1. home and garden

1151 Oxford Road | San Marino, California 91108
huntington.org
September/October 2014
• New community partnerships are enhancing educational outreach
• Rare book of Chinese prints has been acquired
• Mid-Autumn Moon Celebration will be held Oct. 7
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Industry, CA
Permit No. 4278
CALENDAR
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
September/October 2014
General Information
TELEPHONE: 626-405-2100
WEBSITE: huntington.org
ADMISSION: Members: Free. Non-Members
adult rates: Weekdays $20. Weekends $23.
(See website for discounted senior, group, and
children’s rates.) Admission is free to all
visitors on the first Thursday of each month
with advance tickets.
HOURS: Mon., Wed., Thurs., and Fri.: noon–
4:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun.: 10:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.
Monday holidays: 10:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.
SUMMER HOURS: (June–August)
10:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. daily, excluding Tuesdays. Closed Tuesdays and major holidays.
REFRESHMENTS: The Rose Garden Café
serves light meals and beverages. Tea is served
in the Rose Garden Tea Room. For information and reservations, call 626-683-8131.
Enjoy Chinese cuisine in the Garden
of Flowing Fragance.
GIFT SHOP: The shop carries a variety of
books, art and botanical prints, note cards,
and gift items related to The Huntington’s
collections. Purchases help finance the
institution. For information, call
626-405-2142.
Lisa Blackburn, Editor/Photographer
Avelina E. Moeller, Designer
Thea M. Page, Contributing writer
Senior Staff
Steven S. Koblik
President
Catherine Allgor
Nadine and Robert A. Skotheim
Director of Education
James P. Folsom
Marge and Sherm Telleen / Marion and Earle
Jorgensen Director of the Botanical Gardens
Anne Gustus
Executive Assistant to the President
Steve Hindle
W. M. Keck Foundation Director of Research
Coreen A. Rodgers
Anne and Jim Rothenberg Vice President
for Financial Affairs
Kevin Salatino
Hannah and Russel Kully Director
of the Art Collections
Randy Shulman
Vice President for Advancement
Laurie Sowd
Vice President for Operations
Susan Turner-Lowe
Vice President for Communications
David S. Zeidberg
Avery Director of the Library
Volunteers Needed
J
oin the Huntington family: become a volunteer. This fall, applications are
being accepted for placements in two essential programs:
School Tours Docents will help guide the process of discovery for
students in one of three school programs: “My Masterpieces,” an art program
for first graders; “Adaptations in a Changing World,” a Desert Garden
exploration for grades three through eight, and “Beautiful Science,” a library
program for middle school and high school students. Attendance at a
Common Core workshop Sept. 15 and 29 is required. Training will be
scheduled on an individual basis with a mentor.
Information Guides Volunteers will welcome the public and assist with
wayfinding and general information when the new Koblik Education and
Visitor Center opens in 2015. Morning orientation sessions for prospective
volunteers will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22, or Thursday, Dec. 4. Training
begins in January.
No previous experience is required for volunteers. For details or an
application, visit huntington.org and enter the search word “Volunteering,” or
contact Mikki Heydorff at 626-405-2126 or [email protected].
Follow us!
Find links to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube,
Instagram, Vimeo, Flickr, and the Verso blog at
huntington.org.
On the cover: Gabriella Hernandez, 13, examines a tomato flower under
the microscope in a botany lab focusing on where nutritious food comes
from, part of a summer program hosted in partnership with the Pasadena
YWCA. Back cover: Alyssa Villa, 13, gazes in awe at a marble bust of the
biblical figure Ruth by sculptor Chauncey Ives in a workshop on women in
art. (See story on page 2.)
exhibitions
“Your Country Calls! Posters of the First World War”
Through Nov. 3 | Library, West Hall
“Highlights of American Drawings and Watercolors from
The Huntington’s Art Collections”
Through Jan. 5 | Scott Galleries, Chandler Wing
Rare Book of Chinese Prints Acquired
A
Leaves from The Ten Bamboo Studio
Collection of Calligraphy and Pictures,
1633, by Hu Zhengyan
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
set of early Chinese color woodblock prints is
among the newest additions to The Huntington’s art holdings, an acquisition that
underscores The Huntington’s commitment to
the study of Chinese cultural history. Known as
The Ten Bamboo Studio Collection of Calligraphy
and Pictures, the book was published in 1633 by
the noted calligrapher and seal-carver Hu
Zhengyan. It is considered one of the most
historically and artistically important Chinese
illustrated books ever published.
The Ten Bamboo Studio Collection was
produced as both a work of art in its own right and
as a manual to demonstrate painting techniques
and different ways of presenting elements in
nature. The prints made from carved woodblocks
were so painstakingly done that the images look
like actual brushwork.
This set, consisting of three albums,
includes 185 of the 186 original pictorial leaves and
139 of 140 calligraphic leaves of poetry, making it
the most complete example known to exist.
The Ten Bamboo Studio Collection was
purchased in honor of Huntington President Steve
Koblik, who earlier this year announced that he
would retire in June 2015. Major funding came from
the curator of The Huntington’s Chinese Garden,
June Li, and her husband, Simon. Additional funds
were provided by Huntington supporters Anne and
Jim Rothenberg, Mei-Lee Ney, and Fong Liu.
