HANFORD — On Saturday, April 27, the Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture will organize the fourth Kazari: Bonsai Display Competition.
The competition focuses on creating a harmonious display of hanging scroll, bonsai tree, and an adjacent plant or stone to display in a tokonoma alcove. Kazari is a judged competition and the prize money awarded in honor of the contributions of Japanese American citizens for the best displays is $2,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place.
The museum gallery will be divided into equal spaces, each approximately the size of an average tokonoma. The competitors have freedom in the arrangement of the display. There are no fixed rules for the use of hanging scrolls and subsidiary ornaments like naturally formed stones or potted plants. The traditional Japanese triangle of the bonsai representing man, the scroll being heaven, and the subsidiary ornament standing for earth is just one way of creating an appealing display.
During Kazari, the center also offers a full day of special programs — tours of the Clark’s private Japanese garden, tea demonstrations in the new studio, and a bonsai and antique fair.
Download the RSVP form here to reserve a spot as attendance to the special programs is limited.
Program
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Kazari: Bonsai Display Competition ($5 for general admission, Clark center members free)
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Bonsai exhibition at the Bonsai Garden
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Bonsai and Antique Fair
11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.: Tour of Clark Residence’s Japanese Garden by Bob Boro, landscape architect (60 minutes, $10/$15 per person)
12 p.m., 2 p.m.: Tea demonstration by Kay Tokmoto, a master of the Urasenke School (45 minutes, $10/$15 per person)
4 p.m., 5 p.m.: Expert lecture by Kathy Shaner, curator of the Golden State Bonsai Federation Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt in Oakland ($15/$25 per person)
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Wine and cheese reception in Clark Residence’s Japanese Garden ($10/$15 per person)
The Clark Center is located at 15770 Tenth Ave. in Hanford and is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. with a docent tour every Saturday at 1 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and active military (with ID), free for children 12 and under. Closed on national holidays and the month of August.
The center will be closed to the public from April 28 to May 4. Upcoming events include the opening lecture for the exhibition “Genji’s World in Japanese Woodblock Prints” by Dr. Andrea Marks, editor of the accompanying book, on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. (reservation required). The exhibition runs through July 27.
Become a member and enjoy free admission to exhibitions and opening lectures, plus invitations to special events. Memberships begin at $50 per year. For more information, call (559) 582-4915 or visit www.ccjac.org/.