Study Group: History and Culture of Tea with John R. Wallace$35 Members $45 Non-Members

q November 10 Visit to Theatre of Yugen for a Performance in English of The Mad Words of Kyōgen$25 Members $30 Non-Members

q December 9 Annual Holiday Party at Zentner Collection$60 Members $70 Non-Members

q January 25—April 26 Spring 2019 Arts of Asia Lecture Series: The Architecture of Asia$175 Members $200 Non-Members

Name _____________________________ Email ________________________________ Phone ____________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________ Zip Code _________________

q Visa q MC q Discover _______-_________-________-________ ______/_____ ___-___-___ Card Number Expiration (MM/YY) CCV# (3-digit # on back)

____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________ Signature Date

Check Number _______________________________________________ Check Date __________________________

REGISTRATION FORM

How to Register 1. Go to our website, www.societyforasianart.org, sign up and pay online; OR

2. Print and fill out this registration form, and send it with a check or the credit card information to: Society for Asian Art, 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.

SAA does not issue tickets or confirmations. You will be contacted ONLY if your registration cannot be completed. Requests for refunds are granted for cancellations received by the SAA office no later than one business week before the start of the event.

Paid Programs Fee Quantity Subtotal

Total Amount ________________________

Book Sale

We are now collecting books for the 2019 Book Sale! So if you move, downsize or are tired of all the books collecting dust, please donate them to our Book Sale. We are accepting books with Asian subjects only, be it art, culture, novels, history, travel, cooking, exhibition catalogues or others.

Due to construction at the museum, we are unable to accept book donations at the SAA office. You can drop off books at the Friday morning Arts of Asia lectures at UC Hastings. If you have a lot of books, we are happy to pick them up from your home within the Bay Area. Please contact the SAA office at 415-581-3701 or info@societyforasianart.org for details.