Kampai!: The Arts of Japanese Sake
March 5 – June 20, 2004
Sake is Hot at USC Pacific Asia Museum!
The exhibition, Kampai! The Arts of Japanese Sake, will be the first of its kind in an American museum to introduce the public to what is considered to be the national drink of Japan – highlighting its importance in Japanese religious and social rituals through the centuries. Curated by Meher McArthur, Curator of East Asian Art, the exhibition will feature paintings, prints, ceramics, lacquer ware, and sculpture regarding the production, marketing and serving of sake, as well as images that depict the Japanese from all levels of society (as well as the gods!) enjoying this drink.
Wine of the Gods
Rice wine, or sake, is a clear alcoholic drink made from fermented rice and has played an important role in Japan for roughly 2,000 years. Sake has long been considered a means by which people could become closer to the gods, and is a key element in the worship of the indigenous deities of Japan. The drink has also been at the heart of many social rituals that bring people closer to each other, including festivals, parties, and the tea ceremony.
Intoxicating Art
Over the centuries, significant artistic traditions have evolved relating to sake, including the ceramic and lacquer vessels for holding, serving and drinking the wine, as well as the art work used to promote and sell sake. In addition, many paintings and prints depict people and gods enjoying sake in both a social and religious context. The objects in the exhibition will be drawn primarily from the collections of Dr. James Roorda, Virginia and Raymond Atchley, Jacqueline Avant, Patricia Ayers Gallucci, John Gauntner, Kelton Foundation, Dr. Stephen A. Kanter, Konishi Oriental Antiques, Rob Singer and Takara Sake, USA. Most notably, USC Pacific Asia Museum is partnering with Sushi & Tofu Magazine, Cultural News, the Japan America Society and Asia Society on this exhibition, which coincides with the 150th anniversary of Japan-US relations. The exhibition is being sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan, the Japan Foundation, and Toshi and Frank Mosher. Additional support has been provided by David and Margaret Barry and Dave and Mitsuko Felton.
Related Programs:
All About Sake
Friday, March 5, 7-9pm
Lecture and sake tasting by sake expert, John Gauntner, followed by a book signing
John Gauntner is a leading authority on Japanese sake and currently resides in Japan. He writes a weekly column on sake for Japan’s most widely distributed newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun. His four books include The Sake Handbook (Tuttle, 1997), The Sake Companion (Running Press Book Publishers, 2000) and Sake, Pure & Simple (Stone Bridge Press, 1999, co-authored with Griffith Frost), as well as one book in Japanese, Nihonjin mo Shiranai Nihonshu no Hanashi (Shogakkan, 2003)
Curator’s Tour
Saturday, March 13, 2pm
Exhibition curator, Meher McArthur will provide a lively, informative walk-through of the exhibition. Meher McArthur specializes in Japanese art and is curator of the exhibition.
Sake Talk and Tasting
Friday, June 4th, 7pm
In conjunction with Kampai! The Arts of Japanese Sake, Pacific Asia Museum will hold its second sake tasting. The event will include an exhibition tour and introduction to sake by museum curator Meher McArthur followed by a tasting of ten types of sake presented by Pacific International Liquor.