BCA Art Committee Features Art Exhibit, Movie

The BCA Art Committee offered a six-week in-person art exhibit from March 9 to April 21 in Alameda, California, that featured six Bay District artists.

The presentation was provided in conjunction with the Buddhist Temple of Alameda and Rhythmix Cultural Works.  All of the artists had participated in the BCA Virtual Art Exhibit over the past few years.  

The exhibit was entitled, “Colors of the Infinite — Contemporary Buddhist Art.”  For some, the word “infinite” referred to the infinite realm of Amida Buddha.  For others, “infinite” referred to the vast display of colors and forms that dazzle our senses from every direction.  No difference, really. 

From the curator’s statement: “…. What is Contemporary Buddhist Art?  Is it art about Buddhism?  Is it art by Buddhists?  Is it about spiritual growth and personal expansion?  Awakening and Enlightenment?  Movement beyond the personal towards the infinite?  Yes and No and it Depends, but welcome anyway! .… Art carries spiritual expression from the depths of each individual to touch us, the viewer, in a temporary pause as it moves on into the infinite universe.  Contemporary Buddhist Art is this.”

The participating artists were: Betty Nobue Kano of Berkeley, Joyce Nojima of Santa Rosa, Joan DiStefano of Alameda, Kai Fujioka of Berkeley, Valerie Pham of Alameda, and Rev. Dennis Fujimoto of Alameda and Enmanji.  Their experience ranged from decades of artistic expression to teaching and guiding others to first-time exhibitors.  

Like at the temple, elders were warm and welcoming to young ones.  They engaged and encouraged each other. The younger ones could visit with the elders and see their experience through their art. It was heartwarming to see the interaction and camaraderie among the artists.

Family and friends and art enthusiasts joined in for the opening and closing receptions and throughout the exhibit.  They wandered through to admire the works and to visit with the artists. 

“Thanks to the hard work of the Art Committee, the temple, and the Rhythmix staff and many others, the gallery show, which culminated in a wonderful film screening and closing reception, was really successful,” Kai Fujioka said. “I feel grateful and honored to have participated alongside such talented artists.”

On the final day of the art exhibit, April 21, “Carving the Divine,” an award-winning documentary film by Yujiro Seki, was shown at the Rhythmix Theater.  

The film reveals the centuries-old master-disciple relationship of the craftsmen who dedicate their lives to create the wooden Buddhist sculptures and images that adorn Buddhist temples throughout Japan. At the end of the show, filmmaker Yujiro Seki joined us through Zoom from Japan for an insightful Q&A session with the audience.  

“Walking into the theater at Rhythmix in Alameda, I was pleasantly surprised to see the packed-house crowd that had gathered,” said BCA President Steven Terusaki. “The film was a wonderful documentary on the discipline and focus needed to create the ‘divine carvings’ of Buddhist images. Through his window into this world of wood carvers, Yujiro Seki brought to us a wonderful understanding of the art form and the tradition of this ancient craft.”

Buddhist Temple of Alameda President Jane Naito said more than 100 people attended the “Carving the Divine” screening in Alameda.

“The movie showed us the master-apprentice relationship that is common in so many Japanese arts and how their relationship is not only stern, but also loving in its own way,” Naito said. “We were fortunate to be able to have Seki-san join us via Zoom for a Q&A session after the movie showed. I’m glad the Buddhist Temple of Alameda was able to sponsor just an amazing movie and show it to not only our Sangha members, but members from nearby temples and the general public.”  

At the end of the film, everyone came downstairs to the art gallery for the closing reception of the art display.  

“It was an honor to be able to exhibit several paintings in the recent show at Rhythmix, focusing on color and evoking Buddhism,” Betty Kano, one of the artists, said. “The film, ‘Carving the Divine’ raised the bar on the centrality of devotion and discipline in this pursuit. What a powerful context for the exhibit to end with.”

We hope “Carving the Divine” will continue to be shown at a temple or a theater near you.  The potential for in-person art exhibits in your area are being explored by the committee. The Virtual Art Exhibit will continue to be provided each fall through the BCA website. The support and interest in the efforts of the BCA Art Committee is greatly appreciated.