Behind the Shoji - Japanese Garden

A u g u s t 2 0 1 0 v Volume 9 v Number 7
The Garden Path
A Monthly Publication of the Portland Japanese Garden
Inside this Issue
Behind the Shoji Art Show & Sale
O-Bon, the Spirit Festival
Supporting and Sponsor Member
Twilight Hours
Notes from the Executive Director
In the Garden Gift Store and
Online
Maple Pruning Demonstration
Bamboo Fence-Building
Workshop
Volunteer Orientation
Moonviewing
Haiku
Jason Russell
The Garden Gift Store presents
Behind the Shoji Art Show & Sale
July 31–September 6, Garden Hours
Garden Pavilion
Included with Garden Admission
Join us for the Garden’s annual art show and sale. This year’s Behind the Shoji show includes
work from several new artists as well as favorites from past shows, and includes handmade
ceramics, glass art, metal sculpture, bamboo furniture, jewelry, textiles, and more. We’ve
gathered together the some of the best artists from the area whose work captures the essence
of the Japanese aesthetic. There’s something for every taste and budget. (See a complete list of
artist participants on the next page.)
Four Seasons v Five Senses v One Extraordinary Experience
Nitani Masamichi
Lori Presthus

2010 Behind the Shoji Artists
Aki Sogabe: kiri-e prints and cards
Janice Mercure: handmade cards, journals, and leaf coasters
Jan Rentenaar: ceramic sculpture
Jim Johnstone: pottery
Karen Miller: textile art
Motoko Hori: pottery
Susan Taylor: glassware
Wataru Sugiyama: ceramic sculpture
Nishiura Royokusuido Gallery: Japanese folk art
and antique furniture/interiors
Paul Wisdom: metal sculpture
Kurumi Conley: glass art
Jason Russell: ceramic table ware
Karen Fullerton: sumi-e cards and prints
Heike Edossa: photo cards
Diane Swallen: hand-dyed silk scarves
Ken Pincus: pottery
Reid Ozaki: ceramic tableware
Greg Wilbur: raised metal art
Hiroshi Ogawa: pottery
Lee Haga: jewelry
Motoko Hori: pottery
Rose Sigal Ibsen: sumi-e and calligraphy
Masamichi Nitani: woodcarving
Lori Presthus: jewelry
Michael DiBitetto: printmaking and original prints
Deloss Webber: stone sculpture, basketry
Janice Mercure
Karen Miller
Artist Demonstrations
Stop by the Garden on Sundays during the show from 11am-2pm and see
this year’s artists demonstrating their techniques. See below for a complete
schedule of demonstrations.
August 1: Jan Rentenaar, ceramics
August 8: Lee Haga, jewelry
August 15: Ken Pincus, pottery
August 22: Karen Fullerton, sumi-e painting
August 29: Heike Edossa, handmade photo cards
September 5: Masamichi Nitani, woodcarving
Greg Wilbur
Reid Ozaki
Wataru Sugiyama

O-Bon, the Spirit Festival
August 11, 8-9:30pm
Upper Garden Parking Circle and Upper Pond
Members Only, Free
Reservations required, space is limited
No flash photography or tripods, please
O-Bon is a Buddhist memorial festival that dates back
more than a thousand years. Over a three-day period in
midsummer, families gather to pray for the spirits of their
ancestors. It is an annual reminder of the importance of
family ties, of respect for those who have gone before, and
of the brevity and preciousness of our lives together. This
members-only event at the Garden will be celebrated on
Wednesday, August 11 from 8-9:30pm.
The event begins with the Bon Odori led by the lovely Sahomi
Tachibana, the most accomplished traditional Japanese
Twilight Hours for Supporting
and Sponsor Members
August 12, 7-9pm
Pavilion Veranda
Reservations requested at (503) 796-9180
This Month in the Garden
The Garden is pleased to invite Supporting and Sponsor Members to
experience a rare walk through the lantern-lit Garden in its summer
beauty. Join us on Thursday, August 12 from 7-9pm for wine, saké, and hors
d’oeuvres on the Pavilion veranda. Bring your guests to enjoy the quiet,
twilight hours in the Garden.
This is the third of three special evenings reserved for our Supporting and
Sponsor Members. For more information about these membership levels,
call Lissa Kroger at (503) 796-9180.
Bob Schlesinger
dancer performing outside of Japan and a long-time Portland
resident and friend of the Portland Japanese Garden. Dancing
with her are members of the Oregon Buddhist Temple.
