March fun at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens (Delray Beach)

Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22

Ikebana Flower Arrangement- Ikenobo School (Class)
Time: Beginners – 11am – 1pm 

           Intermediate – 1pm – 3pm*

Cost: $80 (Morikami Members $70). Advance Registration Required.

*Intermediate courses are for students with prior experience or have taken at least three sessions of Ikebana classes. Flower arranging, ikebana, is a traditional Japanese art form spanning centuries. Ikebana has various different schools of study, each with unique philosophies and aesthetics. Dating back to the 15th century, the Ikenobo School is the oldest and most traditional. Students in this course learn the basic principles and style creating fresh flower arrangements each week to take home and enjoy.

Wednesdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23

Ikebana Flower Arrangement: Sogetsu School (Class)

Time: Beginners – 10am – 12:30pm

           Intermediate – 1:30pm – 3:30pm*

Cost: $80 (Morikami Members $70). Advance Registration Required.
Flower arranging, ikebana, is a traditional Japanese art form spanning centuries. Ikebana has various different schools of study, each with unique philosophies and aesthetics. The Sogetsu School is a contemporary school, which focuses on the creativity and individuality of ikebana. The idea is that ikebana can be done by anyone, anywhere, with almost anything. Students will learn the basics of Sogetsu and create pieces each week to take home and enjoy. *Intermediate courses are for students with prior experience.

Thursdays, March 3, 10, 24, 31

Sumi-e Ink Painting (Floral Beginners Class)
Time: Floral – 10:30am – 12:30pm 

Cost: $70 (Morikami Members $65). Advance Registration Required.

Sumi-e is a form of Japanese ink painting brought from China in the 12th century. Primarily done in black ink, the name literally means, “charcoal drawing” in Japanese. Students grind their own ink using an ink stick and a grinding stone and learn to hold and utilize brushes to create the primary sumi-e brush strokes. Floral and landscape classes will start with a review of the basic techniques before moving on to the main subject.

Fridays, March 4, 11, 25, April 1

Sumi-e Ink Painting (Class)
Time: Floral – 10:30am – 12:30pm 

           Landscape – 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Cost: $70 (Morikami Members $65). Advance Registration Required.

Sumi-e is a form of Japanese ink painting brought from China in the 12th century. Primarily done in black ink, the name literally means, “charcoal drawing” in Japanese. Students grind their own ink using an ink stick and a grinding stone and learn to hold and utilize brushes to create the primary sumi-e brush strokes. Floral and landscape classes will start with a review of the basic techniques before moving on to the main subject.

Saturday, March 5
Family Fun: Kumihimo
Time: 12pm – 3pm
Cost: FREE for members or with paid museum admission. No Reservation Required.

Kumihimo is the traditional technique of making braids and cords in Japan. Join us in making a special kumihimo bracelet for yourself or a loved one.

Saturday, March 5

Tea Ceremony (Workshop)
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Cost: $50. Advance Registration Required.

The workshop teaches the basics of sadō – The Way of Tea – necessary to understand the aesthetics of sadō and to fully enjoy the tea ceremony itself. Participants become familiar with guest etiquette, how to make a bowl of tea, and tea service propriety.

Saturday, March 5

Block Printing (Workshop)
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm

Cost: $50. Advance Registration Required.
Japan has a long, rich history of woodblock printing, called mokuhanga, dating back to the 11th century. The ukiyo-e genre of block prints flourished in Japan from the 17th through 19th centuries. Morikami is offering a workshop with a modern twist on this ancient art form, carving and printing linoleum blocks to create unique and exciting imagery.Join instructor Brian Reedy who has been teaching this ancient method for over two decades, and offers an approach that is easily accessible for beginners, yet challenging for seasoned artists.

Sundays, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 10, 24, May 1, 15
Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese – Part 3 (In-Person Class)

Time: Level I: 10:15am – 11:15am
Cost: $110 (Morikami Members $100). Advance Registration Required.
Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese is a beginner and lower intermediate program teaching Japanese speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are introduced to Japanese culture and lifestyles through lessons and conversation. Levels I and II use Japanese for Busy People I (JBP I) and levels III and IV use Japanese for Busy People II(JBP II). Fall, winter, and spring sessions of each level should be taken sequentially as a series.

Sundays, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 10, 24, May 1, 15
Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese – Part 3 (Virtual Class)

Time: Level I – 1:00pm-2:00pm
            Level II – 2:10pm-3:10pm
            Level III – 3:20pm-4:20pm
            Level IV – 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Cost: $100 (Morikami Members $90). Advance Registration Required.
Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese is a beginner and lower intermediate program teaching Japanese speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are introduced to Japanese culture and lifestyles through lessons and conversation. Levels I and II use Japanese for Busy People I (JBP I) and levels III and IV use Japanese for Busy People II(JBP II). Fall, winter, and spring sessions of each level should be taken sequentially as a series.

