PASADENA — Former L.A. County District Attorney Gil Garcetti will show photographic images from his new book, Japan: A Reverence for Beauty, as part of the museum’s Authors on Asia series.
When Garcetti visited Japan for the first time in 1967, he was struck with how surrounded he was by beauty. Returning many times over the years, he explored the concept of beauty in a project that is now released as a limited-edition folio of lush color photographs. Five short essays provide thoughtful commentary on Japanese culture and tradition.From the minute texture of moss on wet pavement to the expansive tapestry of an autumn forest; from a spider’s perfect web to the avant-garde skyline of Tokyo; from Shinto rites to stitching kimonos, this book provides the range of scale and breadth of subject matter that give true insight into the Japanese reverence for beauty. Published in two languages, this work reveals to Japanese and Americans alike the lessons of a legacy of beauty that Japanese culture offers.
The book contains the following essays: Everyday Altars of Beauty by Pico Iyer ; Scattered Thoughts on Cherry Blossoms by Kendall H. Brown; The Aesthetics of Variations by Hitoshe Abe; Accumulation of Tema and Caring by Atsuko Tanaka; Photographer’s Statement by Garcetti.
Some of the 900 folios signed and numbered will be available for purchase at the program. Light refreshments follow the program. RSVP to USC Pacific Asia Museum Store, (626) 449-2742, ext. 20 or tailing.wong@pam.usc.edu.
The program is free for museum members and included with admission for non-members, $10 general, $7 students and seniors. Pacific Asia Museum is located at 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena.