Japanese Festival Features Drummers, Crafts

Westmont’s Reynolds Gallery hosts the Japanese Family Festival: A Celebration of Arts and Culture, on Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in and around the gallery. The free, public event will feature performances, demonstrations and craft activities for all ages centered around two exhibitions, Kiyoshi Saito Prints and American Viewing Stones, on view through March 11. Admission is free; some crafts have a small materials fee, and there will be food and beverages available for purchase.

Taiko drummers will highlight the Japanese Family Festival, along with a kimono fashion show, karate demonstrations, a bon odori dance performance and traditional storytelling with masks and kamishibai. There will also be demonstrations of ikebana flower arranging and bonsai trees, and displays by both the Japanese Consulate and the Toba Sister City group. At 11:30 a.m., Jan Dependahl, a geologist from Santa Barbara City College, will present “Rock Talk,” a look at the processes that formed some of the pieces in the American Viewing Stones exhibition.

Activities for children include workshops in suiseki, the tradition of Japanese scholars rocks on which American Viewing Stones is based, led by collector James Greaves. Space in the workshop is limited, so please plan to come early to reserve a place. Children and adults can also paint clay masks and fish kites, try several kinds of printmaking and fold origami or decorate paper kimonos.

The festival is sponsored by an anonymous matching gift and the membership of Reynolds Gallery. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information or directions to campus, please call Reynolds Gallery at (805) 565-6162.