TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Capstone International Center will celebrate the 24th annual Sakura Festival with Tuscaloosa’s “Matsuri in the Mall” on Saturday, Feb.27, and a host of cultural activities throughout March.
The Sakura Festival is held in honor of the time of ohanami, or viewing of the cherry blossoms, to remind us of the enduring nature of life. The theme of this year’s festival is tabidachi, or departure, to remind people of the integral nature of beginnings and endings.
The festival brings people to the University and Tuscaloosa to celebrate Japanese culture through events and activities. UA will host a number of events throughout the month-long festival, in addition to events held in the surrounding community.
The schedule for the 2010 Sakura Festival includes:
- The deadline for the 20th annual Haiku Contest of the 24th Sakura Festival is March 4. Contestants have the opportunity to express their emotions through the theme of tabidachi/departure. Submissions are accepted in either Japanese or English, but limited to Alabama citizens. Entry forms are available at http://bama.ua.edu/~jprogram/sakura.
- Sakura Festival at the Children’s Hands-On-Museum
March 6-27
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., closed on Sundays
CHOM, 2213 University Blvd., Downtown Tuscaloosa
Information available at 205/349-4235 or http://www.chomonline.org
Admission is charged.
Celebrate the Sakura Festival with a visit to CHOM’s Japanese House exhibit, an authentic replica of a traditional Japanese home. The house presents the Japanese perception of beauty, which emphasizes simplicity and closeness to nature. Visitors can create a variety of Japanese-inspired art projects throughout the month of March. The Creation Station offers a special art activity each Saturday of the month.
Saturday, March 6
Origami Samurai Helmets
Saturday, March 13
Cherry Blossom Pictures
Saturday, March 20
Origami Box
Saturday, March 27
Watercolor Nature Scenes
- Doll Festival/Hina Matsuri Exhibit at UA International Center for Students
Entire month of March
121-F BB Comer Hall, UA International Center for Students
Information available at 205/348-5256
Beautiful dolls representing the traditional Japanese royal court will be on display in the tatami room. These dolls have been handed down from generation to generation. The Doll Festival was originally a purification ritual, which represents a day of hope for the growth, happiness and future of young girls.
- Hanga; Two Hundred Years of Japanese Woodblock Prints
Opening Reception
Thursday, March 4, at 6 p.m.
Ferguson Center Art Gallery
To view by appointment, contact Dr. Catherine Pagani at 205/348-9944.
The Ferguson Center Art Gallery will be the site of an exhibit of Japanese woodblock prints. Included in the exhibit are examples of ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” from the 17th- 19th centuries by such well-known masters as Utamaro, Hiroshige and Hokusai. The exhibit will also feature works by modern masters of the 20th century.
- Sakura Festival at the Tuscaloosa Public Library
1801 Jack Warner Parkway, Tuscaloosa
Information is available from Youth Services Department at 205/345-5820, ext 231
Free Admission
- Japanese folk talk reading of “Crane Wife”
Thursday, March 4, 3:30 p.m., Brown Library
Friday, March 5, 3:30 p.m., Weaver Bolden Library
Thursday, March 11, 4 p.m., Tuscaloosa Public Library
- Creating Raku Pottery at the Kentuck Art Center
503 Main Ave., downtown Northport
To reserve a place in the class, call 205/758-1257
In cooperation with the Kentuck Art Center, this year’s Sakura Festival offers a new way to participate in Japanese culture by creating raku pottery. Participants will decorate hand-thrown pieces prepared by Kentuck artists and work with the artists in firing and finishing the pieces. The participant fee is sponsored by the Sakura Festival and includes one piece of pottery. Additional pieces for decoration can be purchased at the workshop. It is limited to 15 participants who must be at least 15 years of age. Observers of all ages are welcome to attend at no charge.
- Annual Art Contest at Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission
Art Contest Theme: Your World
The contest is open to children from kindergarten through 12th grades from Narashino, Japan, Schorndorf, Germany, and all Tuscaloosa City schools. Entries of the art contest will be displayed in the Center Court of the University Mall and during Matsuri in the Mall Feb. 27. There will be three categories: elementary, middle school and high school. Winning artwork may be selected to compete for cash prizes and national recognition in the Sister Cities International Young Artist Competition, which will take place in July. For more information, contact Lisa Keyes at 205/469-2183 or lykeyes@dbtech.net.
- Matsuri/Festival in the Mall
Saturday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
University Mall
1701 McFarland Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa
Matsuri in the Mall offers the opportunity to experience Japanese culture through an exciting variety of cultural exhibits and performances. The event is designed to build friendship and to increase an understanding of the country and people of Japan. More information is available at 205/348-5256, Capstone International Center.
Matsuri at the Mall booth and performance activities include:
| Display & Sale of Bonsai | Leo Wagner |
| Japanese Martial Arts | UA Yosekan Budo Club |
| Overseas Exchange Programs – Japan | Capstone International Center |
| “Let’s Sumo” | Georgia Sumo Association |
| Display of Flower Arrangement | Ikebana International Jefferson County chapter 137 |
| Kimono Display | Kimono Consultant |
| Display of Okinawa Dance and Taiko | Miyagi Ryu Noshokai |
| Information on Tuscaloosa Sister Cities | Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission |
| Japanese General Store | West Alabama Japanese Community |
| Japanese Drum Ensemble | UA Nozomi Daiko |
| Japanese-in-a-suitcase | The Japan-America Society of Alabama |
| 11-11:05 a.m. | Opening Ceremony with Nozomi Daiko-Drumming | Master of Ceremonies UA Nozomi Daiko |
| 11:10-11:40 a.m. | Music Performance by Suzuki | Violin UA Community Music School Students Suzuki Strings |
| 11:45 a.m.-12:05 p.m. | Nozomi Daiko – Drumming | UA Nozomi Daiko |
| 12:10-12:30 p.m. | Traditional Japanese Swordsmanship | International Shinkendo Federation in Alabama and Georgia |
| 12:35-1 p.m. | Okinawa Dance & Eisa Taiko | Miyagi Ryu Noshokai |
| 1:05-1:30 p.m. | “Let’s Sumo!” | Georgia Sumo Association |
| 1:35-1:55 p.m. | Japanese Martial Arts | UA Yosekan Budo Club |
| 2-2:20 p.m. | Okinawa Dance & Eisa Taiko | Miyagi Ryu Noshokai |
| 2:25-2:45 p.m. | Traditional Japanese Swordsmanship | International Shinkendo Federation in Alabama and Georgia |
| 2:50-3:20 p.m. | “Let’s Sumo!” | Georgia Sumo Association |
| 3:25-3:45 p.m. | Okinawa Dance & Eisa Taiko | Miyagi Ryu Association |
| 3:50-3:55 p.m. | Nozomi Daiko – Drumming | UA Nozomi Daiko |
| 3:55-4 p.m. | Closing Ceremony |
For more information about Sakura Festival events, contact the Capstone International Center, 205/348-5256 or jsnow9@ua.edu
Contact
Haley Barr or Linda Hill, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu
Source
Jessica Snow, UA Capstone International Center, 205/348-5256, jsnow9@ua.edu