Patrick Dowdey, curator of the Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, adjunct professor of East Asian Studies and anthropology, welcomed guests to the opening of "Shoyoan: Celebrating the Freeman Family Garden" March 31 in the Freeman Gallery. The exhibition features photographs, poetry and video that celebrate time and season in Wesleyan's Freeman Family Garden and Tatami Room.
From left, John Driscoll, alumni director, and Paul DiSanto, director of leadership giving, listen to Dowdey speak about his photographs of the garden. For 15 years, the Freeman Family Garden and Tatami Room have lent the homely, friendly air of a Japanese home to the Center for East Asian Studies.From left, Lisa Calhoun, administrative assistant in the East Asian Studies Program; Brandi Cahill, assistant director of university events and scheduling; and Patrick Dougherty, development researcher/writer; admire photos in the exhibit. Curator Dowdey included images of the garden captured in every season. Jonathan Best, professor of art history, spoke about the garden's design. Best is an internationally-known expert on early Buddhist art in Korea. "Garden Gate in Springtime," photographed by Patrick Dowdey, is one of the many images on display in the exhibit. In conjunction with the exhibit, the Freeman Center will host a lecture titled "Poetry In and Of the Garden," by Andrew Pekarik of the Smithsonian Institution. It begins at 4:30 p.m. April 22. (Gallery talk photos by Olivia Bartlett Drake)
Olivia Drake
Mike Mavredakis
Editorial Staff
Sarah Parke