An avid tea enthusiast constantly looks for ways to enjoy tea. The UCLA Fowler Museum is providing the means to experience the joys of tea through art at its Steeped in History: The Art of Tea Exhibit beginning August 16-November 29, 2009. The exhibit is presented by the Henry Luce Foundation and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf . Over the next three months, A Quiet Tea Spot will focus on exciting sections of the exhibit and highlight some of the related activities.
Throughout its history tea has been a prevalent theme in the visual arts—scenes of tea embellish ceramics and textiles and are the subject of paintings and drawings, and all manner of vessels have been fashioned for the preparation and presentation of tea. Steeped in History brings together rare Chinese ceramics and paintings, 18th- and 19th-century Japanese ceramics and prints, extraordinary English and Colonial American paintings, vintage photographs and historical documents, tea-serving paraphernalia and furniture from many countries, and much more —to tell the fascinating history of tea.
Invited by the Fowler Museum along with other members of the press, I got a chance to preview some of the exhibit’s rare finds. I received a wonderful surprise when viewing one of the exhibit paintings. The tea set my husband gave me as a 10th wedding anniversary gift is a reproduction of the one in the painting.
If you live in the Los Angeles area or plan to visit, stop by the museum and check out the tea exhibit. The Fowler is open Wednesdays through Sundays, from noon to 5 p.m.; and on Thursdays, from noon until 8 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The Fowler Museum, part of UCLA Arts, is located in the north part of the UCLA campus. Admission is free. Parking is available for a maximum of $9 in Lot 4. For more information, the public may call 310/825-4361 or visit online.
