Jack-O-Bon Ceramic Lanterns Workshop

October 31 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

In Person Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson

Register Here

$100 Non-Member / $80 Member

Capacity 15

“Participants will create a hollow ceramic lantern inspired by Obon while exploring connections between Japanese Obon traditions and American Halloween customs. Each completed lantern will be glazed and fired and will be available for pickup approximately one week after the workshop. An LED tea light will be included.

Format: An introduction to Obon, the traditional Japanese festival honoring the spirits of one’s ancestors; a demonstration of ceramic lantern-making techniques; and guided instruction in creating and decorating a personal lantern.

instructor

Kazuma Sambe

Kazuma Sambe was born in New York in 1984 to a Japanese family. He moved to Japan with his parents at the age of four and was educated there. He later relocated to Tucson to study biochemistry. During this time, he encountered contemporary ceramics for the first time, an experience that led him to shift his focus from science to the field of art.

He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona in 2011 and a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Arizona State University in 2014. He currently resides in Tucson, where he continues his ceramic practice.

In addition to his artistic work, Sambe discovered a strong interest in the technical aspects of art production, including kiln maintenance, inventory management, and testing new ceramic recipes. He currently works as a Studio Technician in the Art Department at Pima Community College, where he supports classroom instruction.”

Aki no Koe – “Voices of Autumn”: Koto and Shakuhachi Concerts

October 30 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

and October 31 @ 3:30 – 4:30 pm

In Person Yume Japanese Gardens

Register Here (for Oct.30)

$38 Non-Member / $30 Member

Register Here (for Oct. 31)

$38 Non-Member / $30 Member

“The 13-string koto and bamboo shakuhachi flute have shaped Japanese musical tradition for centuries, becoming signature sounds of Japan. For our opening concert, please join us in the gardens for an evening of Traditional Japanese Music featuring distinguished koto artist Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto and local shakuhachi player Paul Amiel, performing classical repertoire in an intimate program of sound and stillness.

performers

Paul Amiel

Paul Amiel is involved in a variety of world music, playing gothic harp, Chinese guqin, Turkish ney, Ancient Greek Lyre, among others, and regularly performs with his Balkan duo Kyklo. He studied Kinko Ryu shakuhachi with Iida Katsutoshi in Nagoya, Japan, and founded the Empty Bamboo Shakuhachi Circle in Tucson in 2014.

Shirley Kazuyo

Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto, is a teacher and performer on the Japanese koto. Shirley received her Shihan with honors and DaiShihan master koto credentials from the Chikushi Kai in Fukuoka, Japan. She has expanded the repertoire of traditional koto music through her jazz fusion group, the Murasaki Ensemble, and in collaborations, arranging and composing music for the koto in various styles and genres. Shirley has performed across the U.S., Canada and Japan, collaborated with many artists and performed with amazing musicians, as well as performed for celebrity notables for over 60 years.  For many decades Shirley researched Japanese traditional performance arts in the World War II concentration camps. In 2012, her project was awarded a National Park Service, Japanese American Confinement Sites grant to turn her decades-long research into a documentary film. Hidden Legacy: Japanese Traditional Performance Arts in the World War II Internment Camps premiered in 2014 and aired on public TV and PBS stations across the U.S. and universities here, in Japan and Europe. Recently it has received notice for use by the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings for K-12 classes. Shirley has performed and taught for 60+ years. In 2012, she was nominated to the Bunka Hall of Fame administered by the Hokka Nichibei Kai to honor those who have excelled and contributed to the culture of Japan and bettered relationships in our community, and a Taproot Fellowship from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts in 2024, numerous recognitions. Since the documentary came out Shirley continues to research and educate others in public schools, universities and community groups about this important and neglected history.”

October 29 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

In Person Education Building ClassroomThese classes take place In-Person in the Education Building Classroom, 2150 N. Alvernon Way

Register Here

$50 Non-Member / $40 Member

Class Capacity 18

The Arizona chapter of the Ohara School of Ikebana is offering an Introduction to Ikebana workshop. Students will learn about the philosophy and art of Japanese flower arranging and create an arrangement. Vases and kenzan (frogs) will be available to borrow, and students will take the flowers home. 

instructors

Members of AZ Chapter of Ohara School of Ikebana

“The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, in partnership with Tucson Tome Gnome and Tucson Spotlight, invites you to join the Solutions-Focused Community Book Club, a quarterly gathering for community members who care about Southern Arizona and want to learn together.

This book club brings people from different backgrounds into conversation around shared readings and real-world impact. You do not need to finish the book to participate. Guided questions will be provided, and open discussion is always welcome, making it easy to join whether you’ve read a few pages or the whole book.

The remarkable Tucson Tome Gnome and Tucson Spotlight will also host a community book-sharing table. Bring a few books from your RTS (ready-to-share) stack and take home something new to enjoy. Any remaining books will be added to CFSA’s Little Free Library, Dog Eared Books.

Together, we will explore ideas, listen to one another, and reflect on how what we are reading connects to our community. This is a welcoming space where curiosity is encouraged, diverse perspectives are valued, and everyone belongs.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Agenda October 27

5:15 – 5:30 PM: Registration and Check-In

5:30 – 5:35 PM: Welcome

5:35 – 6:45 PM: Small Group Discussion

6:45 – 7:00 PM: Wrap Up and Raffle

About the Book

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

From her place in the store, Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her, but when the possibility emerges that her circumstances may change forever, Klara is warned not to invest too much in the promises of humans.

In Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro looks at our rapidly changing modern world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator to explore a fundamental question: what does it mean to love?”

CFSA is at 5049 E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson. Easiest is to drive south on N. Rosemont Blvd. and turn west onto the campus before Broadway Blvd.

https://cfsaz.org/events/solutions-focused-community-book-club

Japanese Basket Weaving Workshop with BasketBana

October 25 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

In Person Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way

Register Here

$90 Non-Member / $72 Member

Capacity 20, Ages 12+

“Discover the art of Japanese traditional basket weaving with an artist from New Mexico. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn step-by-step how to create a beautiful leaf scoop basket using traditional weaving techniques. Your finished basket will measure approximately 15″ × 9″. No previous weaving experience is required. The artist will guide you throughout the process in a welcoming and supportive environment, making this workshop suitable for both beginners and those interested in exploring a new craft.

By the end of the session, you will have learned new skills and created a beautiful handmade basket to take home and enjoy.

All materials are included.

What to bring: An old hand towel to use as a work surface. Please wear comfortable working clothes or bring an apron.

Ages 12+. Children must be accompanied by an adult; accompanying adults may observe free of charge.

instructor

Alice Fujita

Alice Fujita is a basket maker passionate about creating functional baskets, especially containers for fresh flowers. Growing up, she watched her mother make toys from bamboo, which sparked her appreciation for working with natural materials. She discovered basketry herself through an onion basket-making class and immediately fell in love with the craft. Today, Alice is particularly interested in using locally sourced materials to create baskets inspired by the traditional Japanese hanakago style.”