Following the dance outside the Garden’s admission gate,
take part in Toro Nagashi, which literally means “lantern
floating.” This refers to the practice of floating lanterns on
the water at O-Bon to light the way home to the heavens for
the spirits of ancestors who are believed to visit their families
at this time of year.
We are honored to have Reverend Zuigaku Kodachi lead the
solemn Buddhist chanting at this year’s Spirit Festival. Light
a lantern and watch as it flickers across the Garden’s Upper
Pond in memory of departed friends and family, and listen
to the words of the elegant Myohorengekyo—the Lotus Sutra
which comforts and encourages us all with a message of hope
for the troubled spirits of our times.
Beginning this year, we are offering the opportunity to have
Rev. Kodachi read the names of recently deceased friends and
relatives of Garden members as a part of the Buddhist prayers
chanted by the Upper Pond. If someone close to you has
passed away within the past year, please email Faith Nagasawa
at fnagasawa@japanesegarden.com and leave a message with
the name to be read and your own name and phone number.
Space at O-Bon is limited and reservations are required. We
encourage you to make your reservations early. Please note,
flash photography and tripods are not allowed. Due to events
in Washington Park earlier in the evening, parking will be
extremely limited. Carpools and early arrivals are suggested.
John E. Riutta

Keeping Pace
with Portland
Every day at the Garden, we are conscious of the
growth of Portland as a place to live and work and
as a tourist destination. Just as Portland’s population
is increasing, the Garden’s is too. During the past
five years our membership has grown from 3400 to
nearly 5000, while our visitor rate has come close
to doubling from 120,000 to an anticipated 240,000
visitors this year. Visitors and members alike are
drawn both by the beauty of the Garden and by our
increasingly popular programs and exhibitions.
In fact, we’re so conscious of our need to keep pace
with the growth of Portland that three years ago
we created a Master Site Plan—both to protect the
Garden and to enhance the experience of all who
visit and work on the site.
Included in that master plan are resolutions of
small issues, like how can visitors more efficiently
queue up to buy tickets or how we can more
easily accommodate tour buses, to larger issues
like creating a research library, enlarging the gift
shop, and improving our water system for a more
sustainable ecological footprint.
In the not-too-distant future, we are also looking at
the possibility of expanding the Garden into acreage
that is already part of our property. The expansion
seeks to resolve many of the logistical problems
created by increased visitor numbers, from an
expanded arrival site to dedicated garden workshop
space and a venue for tea and food.
Just as Portland is concerned with the livability of the
city as it grows, we here at the Garden are mindful
of safeguarding what we do best—creating a tranquil
haven of beauty and peace in a busy urban area.
Steve Bloom
Notes from
the Executive
Director
Around the Garden
In the Garden Gift Store and Online
August is the month to pack up the car and the kids for a good oldfashioned
family vacation. Make sure a trip to the Garden is on your
to-do list before you hit the road, as we have some great things in stock
that will make your adventure more fun. There are colorful folding fans
to cool you off, little paper doll, sticker, and tattoo books for the kids,
and a book for you once you reach your destination.
Check out Margaret Van
Sicklen’s book Origami on the
Go! that features 40 paperfolding
projects for kids of all
ages. Each project includes stepby-step
folding instructions,
paper, and stickers. Find it in
store or online at www.shop.
japanesegarden.com $14.95;
Member Price: $13.45
The Garden celebrates O-Bon, the Spirit Festival, on Wednesday, August
11. This member-only event is considered one of the most important in
the Buddhist festivals in Japan. It’s a day to pray for and honor those
family members who have gone before us. Although the Garden Gift
Store is closed during the evening event, we encourage you to shop
online prior to the event
for soji lanterns, incense,
and more to welcome
back the spirits in style.
We have a children’s book
that explains this and other
Japanese celebrations called
Japanese Traditions: Rice
Cakes, Cherry Blossoms,
and Matsuri illustrated and
written by Setsu Broderick.
$16.95; Member Price: $15.25
Follow the Garden on
Twitter and Facebook!
Four Seasons v Five Senses v O

Maple Pruning Demonstration
September 11, 9am-3pm
Pavilion and Garden Grounds
$65 Members/$85 Non-members
Reservations required, space is limited
www.japanesegarden.com/events/gardening or (503) 542-0280
SOLD OUT
ne Extraordinary Experience
Coming Next Month
One of our most popular workshops, this demonstration taught by Head
Gardener Michael Kondo assisted by Justin Blackwell includes includes
discussion on types of maple pruning and specific pruning techniques as
well as shaping and growth regulation. General care information and fact
sheets will be provided with a section on Integrated Pest Management and
Nutrient Management—and you’ll receive limited hands-on practice as well.
