Summer Cultural Series

Made possible with an Art & Cultural Assistance Grant from the city of Gresham

2021 is the 10-year anniversary of the rebirth of Tsuru Island (Fukkatsu). We feel we’ve established a solid framework within our organization and also a positive presence in the city through our stewardship of the Gresham Japanese Garden, Ebetsu Plaza, and Ambleside Annex. We feel an obligation to educate our community to Japanese culture, and to the historical story of the Japanese Americans who settled in our area by offering cultural programs.

June 5

Sho- Art (Calligraphy) Live Performances
Times: 1:00 & 2:15pm
Location: Ebetsu Plaza (south end of park)

Shodo is a form of calligraphy, or artistic writing, a writing technique that uses ones body and heart. Shodo is influenced by Zen and can be practiced as a form of meditation.

Sora Shodo – Artist, Performer

SORA = Universe, SHO = Writing + DO = Tao

Sora’s creation, technique and philosophy are inspired by the deep history of Japanese Calligraphy. Born is Usuki, Japan, Sora started learning shodo at the age of 6. More recently she has focused on the bokutensha method, studying under Master Futo Suzuki in Japan and Sekko Daigo in Portland.

Sora combines striking and meaningful visual art with entrancing performance art. Through her shodo performance, Sora demonstrates the limitless possibilities of expression and challenges the leading edge of art.

In collaboration with musicians, dancers, and artists, each moment is spontaneously created together in synergy with the audience. The energy of the group is translated into art as Sora facilitates an experience of oneness in the present moment.

June 5
Bonsai Demonstrations
Time: 10:30am & 2:30pm
Location: Tsuru Island

Bonsai is a Japanese term which, literally means “planted in a container”.

This art form is derived from an ancient Chinese horticultural practice, part of which was then redeveloped under the influence of Japanese Zen Buddhism.

Bonsai has been around for well over a thousand years. The ultimate goal of growing a Bonsai is to create a miniaturized but realistic representation of nature in the form of a tree. Bonsai are not genetically dwarfed plants, in fact, any tree species can be used to grow one.

Mark Vossbrink – Instructor

Mark has been teaching bonsai for years. He grew up in Hawaii and learned bonsai at a young age. Mark teaches monthly bonsai classes at the Garden if you’re interested in pursuing this art of ingenuity.

June 19

Shinobue Performances
Times: 1:00 & 2:15pm
Location: Tsuru Island

Enjoy the peaceful music of the Shinobue as you enter Tsuru Island. Shinobue is a traditional bamboo flute categorized as a reed instrument such as the shakuhachi (Japanese end-blown flute.)

Yumi Torimaru – Musician, Performer

In recent years Yumi has undertaken a solo project (www.KotoriJapaneseMusic.com), where she freely expresses her originality in music Shinobue (bamboo flutes) and Tsugaru
Shamisen (Japanese lute). The smaller ensembles and Solo projects allow her to do more collaborations with other musicians and artists.
In 2016, she became an apprentice of Ryuhiro Oyama, the distinguished Tsugaru Shamisen
(Japanese lute) master of one of the biggest Tsugaru Shamisen Associations (Oyama-Kai) in Japan. He is well known for his deep knowledge of the Tsugaru style Minyo (folk songs). In 2020, Yumi started to take online professional shinobue training by a world-renowned musician, Yasukazu Kano.

June 19
Ikebana Demonstrations
Times: 11:00am & 3:00pm
Location: Tsuru Island

Ikebana is one of the traditional Japanese art forms that uses plant and other materials to create floral arrangements. Ikebana was established in the 15th century though the origin goes back much farther.

Ikebana has three main components: the natural material (flowers, tree branches, leaves, or conifer needles), the vase, and the kendzan (a device for strengthening the stem and keeping it in the desired position). The basic aesthetic principle of Ikebana is refined simplicity, achieved by bringing out the natural beauty of the material, which determines the bouquet’s asymmetrical composition and contrasting colors and textures.

We are offering Ikebana workshops at the Garden with instructor, Nana Bellerud.