“Steve has made extraordinary contributions
to The Huntington, not the least of which has been
to take the Chinese Garden from dream to reality,”
said Li. “It’s been an absolutely amazing experience
to be here during this transformative time. The Ten
Bamboo Studio book reflects The Huntington’s
intellectual foundations—which include major
achievements in printing and art, and a deepening
understanding and appreciation of botanical science
and history—so its acquisition is a wonderful way to
celebrate Steve’s unparalleled leadership.”
Read more about the acquisition at
huntington.org.
1
Back to School? We Never Left!
Botanical Director Jim Folsom leads a botanizing
session in the Ranch Garden with students from the
Pasadena YWCA's Girls Empowerment Summer Camp.
“This type of outreach is new for The
Huntington,” said Catherine Allgor, the Nadine
and Robert Skotheim Director of Education.
“We’ve always been known for our field trips,
and that’s how we usually met our young people:
as students on a bus. But this summer we wanted
to meet our students as members of the local
community. The best way to do that was to team
up with these wonderful, established organizations that work hard to provide children with safe
and inspiring experiences.”
Allgor and her staff also created a partnership with the Institute for Educational Advancement, a Pasadena nonprofit that provides extracurricular enrichment opportunities for advanced
placement students. Together they developed a
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
S
ummer vacation is over and students have
headed back to school. But at The Huntington, education never takes a holiday. The
Education staff was busier than ever this
summer, hosting a variety of classes and
workshops for children and teens, leading
Common Core training workshops for K–12
instructors in the Pasadena Unified School
District, and holding a Shakespeare institute for
English and drama teachers. (See sidebar.)
In an exciting new summer outreach
program, The Huntington partnered for the first
time with several community organizations—the
YWCA of Pasadena–Foothill Valley, the YMCA
of Metropolitan Los Angeles, and the Los
Angeles Boys and Girls Club—to bring kids here
for enriching activities focused around the
collections. Offerings included a photography
workshop using the collections as inspirational
muse, a junior docent program focusing on
women in art, and a botanically-themed class on
foods from the garden. Whole Foods Market in
Pasadena became an educational partner, as well,
by generously donating fresh produce and other
fixings for lunchtime workshops on preparing
healthy meals.
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As part of a class in healthy foods from
the garden, girls learn how to safely
slice fresh tomatoes for sandwiches.
Youngsters from the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Club
get ready to take part in a Common Core training
workshop for teachers.
Teaching Shakespeare
A young artist sketches a portrait in the Scott
Galleries during a workshop on women in art.
Workshop instructor Brian Lohmann (center)
demonstrates dramatic gesture.
ow does a good teacher of
Shakespeare become a great one? By
discovering that all the world really
is a stage. That's what 24 participants
in a summer institute at The Huntington had a chance to do for two weeks
in July, during a series of workshops
focused on teaching Shakespeare
through performance. The group
consisted primarily of English and
drama instructors who teach middle
school and high school classes. Sessions
were taught by an international faculty
of scholars, educators, and theater
professionals who shared their expertise
on such topics as scene study, text,
character, voice, movement, and
improvisation. Several evenings of live
theater were a popular part of the
coursework. And, of course, no workshop on the Bard would be complete
without a close-up look at some rare
works from the Library’s holdings.
Shakespeare at The Huntington
is made possible through the generous
support of The Hearst Foundations.
H
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
full schedule of summer classes at The Huntington in
which the institution’s unique holdings played a key
part. After a morning class in academic subjects like
calculus or Spanish, young participants could learn
about the history of woodblock printing, brush up on
their poetry writing skills, explore the ways in which
literature is informed by nature, or discover new areas
of inquiry to engage an intellectually curious mind.
Throughout all these different summer
programs, the response from the kids was consistently
enthusiastic. “It was fascinating to see a growing
interest as the students learned new ways to approach
the collections and gain inspiration for deeper learning,” said Julianne Johnston, coordinator of youth and
family programs at The Huntington. “The reward for
us was witnessing the spark in their imagination and
the connections being made.”
The fun doesn’t end with summer. In October,
the Education staff will host a group of youngsters
from the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles for a
junior docent art training program that will culminate
with a Family Day for participants, giving them a
chance to show off their newly honed presentation
skills. The partnership with the IEA will continue
through the school year. And a full schedule of docentguided school tours is about to get under way that
will serve more than 20,000 students between
October and May.
3
SEPTEMBER – OCTO
For Our Members
CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND ABOVE
Members’ Orientation
Education and
Visitor Center Project
Oct. 24 (Friday) 10 a.m.
Learn more about the new Education and
Visitor Center, scheduled to open in 2015,
in a presentation by key project staff.
Reservations: 626-405-2124 or
[email protected].
AFFILIATE LEVEL AND ABOVE
Fall Quarterly Event
Mid-Autumn Moon Celebration
Oct. 7 (Tuesday) 5:30–9 p.m.
Celebrate with family and friends under
the autumn moon during an evening of
authentic Chinese food, music, and more
in the Garden of Flowing Fragrance.
Invitation to follow. See page 12 for
details.
SUPPORTING LEVEL AND ABOVE
Premier Discovery Tour
More American Art
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
Sept. 12 (Friday) 10:30 a.m.
Join Jessica Smith, Virginia Steele Scott
Chief Curator of American Art, for a tour of
the newly expanded Lois and Robert F.
Erburu Gallery. Reservations: 626-405-2124
or [email protected].
4
Premier Discovery Tour
“Your Country Calls!”
Oct. 15 (Wednesday) 6 p.m.