Sundays, March 13, 27 or Thursdays, March 3, 17

Sado: Tea Ceremony (Beginner Class)
Time: 10:15am – 12:15am

Cost: $60 (Morikami Members $55). Advance Registration Required.

Expand upon your knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony in this hands-on class. Perform a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with its ever-evolving seasonal subtleties, in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House under the guidance of instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and from season to season. 

Sundays, March 13, 27

Sado: Tea Ceremony (Intermediate Class)
Time: 1pm – 4pm

Cost: $55 (Morikami Members $50). Advance Registration Required.

Expand upon your knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony in this hands-on class. Perform a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with its ever-evolving seasonal subtleties, in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House under the guidance of instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and from season to season. Intermediate course requires approval by the instructor before registering.

Sunday, March 13 
Documentary Film Screening: The Underground Scene in LA and Tokyo: Art + Music with Discussion led by Filmmaker Akira Boch

Sponsored by JM Family EnterprisesTime: 1pm
Cost: $5 with paid museum admission 

Delve into the underground scene of LA and Tokyo through three documentary short films – Atomic Cafe: The Noisiest Corner in J-Town, Our Man in Tokyo: The Ballad of Shin Miyata, and Giant Robot: Kind of Like Home by award winning filmmaker Akira Boch. How did a family-owned restaurant in LA’s Japan Town come to be the popular hang-out for the punk rock scene in the late 1970s? Learn about the struggles and obsessions of Shin Miyata, a Tokyo-based record label owner and promoter who specializes in the difficult task of distributing Chicano music in Japan. Lovers of Japanese art and pop culture found a community and home with peers and artists in LA’s unique store and gallery, Giant Robot. Boch ingeniously delivers us a glimpse of the history, the passion, and inspiration of the people that thrive, live, and created these underground scenes. Join Boch as he parts the curtains for us to peek into these distinct spheres in LA and Tokyo.

Akira Boch is an award winning filmmaker and the Director of the Watase Media Arts Center at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. He has an MFA in Directing from the UCLA School of Film, TV, and Digital Media, and has made over 50 short films, documentaries, and music videos. His feature film, The Crumbles, went on a nationwide tour of theaters, festivals, and universities, and is available on Amazon Prime Video. His documentary, Masters of Modern Design: The Art of the Japanese American Experience, won an Emmy in the category of Arts Programming and is available on the PBS website.

Saturday, March 19
Sado: The Way of Tea (Demonstration)
Time: 12pm, 1:30pm or 3pm
Cost: $5 with paid museum admission. 

Observe Japanese sadō, an ever-changing demonstration rich in seasonal subtleties. Your involvement in the true spirit of sadō — harmony (wa), reverence (kei), purity (sei), and tranquility (jaku) — along with a sip of matcha green tea and a sweet will help you bring a calm perspective into your busy life.

Friday, March 25
Karesansui: Raking Demonstration
Time: 10:30am
Cost: FREE with paid museum admission. No Reservation Required.

Karesansui or dry landscape garden is founded on Zen ideology using carefully composed rock arrangements and gravel or sand.  A karesansui is carefully raked to represent characteristics of water such as currents and waves while boulder arrangements may be interpreted as islands.  Learn about our Late Rock Garden and observe how the raking can be a practice in mindfulness and meditation.

Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27

The Joy of Carving – Chirirenge Ramen Spoon Edition (Workshop)
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm

Cost: $150 (2-day workshop). Advance Registration Required.

Chirirenge in Japanese is the name of the soupspoons from Asia and used as ramen spoons in Japan. Unlike the western spoon, it has a flat bottom and is deep to hold more soup. The handle is curved upwards and the shape mimics a fallen petal of the lotus flower called renge in Japanese. The word chiri means, “to fall off.” The workshop is a craft experience designed to help participants slow down for the sake of spoon carving and learn about this culturally unique utensil. Participants focus on the tactile exploration of wood as a creative medium, learning carving techniques to shape one’s work into functional art. This workshop covers everything from wood selection, the ramen spoon design, and finishing oils, along with knife, blade, and carving techniques so participants can experience the joy of creating their own hand-carved kitchen tool.

Sunday, March 27

The Way of Taiko – The Heartbeat of Japan (Workshop)
Time: 11am – 1pm or 2pm – 4pm

Cost: $60 Advance Registration Required

This workshop introduces participants to the history and practice of taiko drumming. Participants are taught how to understand sounds and movements, i.e., how to connect nature and the meaning of body movement. They will become familiar with the way of taiko and its drumming techniques. Top performers from South Florida’s Fushu Daiko will conduct the workshop. The group is recognized by Seiichi Tanaka, the master of San Francisco Taiko Dojo, who brought taiko to the United States and who trained senior members of the Fushu Daiko group. 

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. For more information, call (561) 495-0233 or visit morikami.org.