Participants are asked to please provide their own lunch.
Volunteer Orientation
September 26, 10:30-Noon
Garden Pavilion
Free, Reservations requested please to smoss@japanesegarden.com or (503) 223-9233
Jonathan Ley
Bamboo Fence-Building Workshop
September 18 & 19, 9am-3pm, Rain or Shine
Pavilion and Garden Grounds
$150 Members/$175 Non-members
Reservations required, space is limited
www.japanesegarden.com/events/gardening or (503) 542-0280
Garden Curator Sadafumi Uchiyama presents this two-day
workshop with staff gardeners. The process begins with
a walk around the Garden and a review of the use and
placement of bamboo fences. There will be a discussion
on types and styles as well as a review of the history and
evolution of Japanese bamboo fences.
Day one includes lectures and demonstrations, with handson
tool practice and knot-tying sessions. On day two,
participants apply their learned skills to build a Japanese
bamboo fence and will also receive a brief demonstration of
fence repair and refurbishing. The workshop format allows
for open Q & A throughout both days. Participants are asked
to please provide their own lunch.
Do you want to learn more about how you can become involved at the Garden? Veteran volunteers and Volunteer Coordinator
Stephanie Moss lead you through this Volunteer Orientation, where they will share their experiences, answer questions, and
advise you on upcoming volunteer opportunities at the Garden.
David M. Cobb

Moonviewing
September 22, 23, and 24
6-8:30pm, rain or shine
$25 Members/$35 Non-members
Garden Pavilion
Reservations required, space is limited
www.japanesegarden.com/events/moonviewing or (503) 542-0280
There is no better place in Portland to share the romance and
mystery of the full moon in autumn than from the eastern
courtyard of the Portland Japanese Garden Pavilion, cup of saké
in hand, gazing at the harvest moon as it rises above the city.
Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi, is a traditional Japanese festival
which honors the full moon in autumn. Guests enjoy a quiet
evening in the Garden, observe a candle-lit tea ceremony
in the Kashintei Tea House, and listen to performances of
traditional music on the shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and
koto (zither).
Poetry reading and writing have been part of traditional
moonviewing events in Japan for centuries. Guests are invited
to write their own poetry in honor of the autumn moon and
listen to poetry readings in the Garden Pavilion. Sip saké or
tea, enjoy a light sampling of seasonal Japanese foods, and
Haiku by Peter Kendall
Coming together
the tortoise shell butterfly
—its summer shadow
Coming Next Month
Through a cast of trees
those drawn out clouds at sunset
in a shift of color
Editor: Kerry Cobb, kcobb@japanesegarden.com
Designer: Rene Choy, rchoy@japanesegarden.com
experience a rare walk through the lantern-lit Garden at
twilight. From the Garden’s spectacular east-facing overlook
with a view of the city skyline below, watch as the moon rises
over the mountains and downtown Portland. Don’t miss this
most magical of all evenings in the Garden!
Photographers: Flash photography and tripods are not
allowed.
www.japanesegarden.com/events/moonviewing
Sponsored by The James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation, The Collins Foundation,
and Sake One
W I N E R Y
Exclusive Vineyard of the Portland Japanese Garden
www.toriimorwinery.com
The Portland Japanese Garden designates all
memorial gifts to its Foundation in order to support
the organization in perpetuity. In addition, the
Garden's foundation includes endowment funds
created through the generous gifts of our friends.
We are proud to acknowledge the following funds:
Jack & Lynne Hoffman Donor Advised Fund
Akira & Saeko Saheki Endowment Fund
If you are interested in contributing to our
endowment, please contact Nicola Sysyn at
(503) 595-5225.
Jonathan Ley

The Golden Crane Society
Individuals
$50,000+
Lynne Hoffman
$10,000-$24,999
Jean & Ray Auel
Carolyn A. Berry
Worth & Barbara Caldwell
Mary Clark
Melissa & Kelly Saito
$5,000-$9,999
Gwyneth & Brian Booth
John Gray Charitable Fund of The
Oregon Community Foundation
Margueritte Hirschbuhl Drake
Fund of The Oregon Community
Foundation
Robert W. Franz
Esther Jantzen Moore
Samuel T. & Mary K. Naito
Foundation
Franklin & Dorothy Piacentini
Wayne Quimby & Michael Roberts
Cap & Saeko Saheki
Staff of the Portland Japanese
Garden
$2,500-$4,999
Dean & Susan Alterman
Anonymous
Stephen Bloom & Michael
Blankenship
Dr. & Mrs. John R. Campbell
Dede & Joe DeJager
Sandra & Jeffrey Grubb
John Hall & Margaret Chula
Jerry & Ann Hudson
Sherman & Jayn Kellar
Mildred & Morris Schnitzer
Charitable Fund of The Oregon
Community Foundation
$1,500-$2,499
Anonymous (6)
Roudhi & Mehdi Akhavein
Thomas P. Anderson & Jack B.