Join us for a reception on the Huntington
Art Gallery Loggia with curator David
Mihaly, who provides an introduction to
the exhibition “Your Country Calls! Posters
of the First World War.” Self-tour the show
in the West Hall. Invitation to follow.
For questions regarding your Membership, please call 626-405-2124 or visit
huntington.org.
Public Programs
Music in the Chinese Garden
Wednesdays, 1–3 p.m.
Enjoy traditional Chinese music every
Wednesday afternoon in the Garden of
Flowing Fragrance. General admission.
(Cancelled in the event of rain.)
Japanese Teahouse Tours
Sept. 8 & Oct. 13 (Mondays)12:30–4 p.m.
Take a peek inside the Japanese Garden’s
ceremonial teahouse and learn the traditions
behind its use. Informal tours are offered at
hourly intervals on the second Monday of
every month. General admission.
Second Thursday Garden Talk & Sale
Collectibles for Connoisseurs:
In Search of Rare Bulbs
Sept. 11 (Thursday) 2:30 p.m.
Dylan Hannon, curator of tropical collections
at The Huntington, discusses a variety of less
common bulbs that
are suitable for
Mediterranean
climates
and indoor
cultivation.
A plant sale
follows the
talk. Free.
Ahmanson Room,
Brody Botanical Center
Michael White: A California
Pioneer and His Landmark Adobe
Meet at the entrance to The Rose Hills
Foundation Conservatory for Botanical
Science.
*For non-Members, Huntington admission
is an additional required cost.
Crotty Lecture
Reformation
Diplomacy:
Henry VIII and
His Ambassadors
Sept. 22
(Monday)
7:30 p.m.
When Henry VIII
declared himself
Supreme Head of the
Church in England, he broke the
unity of Christendom. Susan Brigden,
Langford Fellow at Lincoln College, Oxford,
discusses the diplomatic consequences.
Brigden is the author of Thomas Wyatt: The
Heart’s Forest. A book signing follows the
lecture. Free; no reservations required.
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Healthcare in China
One Thousand Years Ago
Sept. 23 (Tuesday) 7:30 p.m.
Nathan Sivin, a noted scholar in the history
of Chinese science at the University of
Pennsylvania, explores the developments
that took place in Chinese medicine during
the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127).
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Ranch Open Houses
Sept. 14 (Sunday) 2 p.m.
Roy Tolles, a structural engineer who specializes in historic buildings, discusses California
adobe design and issues of preservation,
with a particular focus on the Michael White
Adobe, a San Marino landmark built in 1845.
A reception follows. Ahmanson Room,
Brody Botanical Center
Sept. 27 & Oct. 25 (Saturdays)
10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Self-tour The Huntington’s urban agriculture
site on the fourth Saturday of each month
and take home some fresh ideas for sustainable gardening. From the Teaching Greenhouse, follow signs to the site. General
admission.
Conference
Pasadena: Unexpected Roots
Desiring History and Historicizing
Desire: Sexuality in Early
Modern England
Sept. 19–20 (Friday–Saturday)
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
This interdisciplinary conference explores the
study of sexuality in early modern England
and how it intersects with the histories of
religion, science, and imperial expansion.
$25. Registration: 626-405-3432 or
[email protected].
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Tropical Nursery Tours
Sept. 21 & Oct. 19 (Sundays) 1:30–3 p.m.
Go behind the scenes with Dylan Hannon,
curator of tropical collections, for a
botanical nursery tour. $5*. Tickets:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Oct. 1 (Wednesday) 7:30 p.m.
Independent scholar Roberta H. Martínez
shares an intimate look at Pasadena’s earliest
days as reflected in the marriage and works
of writers Arturo Bandini and Helen Elliott
Bandini, members of two of Pasadena’s
founding families. Free. Reservations:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Penjing Show
Oct. 3–5, Friday: noon–4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday:
10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
See world-class examples of the Chinese art
of penjing—miniature landscapes similar to
Japanese bonsai—in a two-day show in the
Garden of Flowing Fragrance. General
admission. Chinese Garden
2014 EVENTS
concepts, horticultural techniques, training
methods, and display. All supplies are
provided, including demonstration trees.
$40. Additional lab fee of $60 will be
collected in class. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Lecture and Book Signing
The Brother Gardeners: Botany,
Empire, and the Birth of an
Obsession
Xu Bing: Recent Works
Oct. 6 (Monday) 7:30 p.m.
Renowned contemporary artist Xu Bing
discusses some of his recent works, including
“Phoenix,” installed in the Cathedral Church
of Saint John the Divine in New York, and
“Traveling to the Wonderland” at the Victoria
and Albert Museum in London.
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Christopher Isherwood and
the California Dream
Oct. 8 (Wednesday) 7:30 p.m.
Sue Hodson, curator of literary manuscripts,
tells the story of British-born author
Christopher Isherwood’s life in California,
where, as a gay man, he found personal and
spiritual fulfillment after emigrating to the
United States in 1939. Free. Reservations:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Second Thursday Garden Talk
A Few of Our Favorites
Oct. 9 (Thursday) 2:30 p.m.
Get a preview of some of the plants to look
for at the upcoming Fall Plant Sale on Oct.
24–26. Botanical staff members talk about
some of their own favorites, including
California natives, drought-tolerant plants,
shade lovers, and more. Free.
