Immerse Yourself in Art and Spirituality at the Japanese Garden

Make 2017 a year to reconnect with art, nature and your inner peace. The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is offering a brand new lineup of classes starting on January 6 that make use of the uniquely calming garden.

“We’re going to start the New Year with fresh offerings,” said Meher McArthur, Creative Director of the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden. “We’re creating programs that offer unique experiences in our garden..”

Plein Air Watercolor Painting Classes

Learn from Pete Morris, a local artist who has become widely known in the area, not only for his landscape paintings but his ability to capture life as it happens. An experienced teacher, Pete will guide students on their artistic exploration of this unique Japanese garden.

“It’s a rare opportunity to be painting a Japanese landscape in Pasadena,” said McArthur.

The series of ten classes start on January 6 and will be held on Fridays from 10 a.m. to Noon.

Mindfulness Meditation

Instructor Debra Dysart will lead classes in the tranquil and healing environment of the garden. Debra is a teacher at the Shambhala Meditation Center of Los Angeles. She also teaches Shambhala Art and is a former Director of the Shambhala Los Angeles where she has been a practitioner for 20 years. This class is a unique opportunity to find your inner peace in a tatami mat room while gazing out into the garden.

Classes will be held in the Niko-an Teahouse on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The series of six classes begins on January 13.

Ikebana Classes

Get inspired by the garden and learn the traditional art of Japanese flower arrangement, or ikebana. Classes will be led by Bokuho (Saeko) Kujiraoka, director of the Los Angeles branch of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. Ms. Kujiraoka is a member of the Ikebana Teachers Association of Southern California. She has been teaching and creating ikebana since 1987.

Classes will be held on Friday from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Niko-an Teahouse, a unique opportunity to learn the art in a traditional Japanese setting. The series of six classes start on January 6.

Classes will take place at the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden; 270 Arlington Drive, Pasadena. Register online at http://www.japanesegardenpasadena.com/programs.html