The Invisible Dog is thrilled to welcome the NY Grand Tea Ceremony 2023 for a series of tea ceremonies and talks.
How much do you know about matcha? Matcha originated in China about 1000 years ago, traveled to Japan, and has reached popularity worldwide today - especially right here in New York City. Chanoyu 茶の湯 is the ritual preparation of matcha which is rooted in Zen Buddhist philosophy and seeks to unify nature, objects, and people within a once-in-a-lifetime moment. As the interest in matcha spreads, the number of chanoyu enthusiasts also increases.
Chanoyu Week NYC 2023 brings together chanoyu practitioners in the New York area for this special occasion at The Invisible Dog Art Center, Brooklyn to share our own unique way of tea. Please enjoy our heartfelt tea in the beautiful garden setting.
There will be a concurrent discussion in the gallery space with Panasonic and Snow Peak.
The Grand Tea Ceremony in the Garden
2:00-6:00pm: Tea Ceremony
What is Grand Tea Ceremony?
On November 1, 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi held the Kitano Grand Tea Ceremony, the largest tea ceremony ever held at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto. The leading tea masters of Japan at that time, including Hideyoshi, Rikyu, Sogyu, Sokyu, and Hechikan, gathered in one place and held tea ceremonies. The number of tea ceremonies is said to be as many as 800, or 1,500 to 1,600. The tea ceremonies were open to everyone, regardless of status, and symbolized the equality and peacefulness of Chanoyu.
The NY Grand Tea Ceremony is the New York version of the Kitano Grand Tea Ceremony.
Chanoyu Week NYC is an annual celebration of the Japanese tea ceremony held in the fall.
The festival offers New Yorkers creative encounters with chanoyu to enrich them in healing ways mentally and physically. The festival also contributes to building a stronger New York City community by integrating various genres, cultures, and ideas infused with chanoyu spirit.
Talk Events in the Gallery
2:30-3:30pm
“The Practice of Well-Being Through Living with Nature”
Supported by Snow Peak
More people are seriously thinking about the relationship between humans and Mother Nature in our current day as a means to improve their health. Yuichi Uchida, Chief Brand Officer of Snow Peak USA, Inc, reflects on his camping experience to discuss why people seek a connection to nature and how doing so enriches our well-being.
Yuichi Uchida - Chief Brand Officer at Snow Peak USA
A native of Nagano, Japan, Yui grew up adventuring and fishing in the mountains surrounding his childhood home. He went on to obtain degrees in Business Management at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo and Graphic Design at School of Visual Arts in New York City.
He is currently the Chief Brand Officer at Snow Peak USA, working to reconnect people and nature using creative storytelling through the lens of the Japanese view of nature.
4:00-5:00pm
“Not here, Not now / Right here, Right now”
Supported by Panasonic Design NY
Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby of design studio Dunne & Raby propose a progressive design concept of a parallel world that is “Not here, Not now.” Tea master Yoshitsugu Nagano emphasizes the importance of “Right here, Right now” through rituals such as Chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony). Together with Panasonic Design NY, they discuss surprising similarities and glean insight into conceptualizing the future.
Dunne & Raby
Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby are partners in the design studio Dunne & Raby. They are also University Professors of Design and Social Inquiry, and Co-Directors of the Designed Realities Studio at The New School/Parsons in New York. Their books include Hertzian Tales (1998, 2006), Design Noir (2000,2021), and Speculative Everything (2013) and their design projects are in several permanent collections including MoMA in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the MAK in Vienna. In 2021, Fiona and Anthony were made Royal Designers for Industry (RDI) and Life fellows of the Royal Society of Arts (UK)
Panasonic Design NYC
They are a Creative R&D team that investigates the Future of Living in the next 5-10 years. Based in Brooklyn, they conduct research to gather insights specific to the North America region, which is then used to design, develop, and prototype future concepts for human-centered products, services, and experiences.
Yoshitsugu Nagano -Japanese Tea Ritual Master
Yoshitsugu Nagano is the youngest person to be certified in the highest rank of the Ueda Soko school of samurai tea ceremony, which has been practiced in Hiroshima for 400 years, and he serves as a regular professor of the school. He establishes styles of modern tea, incorporating new expressions into this tradition rooted in Zen.
Admission:
RSVP
Location:
51 Bergen St.
Tea Ceremony in the garden
Talks in the gallery
**In case of rain, the event will take place inside the gallery**