Gifts from Japan: A Horticultural Tale told through Botanical Art

"Gifts from Japan" is a unique exhibition that illuminates the Japanese origin stories of many of our beloved garden plants and flowers. Their multi-faceted story is told through an immersive journey across four interrelated exhibitions in two galleries.

 

Displays in the Calvin and Mayho Tanabe Gallery explore:

• "A Culture of Flowers," the integral role of flowers during the Edo Period in Japan (1603–1868)

• "Japan and the World," World Fairs (beginning with the 1867 International Exposition in Paris), garden arts, the influence of Japanese design and architecture, and the Yokohama Nursery Co., Ltd. popularization of Japanese cultivars around the world.

• "Stewarding the Land: Honoring the Japanese American Journey," the story of Japanese immigrants to America, their contributions, courage, and the enormous obstacles they faced.

 

The Pavilion Gallery features botanical artworks of Japanese plants that have found their way into gardens around the world. Participating artists include members from BAGSC; the Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists;  the Oregon Botanical Artists; and guest artists from Japan.

 

The exhibition is co-organized by the Portland Japanese Garden, and The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. A special thank you to Robert Hori, Guest Curator of the Exhibition and Gardens Cultural Curator & Programs Director at The Huntington.

 

Exhibition Artwork Images

The following artworks were selected from submissions by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC), the Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists, and the Oregon Botanical Artists. Additional guest artists from Japan were invited to submit their works.

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Click on any of the thumbnails below to see an enlarged slide show of the works, artist, and artwork information. The slide show will be updated with better images as they become available.

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Installation and Opening Reception

Thank you to Beth Stone and Tina Lange (president, Oregon Botanical Artists) for photos of the installation, opening reception, the artwork and gardens.

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Click on any of the images below to open a slide show of all the images and captions.

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