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Conference
“All in Pieces”? New Insights into
the Structure of Newton’s Thought
Oct. 10–11 (Friday–Saturday)
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In addition to making discoveries in mathematics and physics, Isaac Newton was deeply
involved in the study of biblical prophecy and
theology, the chronology of the ancient
world, and alchemy. This conference examines how these pursuits were connected to
one another in Newton's mind. $25.
Registration: 626-405-3432 or
[email protected].
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Oct. 13
(Monday)
2:30 p.m.
Award–winning
author Andrea
Wulf tells the tale
of a small group of
18th-century
naturalists whose
botanical passions,
obsessions,
friendships, and
rivalries helped change the world of
horticulture. A book signing follows the
lecture. Free.
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Curator Tour: Rose Garden
Oct. 16 (Thursday) 10 a.m.
Join Tom Carruth, the E.L. and Ruth B.
Shannon Curator of the Rose Collections, for
a private tour of The Rose Garden and its
recent enhancements. Fee includes coffee
and pastries. $20. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Orchid
Show and
Sale
Oct. 17–19
Friday:
noon–4:30
p.m.
Saturday–
Sunday:
10:30 a.m.–
4:30 p.m.
The Southland Orchid
Show Committee presents its annual event featuring
exotic blooms in lush displays exhibited by
local orchid societies and international
growers. Vendors will have a wide range of
orchid plants and related merchandise for
sale. General admission.
Brody Botanical Center
Bonsai School
Nevins Lecture
On the Trail of the Heathen School
Oct. 20 (Monday) 7:30 p.m.
John Demos, professor of history at Yale
University and author of The Heathen
School: A Story of Hope and Betrayal in the Age
of the Early Republic, discusses the doomed
attempt in the early 19th century to promote the spread of “Christian civilization” at
a special school for indigenous youths in
Connecticut. A book signing follows the
lecture. Free. Reservations: 800-838-3006 or
brownpapertickets.com.
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Green Tea Across the Pacific:
Japanese Producers and American
Consumers, 1870–1940
Oct. 21 (Tuesday) 7:30 p.m.
Robert Hellyer,
associate
professor of
East Asian
history at
Wake Forest
University,
examines
Japan's
emergence in
1870 as a tea
exporting nation, and how its emphasis on
green tea influenced U.S. tea-drinking
trends. Free.
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Crotty Lecture
“Dating Statements” and
the Rise of Almanac Time in
Early Modern England
Oct. 23 (Thursday) 7:30 p.m.
Keith Wrightson, professor of history at Yale
University, investigates the idioms used in
16th– and 17th–century England to date
events and express the passage of time.
Free; no reservations required.
Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center
Fall Plant Sale
Oct. 24–26, Friday: noon to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday:
10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Fall is prime time for planting California
natives. You'll find a wide selection of them
at our annual fall sale—including salvias,
ceanothus, irises, and other dry-climate
favorites—along with choice varieties of
herbs, bulbs, trees, shrubs, cacti and
succulents, and lots more. General
admission. Plant Sale Nursery
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
OBER
5
Oct. 11,12, 18 & 19
(Saturdays & Sundays) 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Bonsai master Ted Matson leads a foursession class for beginners in the art of
bonsai, covering basic tree botany, design
QUESTIONS? 626-405-2100
SEPTEMBER – OCTO
Continuing Education
Taste of Art: Cooking California
Sept. 6 (Saturday) 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Explore the Arts and Crafts Movement in
Southern California with a tour of The
Huntington’s Greene and Greene gallery led
by Maite Gomez-Rejón of ArtBites. Afterward,
prepare a meal inspired by early 20th-century
cookbooks. $90. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006
NEW! Curator Spotlight Tours
Sept 11, 18, & Oct. 9 (Thursdays)
11:15–11:45 a.m.
Learn the fascinating stories behind selected
objects on display in a 30-minute spotlight
tour with one of our Library curators.
Sept. 11: The Ellesmere Chaucer,
with Vanessa Wilkie.
Sept. 18: Fort Sumter Log Book,
with Olga Tsapina.
Oct. 9: Jack London’s The Sea Wolf,
with Sue Hodson.
Each tour: $10. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Painting with Nan Rae
Sept. 17 & Oct. 15 (Wednesdays)
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Artist Nan Rae continues her popular
watercolor classes inspired by the art of
Chinese brush painting. Each session: $50.
Registration: 818-842-6489.
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
Plein Air Watercolor Series
6
Sept. 18–Oct. 16 (Thursdays) 9 a.m.–noon
Join artist Robert Sherrill for a five-session
outdoor watercolor class and let the gardens
provide the inspiration as you learn the
basics of color mixing, shading, and
perspective. $195. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Botanical Drawing Series
Sept. 20, 27 & Oct. 4 (Saturdays)
10 a.m.–3 p.m
Hone your skills at making detailed botanical
drawings of seeds, nuts, and pods, working in
graphite, in this class taught by artist Lisa
Pompelli. Suitable for beginners and more
advanced students. $225. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Fashion Forward: Dress and
Style Through the Centuries
Sept. 22, 29 & Oct. 6 (Mondays)
10 a.m.–noon
In art as in life,
clothing can be
an indicator of
the wearer’s
social class,
profession, and
even personality.
Join art educator
Lilit Sadoyan for
this three-part
series exploring
the fashions
portrayed in
artworks and what they reveal. $95.
Registration: brownpapertickets.com or 800838-3006.
The Botany of Beer: Belgian Brew
Sept. 24 (Wednesday) 5–7:30 p.m.