Blumberg
Bruce & Cindy Brenn
Ibby Brooke
Richard L. Brown & Thomas Mark
Mary Candy Cassarno
Patty & Bob Collins
Truman & Kristin Collins
Anne & James Crumpacker
Gerald & Sandra Drummond
David Easly
Sharon & Francois Elmaleh
Ericksen Foundation
Mary Fellows & John Russell
Bill Findlay
Katherine & Mark Frandsen
Jerry & Barbara Giesy
Tom & Susan Hamman
Margaret & Roger Hinshaw
John & Linda Hisatomi
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Hudson
Gerald & Beth Hulsman
Judy & Hank Hummelt
Joshua & Kerstin Husbands
William L. & Sallie A. Jager
Kay Kitagawa & Andrew Johnson-
Laird
Kristayani & Jerry Jones Fund of The
Oregon Community Foundation
Jane R. Kendall Family Fund of The
Oregon Community Foundation
Peter J. Kendall
Yoshio & Nikki Kurosaki & The
Kurosaki Family Fund of The
Oregon Jewish Community
Foundation
Doug & Theresa Lovett
Verne Naito
Masaru & Kazuko Ogura
John & Jan Pihas
Vasek & Travers Hill Polak
Dee & Tom Ross
Dr. & Mrs. Ottomar Rudolf
Steve Smith & Dennis Johnson
Patricia Tarzian
John & Susan Turner
Joe & Shelley Voboril
Suwako Watanabe
Corporations/
Foundations
$50,000+
Meyer Memorial Trust
Memorial Gifts & Donations
Tribute Gifts
In memory of May Dobratz
Erik & Laura Dobratz
In memory of Marian O’Connor
Mary & Steve Hoeppner
Daniel & Kathryn Seifer
Annual Fund & Additional
Gifts
Anonymous
Willa & Alison Asbjornsen
John & Patricia Bentley
Keith Berglund
Laura & John Bullock
Shirley P. Burns
Jerry Button
Carla Caesar
Sonja L. Connor
William Cook & Gwil Evans
Joseph Ferguson
Gemma M. Furno
Barbara A. Klein
Rev. & Mrs. Zuiga Kodachi
Charles & Ursula LeGuin
Vera Looijenga
Kenneth Lynn
Jill McLean
Arthur & Arleen McNett
Deanna Najman
Dorinne Pedersen & Kurt Kimsey
Nancy & Mike Philips
John W.S. Platt
Shirley & Guy Randles
Donald Schaefer & Ann Glynn
Linda A. Sherman
$25,000-$49,999
City of Portland
John R. Gatewood & Mary Z.
Gatewood Fund of the Oregon
Community Foundation
Carl J. & Alma Johnson Fund of The
Oregon Community Foundation
James F. & Marion L. Miller
Foundation
Miller Charitable Fund of The
Oregon Community Foundation
Kurt & Lois Olsen Unrestricted
Fund of The Oregon Community
Foundation
Oregon Community Foundation
John & Netta B. Parke Fund of The
Oregon Community Foundation
Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Care
Foundation
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
The United States-Japan Foundation
$10,000-$24,999
Ark Foundation
The Collins Foundation
DHX Advertising
Gerding/Edlen Development
Company, LLC
Mediamerica, Inc.
Oregon Cultural Trust
Torii Mor Vineyard & Winery
William G. Gilmore Fund of The
Oregon Community Foundation
$5,000-$9,999
Azumano Travel
Bank of America Charitable
Foundation
Columbia Sportswear
Departure
GeoDesign Inc.
Walter Clay Hill and Family
Foundation
Edna L. Holmes Fund of The Oregon
Community Foundation
The Japan Foundation
Jurrens Family Foundation
Phillip Murthe Fund of The Oregon
Community Foundation
Northwest Natural Gas Company
Printing Today
Lolli Thurm
Robert Tufts
Capt. & Mrs. C.S. Wetherall
Patricia A. Wheeler
David Wolf & Ann Bardacke
Standard Corporate &
Foundation Donors
Albina Community Bank
Bonhams & Butterfields
Buchholz and Buchholz Nursery
Bullseye Glass Co.
