On Monday, November 22, Japanese Diplomat Deputy Consul General of Japan and Director of the Japan Information Center in New York, MURAKAMI Kenju, visited the region of Lehigh Valley (Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton) Pennsylvania. Hosted by USJC Development Manager, Miki Sankary, the visit was a culmination of a myriad of individuals and institutions in the Lehigh Valley representing the breadth and depth of Japanese art and culture including Northampton Community College, Allentown Art Museum, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, and their art galleries. The visit was inspired by the Japanese expression,”geijutsu no aki” (芸術の秋) meaning “Autumn is for the Arts,” the time of year, where creatives are inspired by art in nature and patrons enjoy institutions displaying art as a window to other lands. DCG MURAKAMI provided a presentation on hot topics of Japan (studying abroad, COVID pandemic, government elections, etc.) to Global Studies students and faculty at Northampton Community College during a luncheon at the Hampton Winds Restaurant, NCC’s very own culinary arts student restaurant.
Institutions included:
- Allentown Art Museum and the Washi Paper Transformed Exhibit
- Lafayette College Hiroshige’s “Tokaido Road” woodblock print Exhibit
- Northampton Community College Global Studies Department and Ceramics Art Collection
- Lehigh University Art Galleries
Thanks in partnership with collaborators for making this visit possible:
- Mr.Tom Shillea, Art Director of Northampton Community College
- Ms. Santa Bannon, Art Dealer, Fine Art Gallery
- Dr. Nathan Carpenter, Director of Global Studies at NCC
- Mr. Max Weintraub, Executive Director of Allentown Art Museum
- Claire McRee, Associate Curator, Allentown Art Museum
- Dr. William Crow, Director of Lehigh University Art Galleries
- Dr. Ricardo “Rico” Reyes, Director of Lafayette College Art Galleries