The Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture in Hanford, California, is home to one of the premiere collections of Japanese art in North America. Located in the heart of the Central Valley of California, it has often been called an oasis -- a breath of beauty in the midst of vast stretches of farmland. I love this place and I am deeply indebted to it for launching my career in the field of Japanese art, but even though I am in Northern California at least once a year these days, I have not made the extra trek to Hanford in many years now. The latest news of the collection's move to a new home at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, which boasts an outstanding collection of Japanese art of its own already, is exciting yet sad at the same time. I know how much it meant to the Clarks to have the collection in the Valley, and at the same time knew that the collection could not stay at the Clark Center forever, but there is just something very special about the place that was not just about the art, as outstanding as the collection is. I will make the trip there this summer, although I feel a bit guilty that it took such big news to get me back there.

More details about the move can be found here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/06/04/3327588/clark-centers-japanese-art-on.html

May has been a busy month for tea. In addition to teaching on Thursday afternoons and my own study on Saturday afternoons, I taught a four-week introductory course at the Nikkei Centre, attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of Urasenke Vancouver Tankokai and finished it off with a half-day introductory course again at the Nikkei Centre this past Saturday afternoon. After three and four days a week wearing kimono, transitioning to a hitoe unlined kimono felt so light and airy! 

Thanks to all the great students who participated in the classes and workshops! I'll be organizing some continuing classes to build on what was presented in the intro workshops so look forward to seeing many of you again in the future at those.