In January, the Friends visited the Freer Gallery's storage vault for an up-close viewing of Chinese lacquer and textiles. The tour was led by Daisy Wang, Chinese art specialist.

Upcoming Friends Events

For more information about or to RSVP to any of the Friends events listed here, please contact Jenn Ryan, Membership Manager, at 202.633.0417 or e-mail Jenn Ryan.

UPCOMING FRIENDS TRAVEL

Friends Asia Week Preview in New York
March 15-16, 2013

Mark your calendar for Asia Week in New York. Museums, galleries, specialty art dealers, and auction houses interested in the arts and cultures of Asia offer diverse programming and activities. Friends are invited to attend receptions at private collections, participate in museum tours, and enjoy exclusive visits to private galleries, where they can view works of art in advance of the Asia Week crowds. Download a brochure and reservation form.

UPCOMING FRIENDS EVENTS

PRIVATE TOUR
Promise of Paradise: Early Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
Freer Gallery of Art
Thursday, March 28
Tours: 1 and 2:30 pm
Tea: 2 pm
Enjoy a guided tour, led by Keith Wilson, curator of ancient Chinese art, of the Freer's recently reinstalled gallery of early Chinese Buddhist sculpture. Representations of four different Buddhas—Shakyamuni, Prabutaratna , Amitabha, and Vairochana—along with other divinities are featured. Commissioned by emperors and commoners, the objects convey the enduring appeal of the promise of paradise. Enjoy a tea reception and Q & A session in the Freer conference room at 2 pm.

OPENING RECEPTION
Hand-Held: Gerhard Pulverer’s Japanese Illustrated Books
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Saturday, April 6
6:30–8:30 pm

Ehon, the Japanese term for woodblock-printed illustrated books, were key sources of knowledge and entertainment during the Edo period (1615–1868). Artists and writers created an astounding array of designs for these books, and the compact, paper-bound volumes circulated widely. In a striking change from the past, when books were primarily reserved for the elite, the beautiful, intriguing, and humorous subjects in ehon brought reading to the masses.

Join us in celebrating the opening of this special exhibition featuring the Gerhard Pulverer Collection. Selected volumes are being exhibited for the first time since the museum purchased the collection in 2007 with assistance from the Friends.

The Friends Council

The Friends Council, the museums' only fundraising advisory board, welcomes your interest and support. Please call Jenn Ryan, Membership Manager, to learn more about the advisory board and how you can participate.

Nancy K. Mannes, Co-Chair
Penny Yao, Co-Chair
Robin Berrington
Ronald Costell and Marsha Swiss
Lisa Jorgenson
Stephanie and Eugene Lawson
Jane and Kenneth Lieberthal
Susan Lubick
Dickinson Miller
Dorothy Robins-Mowry
Jean and Jack Pritchard
Sidelle Wertheimer
Gail Yano
David Yao