Time: 4:00 pm
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is proud to present the very popular Japanese Drums and Ikebana Art program on Sunday July 21st at 4pm. This presentation has proven to be a crowd favorite and performers Kenny Chin and Anna Nakada plan on a similarly engaging program in the colorful and elegant gardens of Macculloch Hall. The gardens were restored in the 1950s by the Garden Club of Morristown and are planted for seasonal bloom. In spring, daffodils and tulips are followed by the magnificent wisteria on the back porch. Commodore Matthew Perry, who opened Japan to American trading in the mid-1850s, brought the wisteria planted along the rear porch arbor as a gift, circa 1857, to the Miller family who resided at Macculloch Hall. The garden’s magnificent wisteria inspired the program bringing together the Japanese style drumming known as Taiko, performed by Kenny Chin and the beautiful Japanese art form of Ichiyo Ikebana, with Anna Nakada, for an engaging afternoon of music and living art in spectacular surroundings.
Both guest artists have a wide background and deep appreciation for their specialty. Kenny Chin became interested in Taiko when he first saw the New York ensemble Soh Daiko play at a fund raiser in New York back in 1983. “I felt this wonderful sensation from the power of the drums and I knew immediately I had to join in.” After nearly two years of independent physical preparation and group training, Kenny was invited to play with the group as a full member in 1985. Kenny has shared the stage with many of the top Taiko ensembles in America and recently has been demonstrating Taiko music to pre-school students in New Jersey. He continues to play on special occasions with the now legendary Soh Daiko ensemble of New York. At Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, Kenny will be demonstrating the fundamentals of Taiko music; its instruments and sound. Kenny will play periodically throughout the program while Anna Nakada puts together a large-size arrangement of Ichiyo Ikebana.
Anna Nakada is a Master of the Ichiyo School of Ikebana and will utilize the branches from a recent trimming of the historic wisteria in the Macculloch Hall garden to create her Ikebana installation. Anna teaches Ichiyo Ikebana classes and demonstrates and gives workshops in the U.S. and abroad. Typically, an Ichiyo demonstrator makes an effort to show the audience every step of the process by which an arrangement is created, as he/she engages in an exchange with plants, flowers, containers and the surroundings. The Ichiyo artist strives to make flowers come alive, hopefully in a beautiful, profound and natural way and in the process tries to learn more about life and oneself; in other words, the “way” of flowers.
The program will begin at 4pm. Guests should bring blankets or chairs and may bring picnics. Both Ms. Nakada and Mr. Chin will provide opportunities for the audience to participate and learn about these art forms. Visitors may also tour the variety of plantings in seasonal bloom, and relax on the large lawn during the program. Tickets can be purchased from 1pm on the day of the program, no advance sales. After 4pm tickets for the performance will still be available to purchase. Program tickets are $12; $10 for members, seniors, students, and those who purchased a Museum tour ticket that day. Free for children under 12. We are pleased to offer accessible restroom facilities during garden events this summer. Please, no dogs during programs in the garden. In the case of inclement weather the performance will be moved indoors. The announcement will be made on the Museum’s main phone message on performance day.
Tours of the museum’s period rooms take place throughout the afternoon (separate admission). Last tour leaves at 3pm. Tickets for Museum tours are Adults $8; Seniors and Students $6, Children 6 – 12 $4. The Museum will remain open until 4pm when the performance begins.
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. The Museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The last tour leaves at 3pm. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. The gardens are open (free of charge) during Museum hours. The museum is closed for the Labor Day holiday on Sunday September 1st and Monday September 2nd. Call (973) 538-2404 ext. 10, visit our website www.maccullochhall.org or find us on Facebook. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is a nonprofit educational affiliate of the W. Parsons Todd Foundation.
