SE Valley Times

Rio Salado College recently celebrated the Lunar New Year by taking part in a virtual tour of the National Museum of Asian Art. The event, held on January 27, was guided by docent Richard Lum, who provided insights into various pieces from the museum's collection.

Lum shared information about the museum's origins in Washington, D.C., highlighting its unique challenges. Many items in the collection were donated by Charles Lang Freer, known for his extensive collection of James McNeil Whistler paintings. Freer stipulated that his donations remain permanently housed in the museum, necessitating that all restoration work occur onsite.

The tour featured several notable exhibits. Among them were poetry scrolls depicting plum blossoms painted with ink made from soot and gelatin. These light-sensitive scrolls are displayed under museum lighting only every five years for six months at a time.

Lum also showcased a Qing dynasty porcelain plate adorned with "three friends of winter": evergreen pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms, symbolizing virtue in Confucianism. The symbolism of spring and fans as representations of youth and luck was discussed.

Participants saw a red lacquer tray featuring phoenixes before moving to a 17th-century red lacquer box called the "Treasure Box of Eternal Spring and Longevity."

Works by renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai were included in the tour. Lum noted that the museum holds the largest collection of Hokusai pieces worldwide and is planning a significant exhibition for 2027.

Hokusai’s ornate silk scroll panels titled “New Year Custom: Wish for a New Year’s Auspicious Dream” and “New Year Custom: Makeup on the New Year Morning” were among those shown during the hour-long session, which offered participants valuable insights into Asian art traditions.