Curator's Circle
2004 Past Programs

Roger Hollander | Mona Lutz and Adelle Lutz | Dr. Kenson Kwok
Dr. Tseng Yuho | Humphrey K. F. Hui | Hayakawa Shokosai V

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Conversation: "Sacred Heirlooms—Textiles from India and the Spice Trade "
Roger Hollander collects woven silk patola and colorfully printed cottons that were used as currency in the spice trade. In use from the earliest times until the early 1800s, these Indian trade cloths were considered sacred heirlooms in remote tribal areas of Indonesia, where they were often believed to ensure a village's well-being. As a result, this material significantly influenced textile design in certain localities in the Indonesian archipelago. In a conversation with curator Ron Otsuka, Hollander discusses his fascination with these alluring fabrics and how he created one of the finest collections of this material while based in Cody, Wyoming.
February 11, 2004

Workshop: "The Touch and Feel of Indian Trade Textiles"
Used as commodities by European traders seeking spices and exotic woods, Indian trade textiles were also preserved for centuries by Indonesian families, some of whom have examples from as early as the 1300s. Using slides from his own collection, Roger Hollander illustrates how these Indian fabrics influenced the textiles of Indonesia—and vice versa. Hollander introduces us to the touch and feel of these fine cloths and discusses how they were woven and dyed.
February 12, 2004

Biography
Articles

Conversation: "The Lutz Bamboo Collection—A Love Affair"
The formation of the Lutz Bamboo Collection was a family endeavor. Walter E. Lutz (1910-2003) met Mona Miwako Furuki on Christmas Day in 1945, and they were later married. Together with their daughters Adelle Lutz and Tina Chow (1950-92), they assembled a collection of more than three thousand bamboo objects. The collection includes carved Chinese brush pots, Korean furniture, and Japanese baskets used for flower arrangements. Selections from the Lutz Bamboo Collection were featured in a series of five exhibitions at the Denver Art Museum between 1979 and 1984. In a conversation with curator Ronald Otsuka, Mona and Adelle discuss the evolution of their collection and what it has meant to their lives.
March 3, 2004

Workshop: "Japanese Baskets and Ikebana"
Mona Lutz of the Ohara School of Ikebana discusses her love of bamboo baskets. She demonstrates how she uses baskets in creating floral compositions and what qualities appeal to her when she acquires a basket for the Lutz
Bamboo Collection.
March 4, 2004

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Biography
Articles

Conversation: "The New Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore"
The flagship building of the Asian Civilizations Museum opened in Singapore in March 2003. The ACM was created by an act of political will. Within a short time, a collection had to be built (along with the buildings to house it) and a network of supporters had to be activated. This was challenging, as the culture of philanthropy that supports museums in the United States is not well developed in Asia. On the other hand, the relative absence of precedent allowed the museum to experiment with presentation and technology. In a conversation with curator Ronald Otsuka, Dr. Kenson Kwok shares his thoughts on what it was like to develop an Asian civilizations museum in Asia.
April 13, 2004

Workshop:"Past Glories, Present Practices—The Dehua Kilns in China"
The Asian Civilizations Museum has one of the world's finest collections of porcelain from Dehua. In the second half of the 16th century, the folk kilns in this southern Chinese town started to develop a fine white porcelain that became known in the West as blanc de chine. The first part of this workshop spotlights Dehua's historic ceramics, from pieces made for devotional use or the scholar's desk to decorative and utilitarian wares. Dr. Kenson Kwok also touches on one of the few remaining mysteries in Chinese ceramic production, Dehua's rare decorated porcelains. The second part is a travelogue about the thriving town of Dehua, whose economy still centers on ceramics and where traditional and modern production methods exist side by side.
April 14, 2004

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Biography
Articles

Conversation: "My Collecting Experiences—Beijing and Honolulu"
Dr. Tseng Yuho (Betty Ecke) is an artist and a scholar. She grew up at the center of Beijing's classical literary world and studied Chinese calligraphy, painting, seal engraving, epigraphy, and poetry with renowned specialists from China, Europe, and the United States. As a scholar and educator, she is intimately familiar with the history of collecting Chinese art. As an artist, she continues to pioneer her personal concepts of artistic expression. In a conversation with curator (and former classmate) Ronald Otsuka, Dr. Tseng recounts her experiences in Beijing and tells about her life in China and Hawaii.
May 12, 2004

Workshop: "The Tea Lodge and My Life as an Artist"
In addition to her many other activities, Dr. Tseng Yuho is creating a Chinese tea lodge and herb garden in the botanic park of the University of Hawaii. She is furnishing it with objects that she is collecting to create a beautiful retreat from the everyday world. Dr. Tseng discusses her vision for the Tea Lodge and shares her experiences as a contemporary artist.
May 13, 2004

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Biography
Articles

Conversation: "In Search of Direction: The Forming of a Chinese Snuff Bottle Collection"
In collecting, the search of a direction is thought to be an essential part of the quest for fulfillment. When he began collecting snuff bottles in the early 1970s, Humphrey Hui's collecting career had little direction. In 1987, Mr. Hui read an article from an auction house that mentioned that snuff bottles were still underrated in importance as well as market value. Taking that cue, he began a serious pursuit of the subject, reading everything that came to hand and visiting antique dealers wherever he traveled. He was attracted by the minute size of the snuff bottles, which created no storage or security problems, and fascinated by the endless variety of motifs and materials. In a conversation with curator Ronald Otsuka, Mr. Hui describes how he began a long journey of visiting collectors, auction sales, and antique shows to build his collection.
June 24, 2004

Workshop: "Inkplay in Microcosm: Inside-Painted Chinese Snuff Bottles"
Legend has it that the idea of painting the inside of a snuff bottle was inspired by the sight of the scratch marks left by a small spoon when dispensing snuff. A minor painter by the name of Kan Xuenwan is recognized as the genre's pioneering artist, with a snuff bottle dated 1815. Later Beijing master Zhou Leyuan initiated the style that came to be adopted by famous painters such as Ma Shaoxuan (who excelled at portraits), Ding Erzhong (a literati who did not paint for commercial gain), and Ye Zhongsan and Sun Xingwu (both commissioned artists). Their subjects range from landscapes, still lifes, and folklore to auspicious themes and portraits. Humphrey Hui will share the joys, frustrations, and rewards of three decades of collecting inside-painted snuff bottles.
June 25, 2004

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Biography
Articles

Lecture: "Japanese Baskets: The Life and Work of a Living National Treasure"
In 2003, the Japanese government designated Hayakawa Shokosai V a "Living National Treasure." Since 1955, this distinction has been conferred upon a small number of individuals for their unique skills in traditional Japanese arts. In a rare public appearance, Hayakawa speaks about his career as an artist and his decision to follow his family tradition of working with bamboo. Meet a Living National Treasure at the Denver Art Museum and hear him speak about how he communicates with bamboo. His words will be preceded by a brief video segment from Waza ni Ikiru (Living for My Art), aired in 1976 by Yomiuri Television as part of its Traditional Crafts Series.
August 10, 2004

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