Exhibit Talk

Happy 35th Birthday to Us!

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Just about 35 years ago today, the Morikami Museum opened its doors for the very first time.  We’re celebrating three-and-a-half decades of bringing Japan to South Florida on Tuesday, June 26 with a day of discounts, special tours, and extended hours.  If you follow us on Twitter and Facebook, you’ve noticed we’ve been counting down the 35 days to our 35th anniversary with a fascinating Morikami fact, one for each day.  Here’s the complete list, with  a sneak peek to the Morikami tidbits we have yet to reveal this week. …

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Artist in Residence: Mariko Kusumoto

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Last month, Morikami wrapped up an exciting Artist in Residency program with Mariko Kusumoto, thanks to an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Art Works.  Kusumoto’s visit kicked off with opening of her exhibit in Morikami’s galleries, Unfolding Stories, and culminated with a workshop for the public at Morikami and at local schools for students and educators. In her work, Kusumoto transforms found objects and meticulous metal sculptures into miniature, whimsical – yet functional – constructions:  music boxes, clocks, and board games, to name just a few.  All …

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Jeff Shore on Living Zen

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Jeff Shore summed up a famous Chinese proverb and said, “after being Zennistic, let me turn to Disneyworld.” And just like that, he moved on to a trip with his elderly Zen teacher (Fukushima Roshi, whose work is featured in Zenmi – A Taste of Zen) whom many a tourist mistook for part of Epcot’s Japan Pavilion.  Jeff Shore, Professor of Zen in the Modern World at Hanazono University, Kyoto, Japan came to Morikami last Friday to discuss what it means to be “Living Zen.” The Disneyworld bit first seemed like a …

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Zenmi – A Taste of Zen: Nantenbō’s Letter

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My coworkers and I recently got an inside look at our newest exhibit, Zenmi – A Taste of Zen: Paintings, Calligraphy, and Ceramics from the Riva Lee Asbell Collection from Veljko Dujin, our Curator of Collections. Before the opening, we simply observed the whirring curatorial staff through three weeks of installation.  The exhibit, though, is four years in the making.  Veljko worked with Riva Lee Asbell, the exhibit’s lender, to collect and select the art destined to become part of Zenmi – A Taste of Zen.  Historically, Zenmi is the second …

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