Explore the world of Belgian beers, from the
revered Trappist brews to those of modern,
cutting-edge producers, in an in-depth
lecture and tasting led by Brad Owen from
the Art Institute of California. $95. Registration: brownpapertickets.com or
800-838-3006.
Flower Arranging:
Late Summer Centerpiece
Sept. 27 (Saturday) 10 a.m.–noon
Create a brightly colored floral centerpiece
with dahlias, hydrangeas, and other latesummer blooms in this hands-on workshop
presented by Casey Schwartz and Kit Wertz of
Flower Duet. $85. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Huntington U Fall
Seminars
Paste Paper Workshop
Sept. 20 (Saturday) 9 a.m.–noon
Explore the history of bookbinding and learn
how to make decorative endpapers and book
covers in a paste paper workshop led by
conservation technician Anna Shepard. No
previous experience necessary. $45. Registration: brownpapertickets.com or
800-838-3006.
Four college-level seminars
taught by distinguished
professors get under way this fall in the
Huntington U series. Each seminar: $250.
Registration: 626-405-2128.
n William Blake: Poet, Artist, Engraver
Robert Essick
Oct. 1–Nov. 5 (Wednesdays) 9:30–11:30 a.m.
n
Shakespeare at 450:
Six Perspectives on Hamlet
Heidi Brayman Hackel, Steve Hindle,
Heather James, Rebecca Lemon,
Carla Mazzio
Oct. 1–Nov. 5 (Wednesdays) 1–3 p.m.
n
n
Medicinal Plants
Debra Folsom
Oct. 3–Nov. 7 (Fridays) 9:30–11:30 a.m.
American Art, American Stories
Antoniette Guglielmo
Oct. 3–Nov. 7 (Fridays) 1–3 p.m.
Taste of Art: The History of Collecting
Oct. 4 (Saturday) 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
From antiquity to modern times, the passion
for art has inspired many outstanding
collections, including the one established by
Henry and Arabella Huntington. Explore
some of its highlights and then prepare a
meal worthy of a connoisseur with Maite
Gomez-Rejón of ArtBites. $90. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Tai Chi Series
Oct. 18–Nov. 29 (Saturdays)
8:45–10:15 a.m.
Learn tai chi and relaxation techniques such
as gi gong in in this seven-part series with
instructor Kathy Chyan, held outdoors in the
gardens. Suitable for beginning and
intermediate students. $150. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Wines of Northern Italy
Oct. 22 (Wednesday) 5–7:30 p.m.
From the Piedmont region to Friuli, northern
Italy produces some of the most superb
wines in the world. Join wine expert Brad
Owen for an in depth lecture and tasting
focusing on Barolo, Barbaresco, and other
regional favorites. $95. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Zen in the Art of Ikebana
Oct. 25 (Saturday) 10 a.m.–noon
Learn the nageire, or “thrown in,” style of
Ikebana flower arranging that emphasizes
simplicity, naturalness, and spontaneity. In
this hands-on workshop, students will create
an autumn arrangement in a bamboo vase.
$50. Registration: brownpapertickets.com or
800-838-3006.
2014 EVENTS
Children and Families
Family Drop-in Activities
Sept. 20 & Oct. 18 (Saturdays)
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Stop by the Shakespeare Garden and enjoy
kid-friendly activities inspired by the art,
library, and botanical collections, presented
by the creative folks from the Art Grist.
General admission.
Children’s Workshop:
Dyeing and Weaving
Preschool Series:
Huntington Treasures
Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 8 &15 (Wednesdays)
10 a.m.–noon
There’s a world full of wonders to be
explored at The Huntington, from masterpieces of art to nature's own treasures.
Instructor Laura Moede leads four fun weeks
of discovery. Ages 3–4. Fee includes one
accompanying adult. $85. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
Mini Flower Garlands
Sept. 20 (Saturday) 9:30 a.m.–noon
Kids can make colorful dyes from flowers and
leaves in this Herb
Garden workshop with
gardener Kelly
Fernandez. After tinting
yarn with natural
pigments, they’ll get a
chance to do some
weaving. Ages 7–12.
Fee includes one
accompanying adult.
Members: $25. NonMembers: $30.
Registration:
626-405-2128.
Sept. 27 (Saturday) 1–2:30 p.m.
Learn how to use fresh flowers to make
bracelets, hair wreaths, or Hawaiian-style leis
in this workshop with the designing duo
from Flower Duet. Ages 7–12. $25. Fee
includes one accompanying adult.
Registration: brownpapertickets.com or
800-838-3006.
A Celebration of Stories
Oct. 11 (Saturday) 11a.m.–4 p.m
Step into a story during this one-day family
program celebrating all things literary. Books
will be brought to life through performances
throughout the gardens by Unbound
Productions, the Independent Shakespeare
Co. and LA Opera. Visitors can also enjoy
In Bloom
Y
ou never know what exotic blooms you’ll
encounter when you step inside The Rose
Hills Foundation Conservatory for
Botanical Science. (“Corpse Flower,” anyone?)
The lush displays in its Tropical Rotunda,
Cloud Forest, Plant Lab, and Bog offer
visitors a rare opportunity to see unusual
plants from around the world. Many tropical
plants are aseasonal, shunning predictability
to bloom whenever they choose. Others flower
almost year round. Pictured here are a few
showy specimens to look for on your next visit.
