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Arts & Entertainment

Japanese Drums & Ikebana Art Program at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Please join us for a unique program in the colorful and elegant gardens at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum.  The gardens were restored in the 1950s by the Garden Club of Morristown and are planted for seasonal bloom. In spring, daffodils and tulips are followed by the magnificent wisteria on the back porch. Commodore Matthew Perry, who opened Japan to American trading in the mid-1850s, brought the wisteria planted along the rear porch arbor as a gift circa 1857to the Miller family who resided at Macculloch Hall. The garden’s magnificent wisteria is inspiration for a Japanese inspired program on Sunday July 17th from 1pm – 4pm, bringing together the Japanese style drumming known as Taiko performed by Kenny Chin and the beautiful Japanese art form of Ichiyo ikebana with Anna Nakada for an engaging afternoon of music and living art in spectacular surroundings. 

 

Both guest artists have a wide background and deep appreciation for their specialty.  Kenny Chin became interested in Taiko when he first saw the New York ensemble Soh Daiko play at a fund raiser in New York back in 1983. “I felt this wonderful sensation from the power of the drums and I knew immediately I had to join in.” After nearly two years of independent physical preparation and group training, Kenny was invited to play with the group as a full member in 1985. Kenny has shared the stage with many of the top Taiko ensembles in America and recently has been demonstrating Taiko music to pre-school students in New Jersey and continues to play on special occasions with the now legendary Soh Daiko ensemble of New York. At Macculloch Hall Historical Museum Kenny will be demonstrating the fundamentals of Taiko music; its instruments and sound.  Kenny will play periodically throughout the afternoon while Anna Nakada puts together a large-size arrangement of Ichiyo ikebana.

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Anna Nakada is a Master of the Ichiyo School of Ikebana and will utilize the branches from a recent trimming of the historic wisteria in the Macculloch Hall garden to create her ikebana installation. Anna teaches Ichiyo ikebana classes and demonstrates and gives workshops in the U.S. and abroad. Typically, an Ichiyo demonstrator makes an effort to show the audience every step of the process by which an arrangement is created, as he/she engages in an exchange with plants, flowers, containers and the surroundings. The Ichiyo artist strives to make flowers come alive, hopefully in a beautiful, profound and natural way and in the process tries to learn more about life and oneself; in other words, the “way” of flowers. 

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The program will begin at 1pm. Both Ms. Nakada and Mr. Chin will provide opportunities for the audience to participate and learn about these art forms. Visitors may also tour the variety of plantings in seasonal bloom, and relax on the large lawn during the program. Guests are welcome to bring chairs or blankets. There will be house tours of the period rooms of the  museum, which leave throughout the afternoon starting at 1pm, with the last tour leaving at 3pm. Tours will visit gallery exhibits including the school room gallery limited opening of the Thomas Nast Christmas in July exhibit which is open July 17th through July 31st. A wonderful exhibit of American silver, the Coming of Age:  Early American Silversmiths; Masters, Apprentices, Trade Partners and Taste is in the upstairs gallery. After touring visitors may return to the garden to enjoy the program. In the case of inclement weather the program will be moved indoors.

 

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. It is located in the heart of Morristown’s National Historic District. Macculloch Hall's Offices are open Monday - Friday –   9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The last tickets for admission are sold at 3 p.m.  Admission is $6 Adults; $5 Seniors; Students 12 years and under and museum members are free.  School tours, adult/senior tours and rentals may be scheduled by appointment.  For information, call the Museum weekdays at (973) 538-2404, visit our website www.maccullochhall.org or find us on Facebook.  Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is a nonprofit educational affiliate of the W. Parsons Todd Foundation.  The Macculloch Hall Historical Museum received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. 

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