Cedar Mills Garden Club
Country Gardens Garden Club
Creative Woodworking NW, Inc
Eastfork Nursery
Eastmoreland Garden Club, Unit 1
Exxon Mobil Foundation
Pro Photo Supply/Canon
The Swigert Foundation
Wessinger Foundation
Department Heads
Executive Director .......................................Steve Bloom
Carolyn A. Berry, Executive Director Chair
Deputy Director ........................................... Cheryl Ching
Executive Assistant .................................Maureen Porter
Curator of Culture, Art, & Education ...Diane Durston
Director of Finance .................................... Diane Brauer
Director of Strategic Advancement .........Nicola Sysyn
Director of Marketing & Visitor Services ....Kerry Cobb
Retail Manager/Buyer ...............................Paula Wheeler
Garden Curator ................................Sadafumi Uchiyama
Head Gardener .........................................Michael Kondo
Director of Grounds Maintenance ...Virginia Harmon
Board of Directors
2009–2011
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ed McVicker
President-elect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean Alterman
Vice Presidents . . . . . . . . . . Kristen Azumano Dozono
Jerry Hudson
Bill Hughes
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Saito
Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Haruyama
Members
Ray Auel Doug Macy
Gwyneth Gamble Booth Verne Naito
Bruce Brenn Masaru Ogura
Dr. John Campbell John Pihas
Lynn Connor Margaret Hinshaw
Dede DeJager Cathy Rudd
Michael Ellena Ted Sieckman
John Hisatomi Joe Voboril
Judy Hummelt Dorie Vollum
Doug Lovett Suwako Watanabe
Ferguson Wellman Capital
Management
Garden Writers Association Inc.
Geffen Mesher & Co., P.C.
Ikebana International, Chapter #47
Iseli Nursery, Inc.
Kashintei Kai
KPFF Consulting Engineers
Marineopolis USA, Inc.
The Eva Olson Michael Fund of the
Lutheran Community Foundation
Northwest Tree Specialists
OMIC International
Osamu Woodworking
Oswego Garden Club
Oregon Decorative Rock
PDX Magazine
The Portico Group
Portland Garden Club
R. B. Pamplin Corporation
Sir James and Lady McDonald
Cultural Fund of the Oregon
Community Foundation
Sherman Clay/Moe’s Piano
The Autzen Foundation
The Jackson Foundation
The Jean Vollum Fund
The Laura Russo Gallery, Inc.
The Standard
Tommy Luke Flowers
Tomodachi Committee
Treecology, Inc
Urasenke Portland Dokokai
Washington Trust Bank
West Coast Bank
Zupans

Portland Japanese Garden v Post Office Box 3847 v Portland, Oregon 97208-3847
Members-only Hours:
Tuesday–Sunday: 8-10am
Summer Public Hours:
(April 1–September 30)
Tuesday–Sunday: 10am-7pm
Mondays: Noon-7pm
Summer Public Tours:
Tuesday–Sunday: 10:45am, 1pm, & 2:30pm
Mondays: 1pm & 2:30pm
Summer Gift Store Hours:
Tuesday–Sunday: 10am-7pm
Mondays: Noon-7pm
Helpful Numbers:
Main Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (503) 223-1321
Membership Services . . . . . . . . (503) 796-9180
Garden Gift Store . . . . . . . . . . . (503) 223-5055
Event Reservations . . . . . . . . . . (503) 542-0280
Physical Address:
611 SW Kingston Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
www.japanesegarden.com
August
8/1–9/6 Behind the Shoji Show and Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Garden Hours
8/11 O-Bon, the Spirit Festival* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9:30pm
8/12 Twilight Hours for Supporting/Sponsor Members* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9pm
8/15 Photo Member Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9pm
8/21 Presentation of Chado, the Way of Tea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1pm & 2pm
September
9/1–9/6 Behind the Shoji Show and Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Garden Hours
9/6 Labor Day Extended Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10am-7pm
9/11 Maple Pruning Demonstration*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9am-3pm
9/16 Photo Member Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30-8am
9/18-19 Bamboo Fence Building Workshop* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9am-3pm
9/18 Presentation of Chado, the Way of Tea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1pm & 2pm
9/22, 23, 24 O-Tsukimi, Moonviewing* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8:30pm
9/26 Volunteer Orientation* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30am-Noon
*Reservations required. Registration fees are non-refundable. Dates & times subject to change.
For more information and to make reservations or payment arrangements, call or visit:
www.japanesegarden.com/events v (503) 542-0280
© 2010 Portland Japanese Garden. All rights reserved. Printed on 100% Recycled, 100% Post-Consumer Waste. Processed Chlorine-Free. FSC certified.