The Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, with support from the Pleasanton Civic Arts Commission, Japan Foundation, LA, and the office of the Consulate General of Japan, SF, will showcase Japanese culture through bonsai, sumi-e, kendo, photo-haiku, origami, ikebana, youth games, fashion, language, tea ceremony, and music. Community members are invited to experience the artistic culture, the magic, and the wonder of Japan in this two-day event.

Event Details

Join the community for this special occasion on May 4th, from 10:15 am - 4:00 pm, and May 5th, from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, at the Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Boulevard in Pleasanton. Admission to the two-day event is free for all. The Opening Ceremony will take place at 10:15 am on Saturday with Taiko Ren Drums and local and regional dignitaries. Saturday events will be held immediately after the Opening Ceremony and will include music performances, Ikebana (floral demonstrations), Kendo (sword demonstrations), Sumi-e (ink painting), and Bonsai (dwarf trees). Sunday events will include music performances, Origami (paper folding), Koto instruments, Kimono demonstrations, Japanese language, and a traditional tea ceremony (registration at the entrance is required to participate in the tea ceremony).

Additional Workshops

At minimal cost, limited space is available in three workshops provided by the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council (PCAC), in partnership with the City of Pleasanton, as part of "Treasures of Japan" event on Sunday May 5th. All materials will be supplied at cost to those who register with instruction fees covered by the hosts. To register, visit the PCAC website homepage at www.pleasantonarts.org and select the workshop desired. The registration deadline is April 30th. Detailed information about each workshop is as follows:

• A Sumi-e (ink painting) workshop is offered by master sumi-e artist Fumiyo Yoshikawa, who has won many prizes for her work both in the U.S. and in Japan. Yoshikawa has taught many workshops; most recently at the Asian Museum in S.F. The workshop is open to beginners at sumi-e as well as more advanced students with a limit of 15. The three hour session will be held from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm will be held in Classroom A in the Senior Center. Registration fees are $42.

• A Photo-haiku Workshop will be held from 10:00 am - 12:50 pm in classroom B in the Senior Center. This workshop will be taught jointly by Poet Dave Wright and by professional photographer Lisa Rigge. The photo-haiku art form results in a three-line Japanese-style poem paired with a photograph so that the poem enhances the photo and vice versa. In Japanese tradition, the photo-haiku form is recent. But since most have cameras on their phones, this form is quite accessible; whether photographing nature or human affairs. Class size is limited to 15 participants and includes all materials and a book on haiku. Registration fees are $15.

• A Take-Home-a-Bonsai Workshop will be held from 1:00 - 4:00 pm in classroom A in the Senior Center. Charles Harder, founder of the Valley Bonsai Society and culture bearer of techniques for creating a living sculpture, will instruct the class. Students will be able to take home their own bonsai at the end of the session. Tools will be loaned to students who do not have their own. Registration fees are $50 and cover workshop materials including plants, pot, wire, and special soil.

Additional Details

Additional information on the event and sponsorship opportunities is available. For details, please refer to the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council representative below.

Contact Information

Teri Dunne
Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council
P.O. Box 1298, Pleasanton, California  94566
(925) 200-8267 phone
pcac.board@gmail.com e-mail     www.pleasantonarts.org WWW

Hacienda Owners Association
4305 Hacienda Drive, Suite 330, Pleasanton, California  94588-2738
(925) 734-6500 phone     (925) 734-6501 fax
info@hacienda.org e-mail     www.hacienda.org WWW