Nana G. Bellerud – Instructor

Nana G. Bellerud has been studying the Sogetsu School of ikebana since 2005 and continues to be inspired and have new insights from its teachings. Nana demonstrates, exhibits, and teaches ikebana at a wide range of venues including the Portland Art Museum, Portland Japanese Garden, and Leach Botanical Garden. Through her demonstrations and workshops, she seeks to introduce others to the art of ikebana and to intrigue and inspire them. Beyond simply producing a beautiful work of art with flowers and natural objects, she shows her audience how ikebana explores artistic concepts such as balance, contrast, and negative space. Nana is currently serving as Branch Director of Sogetsu Portland and is a past President of Ikebana International Portland Chapter #47.

July 10

Oregon Koto-Kia – Japanese Harps
Time: 1:00 & 2:15pm
Location: Ebetsu Plaza (south end of park)

Listen to Oregon Koto-Kai as they play music for all of us to hear. Koto is the long horizontal Japanese harps.

Origami Interactive Demonstrations – Ongoing
Time: Noon – 2pm
Location: Ambleside Annex (south end of park)

We’ll be making swans and flapping birds!

Geared for all ages and abilities! These demonstrations will be hands-on and headed by Eileen Holzman who has 40 years experience in art and horticultural therapy.

July 24

Oregon Koto-Kia – Japanese Harps
Time: 1:00 & 2:15pm
Location: Ebetsu Plaza (south end of park)

Listen to Oregon Koto-Kai as they play music for all of us to hear. Koto is the long horizontal Japanese harps.

Ikebana Demonstrations
Time: 3:15pm
Location: Tsuru Island

Ikebana is one of the traditional Japanese art forms that uses plant and other materials to create floral arrangements.

Beyond simply producing a beautiful work of art with flowers and natural objects, she shows her audience how ikebana explores artistic concepts such as balance, contrast, and negative space.

We are offering Ikebana workshops at the Garden with instructor, Nana Bellerud.

Nana G. Bellerud – Instructor

Nana G. Bellerud has been studying the Sogetsu School of ikebana since 2005 and continues to be inspired and have new insights from its teachings. Nana demonstrates, exhibits, and teaches ikebana at a wide range of venues including the Portland Art Museum, Portland Japanese Garden, and Leach Botanical Garden. Through her demonstrations and workshops, she seeks to introduce others to the art of ikebana and to intrigue and inspire them. Nana is currently serving as Branch Director of Sogetsu Portland and is a past President of Ikebana International Portland Chapter #47.

August 7

Takohachi’s (Drums) Performances
Time: 11:00am & 1:00pm
Location: Ebetsu Plaza (south end of park)

Watch this lively innovative ensemble perform using the strongly moving music and rhythm elements of Japan. The ensemble performing for the Garden will consist of Taiko (drum), Shinobue (bamboo flute), and Shamisen (lute).

Yumi Torimaru – Musician, Performer

In 2006, Yumi Torimaru founded her music ensemble, Takohachi (www.takohachi.org) in Portland, Oregon. Takohachi became a non-profit organization in 2007 to preserve traditional Japanese music and dance and to create some innovative taiko drum performances using the strongly moving music and rhythm elements of Japan. She has created more than 250 Takohachi shows to educate and entertain throughout the Portland area at schools, libraries, festivals, and cultural events.

In 2016, she became an apprentice of Ryuhiro Oyama, the distinguished Tsugaru Shamisen
(Japanese lute) master of one of the biggest Tsugaru Shamisen Associations (Oyama-Kai) in Japan. He is well known for his deep knowledge of the Tsugaru style Minyo (folk songs).

Bonsai Demonstrations
Time: 10:00am & 2:00pm
Location: Tsuru Island

Bonsai is a Japanese term which, literally means “planted in a container”.

This art form is derived from an ancient Chinese horticultural practice, part of which was then redeveloped under the influence of Japanese Zen Buddhism.

Bonsai has been around for well over a thousand years. The ultimate goal of growing a Bonsai is to create a miniaturized but realistic representation of nature in the form of a tree. Bonsai are not genetically dwarfed plants, in fact, any tree species can be used to grow one.

Mark Vossbrink – Instructor

Mark has been teaching bonsai for years. He grew up in Hawaii and learned bonsai at a young age. Mark teaches monthly bonsai classes at the Garden if you’re interested in pursuing this art of ingenuity.