Tools for Understanding the Japanese Garden
Presented by Portland Japanese Garden and JapanCraft21
Join garden lecturer Steve Beimel for a one-hour seminar exploring ways to better appreciate Kyoto’s celebrated gardens.
Learn practical tools for observing transitions, perspective, framing, and spatial devices, while gaining insight into 1,400 years of design and evolution through images of remarkable sites.
Move beyond myths and symbolism to see how thoughtful design and craftsmanship have shaped Kyoto’s garden tradition. Steve Beimel, retired founder of Esprit Travel & Tours, has guided visitors to Japanese gardens for decades. He now serves as founding director of JapanCraft21, which supports and revitalizes traditional crafts.
Located in Oregon, the Portland Japanese Garden welcomes over 400,000 annual visitors and is recognized as the most authentic Japanese garden outside Japan.
JapanCraft21 is a nonprofit organization working to revitalize traditional Japanese crafts for the modern era.
Its initiatives include tuition-free building arts schools, apprentice programs, and national contests to support craftspeople and preserve cultural knowledge for international audiences.