Clockwise from top,
Allamanda cathartica,Costus
osae, Cubanola dominguensis,
and Whitfieldia longifolia.
readings by the Beatrix Potter Society, dropin activities with the Art Grist, and more.
General admission.
Story Time in the Gardens
Oct. 18 (Saturday) 11 a.m.
Do your children enjoy a good book? Then
stop by the North Vista during your visit to
enjoy stories inspired by nature and art.
General admission.
Family Cooking Class:
Homemade Preserves
Oct. 25 (Saturday) 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Taking inspiration from the colorful posters
in the exhibition “Your Country Calls: Posters
of the First World War,” chef Ernest Miller
leads a workshop on making homemade
preserves. Ages 7–12. $35. Fee includes one
accompanying adult. Registration:
brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
OBER
7
Rothenbergs Make Endowment Gift
Honoring Steve Koblik
L
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
ongtime Huntington donors
Anne and Jim Rothenberg
have made a $3 million
endowment gift honoring
Huntington President Steve
Koblik, who is set to retire in
June 2015. The gift establishes a
named chair for the position of
chief financial officer, which will
be known as the Anne and Jim
Rothenberg Vice President for
Financial Affairs.
The Rothenbergs have long
been actively involved in the
leadership of The Huntington,
and Anne is a member of the
Board of Trustees. They wanted
to find a fitting way to recognize Koblik’s many
accomplishments during his 12-year tenure at the
helm of the institution. One of his greatest achievements, they felt, was strengthening the institution
financially— increasing support for core activities
and bringing down the annual payout rate from the
endowment. “When we got involved, the payout
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rate was far from sustainable,”
recalled Jim. “Over the past 10
years, Steve has attracted the
kind of support that allowed
this to be drastically improved,
helping set the stage for the
level of fiscal stability that will
allow The Huntington to
move forward.” Endowing a
finance chair, they both felt,
was the perfect way to celebrate those exceptional
achievements in fiscal
prudence and long-term
vision.
“Anne and Jim have
been passionate and generous
in their support,” said Koblik. “Their friendship is
deeply felt and I am humbled that they have
chosen to make this gift in my honor. I appreciate
that the gift will provide support for generations
to come and will further equip The Huntington to
pursue its mission with vigor.”
Common Core Training Receives Grant Funding
he Huntington and the Pasadena Unified School
District have formed an exciting three-year
partnership to provide Common Core training to
every K–12 teacher in the PUSD. The initiative
recently received important support, thanks to a
$50,000 grant from the Ann Peppers Foundation.
In the “Common Core and Beyond” program, professional development workshops
organized by The Huntington use primary source
materials from the collections and involve
knowledgeable experts in relevant fields, giving
teachers the tools they need to shift successfully to
the rigors of the new educational standards. The
long-term collaboration will provide ongoing teacher support
that builds from year to year. Huntington-aided curricula will
become a regular part of the classroom course work.
The first year of the PUSD partnership is now under way,
and thanks to the generous support of the Ann Peppers Foundation, The Huntington is poised to make a real and lasting impact
on the community in this new era of American education.
T
Teachers take notes during a Common Core
training session in the Scott Galleries. Photo
courtesy of the Pasadena Unified School District.
S
ummer is usually considered a season for
relaxation, but we’re here to tell you: it can be
exhausting! The Huntington was buzzing with
activity from June through August as scholars
arrived in droves to work on their research. The
summer also saw us working feverishly to open five
gorgeous new rooms in our American art galleries,
putting The Huntington solidly on the map with its
spectacular collection of art “made in the U.S.”
Los Angeles Times art critic Christopher
Knight captured the tenor of the new galleries
nicely when he said they represent “an expression of
ambition and possibility for the future.” The New
York Times struck a similar note last year, calling
The Huntington “aspirational.”
The Huntington lives and breathes opportunity, while never losing focus on our mission as a
collections-based research and educational institution. The expanded galleries are an example of that
aspiration and continued forward movement. And
they are, in and of themselves, a remarkable
achievement by staff, donors, and lenders.
Here’s another example of aspiration:
through partnerships we’ve created with area school
districts, we’ve come to realize the unique role The
Huntington can play in education and the potential
we have to make an even wider impact. So this past
summer we tried something new: we formed
partnerships with several community organizations, including the YWCA of Pasadena–Foothill
Valley, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles,
the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Clubs, and the
Pasadena-based Institute for Educational Advancement. (See related story on page 2.) The idea was to
take existing community organizations and add
value. Why start from scratch when they’ve got the
people and we’ve got the programs?
Working with Education staff and these new
community partners, we were able to provide a
diverse group of kids with a range of workshops
and classes that used The Huntington’s collections
to engage young minds on topics such as women in
art and foods from the garden. But we were doing
something equally important at the same time:
giving these young people a safe place to learn. The
Ys and the Boys and Girls Club frequently serve atrisk children from economically disadvantaged
backgrounds—kids who may have few opportunities for cultural enrichment. As Education
Director Catherine Allgor pointed out, “These
groups help keep children off the street and away
from at-risk behavior. They serve as something of a
safety net, and so can we.”
We also teamed up with the Institute for
Educational Advancement, a Pasadena nonprofit
that serves academically advanced students. As we
worked with the IEA to develop a summer program
for them, we proposed that they open the classes to
gifted students from Rockdale Elementary in Eagle
Rock, a Title 1 school we’ve had a partnership with
for some time. The IEA jumped at the opportunity
and offered these low-income students tuition-free
enrollment. They’ve expanded their reach, and
we’ve deepened ours.
