Now on Display
If you're one of those who scarfs down your raw seafood without learning much more about Japanese culture other than how to hold a pair of chopsticks, "Japanese Painting From the Collection of Mrs. Marilyn Alsdorf" will give you a better understanding of the culture and its history. Boasting a selection of work from notable painters from the 11th through 19th centuries, the exhibit of 30 works covers a variety of subjects. The earliest are religious. You'll learn about Buddhism from early, simple iconic sketches (but since the ink is applied with a brush, it's still technically a painting), like Seated Boddhisattva and Amida Raigo Depicting the Descent of the Buddha Amida Nyorai, finely detailed work that lives up to its complicated name. Later works focus on nature landscapes and animals. Delicate calligraphy paintings by Hon'anu Koetsu allow language and image to co-exist artfully in small squares. There are even some good examples of works that make social commentary, such as those by Hakuin Ekaku, a Zen priest who perfected a deceptively simple style as a vehicle for his criticism. There are also works that explore the existential, such as Skull and Calligraphy, a meditation on life and death. Most works are fairly small but "framed" in fabric as hanging scrolls, which are works of art themselves. Also on display is World Heritage Sites of Wakayama Prefecture: Pictures of Koya-san and Kumano, pictures of Florida's "sister state" in Japan. The exhibit includes large glossy images of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, religious festivals, social rituals, and the area's terrain. Just think what a wonderful conversationalist you'll be at your next sushi-serving soiree. (Through December 31 at Morikami Museum, 4000 Morikami Park Rd., Delray Beach. Call 561-495-0233.)