Morikami Museum to demonstrate Karesansui, Kimonos

Japanese courtyard at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.

Photo by Aliza Schlabach.

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is holding a demonstration of karesansui raking and a class on sumi-e brush making today at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.

Karesansui, or dry landscape garden, is based on the Zen ideology to encourage mindfulness. The karesansui is raked around boulders arranged to represent islands and the water that surrounds them. The demonstration is free with museum entrance.

The sumi-e brush class takes place at the Oki Education Center. This 5,000-year-old art form uses animal hair to create brushes that are used for calligraphy and sumi-e paintings. Students make brushes approximately 1 inch long. All materials are provided. The cost is $60, and advanced registration is required.

The Morikami’s first “Kimono Culture” demonstration, being held all day Saturday, Feb. 25, should be popular, says Wendy Lo, the museum’s curator of education. The museum is bringing in an instructor from Orlando, Lo says. “She gives an intro to the different types of kimonos and demonstrates how to wear them.”

Morikami is at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. For more information, call 561-495-0233, or visit morikami.org.