Collaboration is key to all of this, and for
that we’re grateful to our staff, which continues to
be innovative and nimble, and to our partner
organizations, who bring their own creativity and
enthusiasm to the process. As we focus on our
educational mission, we’re carrying forward the
legacy of our founder. When Henry Huntington
made his plans back in 1919 to transform his estate
into a cultural institution, he was, in fact, thinking
about the vibrant future of Los Angeles.
We continue to do the same.
Steve Koblik, President
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
Ambition and Aspiration
9
World-Premiere Performance
he Chinese Garden’s new Clear and
Transcendent pavilion made its debut as one
of the most enchanting concert venues in the
United States during a series of concerts in
May and June by pipa virtuoso Wu Man. The
internationally acclaimed musician held a fivemonth post as The Huntington’s first musician in
residence, inaugurating the Cheng Family Visiting
Artist Program. Wu’s residency culminated with
the world premiere in June of her new composition, commissioned by The Huntington, titled
“Three Sharing.” Wu was joined in the exhilarating
lakeside performance by musicians Kojiro
Umezaki on the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo
flute, and Dong-Won Kim on the jang-go, a
Korean drum.
Read more about the performance, and
find a link to a video of the concert, at
huntingtonblogs.org.
T
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
Pipa virtuoso Wu Man (center) was joined by Kojiro
Umezaki and Dong-Won Kim for the world premiere of
her new work, “Three Sharing,” held in the Clear and
Transcendent pavilion. Photo by Martha Benedict.
Cultural Diplomacy
n July The Huntington hosted a visit from His Excellency Cai Wu
, the Minister of Culture of the People’s Republic of China. It
was an opportunity to extend reciprocal hospitality: in 2012,
Minister Cai had held a private audience in Beijing with Huntington President Steve Koblik and Associate Vice President for
Advancement Suzy Moser. During that earlier meeting, Cai had
expressed an interest in seeing the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, the
classical scholar’s garden and cultural center The Huntington was
building. Last month, meeting with key members of the institution's
leadership and touring some of the collection highlights—including
the Chinese Garden—Cai expressed his gratitude for the bridges of
friendship The Huntington was building between the United States
and China through cultural understanding. He cited the programs
and exchanges being hosted and was excited about the potential
for more. And Cai made a particular note of the local Chinese community’s generous support and volunteerism to help create the
garden.
I
10
Chinese Minister of Culture Cai Wu (third from
right) tours the Huntington Art Gallery with
Kevin Salatino, the Hannah and Russel Kully
Director of the Art Collections.
Photo by Martha Benedict.
J
une Li, a respected historian of Asian art and
an eloquent ambassador for Chinese culture,
retired at the end of July as curator of The
Huntington’s Chinese Garden. She leaves a
remarkable legacy, both in the garden she helped
bring into being and in the deeper understanding
of China's centuries-old garden traditions that she
nurtured by generously sharing her knowledge
and passion with the public.
“June has had an everlasting impact on The
Huntington,” said Steve Koblik, Huntington
president. “Her work on the Chinese Garden—
from the beautiful
design motifs to the
naming of the
various features to
the calligraphy—
each element has
been carefully
thought through,
with everything
having its basis in
classical Chinese
history and literature. This garden is
the product of a
collective dream,
with June Li leading it every step of the way.”
Li joined The Huntington staff in 2004 to
establish the historical and cultural context for the
Chinese Garden. The project was then in the early
stages of its development; the first phase of the
garden opened four years later, in 2008. All along
the way, she worked closely with designers, architects, garden staff, and educators to fine-tune the
vision for the garden.
The traditions of gardens in China are
deeply entwined with its art, literature, music,
and history, and Li established a series of
programs to explore all those interconnections.
Under her guidance, lectures, conferences,
musical performances, educational classes, school
tours, and children’s programs have become a
regular part of the life of the Chinese Garden.
Many of these programmatic activities are now
organized under the auspices of a new Center for
the Study of East Asian Gardens, which Li helped
establish. A recent highlight was a series of
concerts by the internationally renowned pipa
virtuouso Wu Man. The Grammy-nominated
artist accepted an invitation to become The
Huntington's first musician in residence, and her
five-month residency culminated in the world
premiere of a new composition, commissioned by
Li.
During her tenure, Li also organized three
major exhibitions that explored themes of Chinese
culture: “Chrysanthemums on the
Eastern Hedge:
Gardens and Plants
in Chinese Art”
(2006/07);
“Treasures
Through Six
Generations:
Chinese Paintings
and Calligraphy
from the Weng
Collection” (2009,
for which she also
wrote the catalog);
and “Ancient Chinese Bronze Mirrors from the
Lloyd Cotsen Collection” (2011/12).
In addition, Li helped advance knowledge of
Asian garden culture by authoring and editing
several books, including Another World Lies
Beyond: Creating Liu Fang Yuan, the
Huntington’s Chinese Garden (2009) and One
Hundred Years in the Huntington’s Japanese
Garden: Harmony with Nature (2013).
The Huntington will continue to benefit
from Li’s expertise in her retirement as she takes
the post of curator emerita, working on exhibitions and other programming.
