APPLAUSE FOR ZEN SHOW---WITH ONE HAND
                                              By Carol Benet
        artssf.com, the independent observer of San Francisco Bay Area theater
                                                                 Weeks starting Aug. 21, 2001
                                                                 Vol. 4, No. 11
        Ready for the sound of one hand clapping, through four centuries?
        Currently the Asian Art Museum is exhibiting Zen painting and calligraphy of the 17th-20th centuries, a rich collection of 66 works, many of which have never been seen outside of their private collections.
    The point of the well-orchestrated show is to gather works from only American collections and to relate all of them to the study of Zen practice in art and daily life.  Additional items such as robes, tea bowls and a quiet room with pillows for Zen meditation are also part of the exhibit.  Many activities and classes are planned surrounding this event that runs through Oct. 7.
    The practice of Zen started in Japan in the 12th century, initially only for the upper classes.  When Confucianism came from China, the Zen monks were in disfavor so they left the cities and went to the country to teach. It was then that the commoners took on the belief.
    The art works have been divided into themes to describe the function of Zen in art. At first there is a section on Visions of Daruma, the figure who came to India from China and first taught meditation.  He encouraged the people to forget about specific written texts in sutras and just to meditate to achieve enlightenment (truth or the touch with reality).
    Beautiful hanging scrolls of the great Daruma with calligraphed verses will tell of nature scenes.  Two by Fugai Ekun (1568-1654) come from two different great collections, one of George Gund and  the other of Doris and Peter F. Drucker.
    The second part is devoted to the Path of Enlightenment with some
minimalist works that invite Zen meditation such as Isshi Monshu's "Side View of Darma" and Hakuin Ekaku's "One Hand Clapping." The latter brings up one of the most puzzling of koans (riddles) to ponder, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"  There are several works by the master Hakuin (1685-1768) on display.
    Then there are sections on Favorite Zen Figures, Calligraphy and Enso (the Zen Circle), Zen Monastic Life and finally At Peace with Nature.  The entire show offers an opportunity to understand more about this fascinating thought system.
    The public programs include a Calligraphy Workshop, several
demonstrations of Zen Meditation and Calligraphy, films and author readings.
    On September 5 at 2 p.m. admission to the museum includes a "free"  sound and dance performance.  This is a collaboration between the Goethe-Institute of San Francisco and the Asian Art
Museum.
    There are docent tours of the exhibition as well.  Call (415) 379-8800 or check the Internet: www.asianart.org.
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        © Carol Benet 2001
        Carol Benet is a regular theater reviewer for artssf.com.
    These critiques appearing weekly (or sometimes semi-weekly, but never weakly)focus on theater, dance and new musical creativity in performance, with forays into recordings by local artists, and a few departures into books (by authors of the region)as well.
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