In November, the Friends traveled to New York City to explore contemporary Asian art in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley. Here, Carol Huh, assistant curator of contemporary Asian art, leads a tour of Christopher Mao’s Artfarm, designed by Ai Weiwei, in Salt Point, New York.

Upcoming Friends Events

For more information about or to RSVP to any of the Friends events listed here, please contact Rachel Wood, Friends Coordinator, at 202.633.0448 or e-mail woodr@si.edu.

Private Tour
Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep, led by Lee Talbot, curator
The Textile Museum
2320 S Street, NW 
Sunday, February 26
2:30–3:30 pm

Welcome the Year of the Dragon by joining the Friends for a private tour of Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep with Lee Talbot, a curator at the Textile Museum. This exhibition presents a global selection of textiles depicting fantastical dragons and other legendary creatures. After the tour, enjoy a tea reception in the Textile Museum's Garrett Room. Please meet in the museum’s reception area at 2:30.

Private Tour
Anil Revri: Faith and Liberation Through Abstraction, led by Anil Revri, artist
American University Museum at Katzen Arts Center
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Saturday, March 3
2–3 pm

Join longtime Friend Anil Revri on a private tour of his solo exhibition at the Katzen Arts Center at American University. Revri's paintings function as aids to meditation, while the process of their creation is itself an act of meditation. Enjoy a tea reception with the artist following the tour.

Friends Opening Reception
Masters of Mercy: Buddha’s Amazing Disciples and Hokusai: 36 Views of Mount Fuji
Saturday, April 21
6:30–8:30 pm

Celebrate the centennial of Tokyo’s gift of cherry trees to Washington, DC, at the opening of two major exhibitions of works by Japanese master artists.

Painted by Kano Kazunobu for the Pure Land Buddhist temple of Zōjōji, the brilliantly colored works in Masters of Mercy show the mythical five hundred disciples of Buddha committing miraculous acts. Hokusai: 36 Views of Mount Fuji showcases this acclaimed print series by Katsushika Hokusai, including the iconographical works Great Wave and Red Fuji. Featuring woodblock prints on loan from major museums and private collections, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see all the prints in succession.

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Upcoming Friends Travel Opportunities

Friends Asia Week Preview in New York
March 16–17, 2012

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 to view works of art in advance of the Asia Week crowds. Download a brochure and reservation form here.

Director’s Tour of Asian Art in London
May 25–30, 2012

Join Director Julian Raby on a delightful spring sojourn to London, his hometown and one of the world’s great cities. Take part in exclusive events, including a party to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Enjoy special access to private collections. Experience tour highlights in Julian’s exuberant company, along with other leading Asian art experts in London. Go behind the scenes at the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Tour Frederic Leighton’s mansion and its famous Arab Hall. Join the excitement of the world's art market at premier Asian art galleries near Old Bond Street, and much more! A detailed itinerary is available soon.

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The Friends Council

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

Nancy K. Mannes, Chair
Robin Berrington
Ronald Costell and Marsha Swiss
Jane Debevoise
Stephanie and Eugene Lawson
Jane and Kenneth Lieberthal
Joan Pirie Leclerc
Dickinson Miller
Patricia Moore
Dorothy Robins-Mowry
Ira Statfeld
Gail Yano
Penny and David Yao
Sidelle Wertheimer