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
Chinese Garden Curator June Li Retires
11
Mid-Autumn Moon Celebration
An event for Members at premier levels
I
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
n Chinese tradition, a full
moon symbolizes reunion
and togetherness, and the
moon festival held each fall
throughout China and beyond
marks one of the most
important occasions of the
year. It’s a time for gathering
and celebrating with loved
ones.
Huntington Members
at the premier levels (Affiliate,
Supporting, Patron, and
Benefactor) and the Society of Fellows are invited to
do some moon-gazing with family and friends at a
Mid-Autumn Moon Celebration on Tuesday, Oct.
7, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The event will be held in the
Garden of Flowing Fragrance, where guests can
savor authentic Chinese food and teas, listen to
traditional and contemporary Chinese music, and
bid for valuable items in a silent auction. Participating restaurants include Bird Pick Tea & Herb, Hai
Di Lao Hot Pot, Maison Akira, New Port Seafood,
Roy’s Pasadena, and many more.
12
Stroll through the Chinese Garden
under the light of the full moon and enjoy a
memorable evening among friends. Members
may bring guests for a fee.
Watch your mailbox for your invitation. For event details, or to learn about current upgrade offers, call the Membership
office at 626-405-2124 or e-mail
[email protected]
SOCIETY OF
Fellows
Upcoming Fellows’ Events
The Huntington Ball
Sept. 6 (Saturday)
Art Encounters
President’s Circle and
Huntington Circle only
Oct. 21 & Nov. 18 (Tuesdays)
Fall Seminar
Reception and Lecture
Oct. 29 (Wednesday)
INVITATIONS TO FOLLOW
Dancing under the Stars
ne of the most magical nights of the year is the Huntington Ball,
and this year’s gala fundraiser on Sept. 6 promises to be especially
dazzling. Hosted by Kerstin and Steve Koblik, it starts with cocktails
on the South Terrace of the Huntington Art Gallery—an incomparable
backdrop for an elegant party—followed by dinner and dancing under
the stars on the East Lawn. Coming up in October and November, two
“Art Encounters” will be offered for President’s Circle and Huntington
Circle Fellows, featuring gallery talks by Jessica Smith, the Virginia
Steele Scott Chief Curator of American Art, followed by a reception.
And the Fellows' Fall Seminar is coming up in October, with an
exclusive opportunity to hear a prominent visiting scholar discuss
current research at The Huntington. Watch your mailbox for your
invitation!
Join the Fellows today with an annual gift of $2,500 or more
and become part of this special annual giving community. For more
information, contact Judy Plunkett, director of the Society of Fellows,
at 626-405-2264 or [email protected].
O
Members Make a Difference
An Inspiring Take-Away
he Huntington provides inspiration in a variety of forms, as many
Members can attest. Time spent in the gardens, galleries, and exhibitions throughout the year can spark creative ideas that Members
carry away with them, whether it's a sudden urge to start writing poetry or
a desire to learn how to play the Chinese lute.
A Member since 1981, David Jensen first visited The Huntington
with a plant identification class when he was a horticulture student at Cal
Poly Pomona. He later borrowed inspiration from the fountains and
stonework in the gardens for the brick entry and patio design he incorporated into his home in Laguna
Beach. In 2000 he introduced his
partner, Pat Espe, to The Huntington.
Espe is a master watchmaker, so
naturally the antique clocks in the
Huntington Art Gallery are among
his favorite things.
“This place amazes me,” Espe
said. “Every time I’m here I see
something new.”
Jensen and Espe recently
purchased a historic home in
Johnson City, Tenn., and a beautiful
transformation of the garden is soon
to begin. It’s a fairly safe bet they’ll
be packing up some Huntington
inspiration to take along to
Tennessee with them.
T
Show Us Your Best Shot
T
he Huntington is now on
Instagram. The next time you
visit, show us your best shot
by tagging it with #AtTheH.
You never know, we just might
repost it. Follow us at
instagram/thehuntingtonlibrary.
Enjoy the Benefits of Membership
embership gives you the opportunity to enjoy
The Huntington all year round, explore all it has
to offer, and enrich your mind with every visit. At
the same time, it provides essential support for education programs, exhibitions, and research. Benefits
include free admission for two adults and their children or grandchildren, a 10 percent discount in the gift
shop, and special Members-only events. For a
complete list of benefits, or to join online, visit
huntington.org or call 626-405-2124.
M
Yes! I want to join The Huntington
o Sustaining
o
o
o
o
o
o
Mr./Ms./Miss/Mrs./Mr. & Mrs./Other
__________________________________________________
Name (print name as it will appear on Membership card)
__________________________________________________
Second cardholder’s name
__________________________________________________
Address
Apt. #
__________________________________________________
City
State
Zip
_______________________
_____________________
Office phone
Home phone
__________________________________________________
E-mail address
o New o Renewal/Account No. _____________
o Gift Membership
Makes a perfect gift, too!
Gift from ___________________________________________
Name
__________________________________________________
Address
$120
Apt. #
__________________________________________________
(Senior discount $30 off, age 65 and over)
City
Contributor
Affiliate
Supporting
Patron
Benefactor
Society of Fellows
_______________________
_____________________
Office phone
Home phone
$200
$280
$380
$700
$1,500
$2,500
State
Zip
Payment Options
o Check (payable to The Huntington)
o Visa o MasterCard o American Express
__________________________________________________
Acct. no.
Signature
Exp. date
____________________________________________
CALENDAR • SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER • 2014
Members Pat Espe and David Jensen.
Photo by Melissa Hoagland
13