The Empress Invites You To Her House In Asian Cultural Celebration

Amazing Performances, Fun Crafts, Link Trees With Far Eastern Cultures

LISLE, IL (September 6, 2007) – The old is new again at The Morton Arboretum Asian Celebration, with fun, family activities September 22-23 that explore how Asian cultures through the centuries used trees and wood to flourish. It’s a weekend of traditional music, dancing, storytelling, martial arts, and tree walks, plus, bonsai and flower arranging demonstrations.

Headlining the celebration is taiko drumming, a 1,500 year old tradition in Japan. The Arboretum will present Chicago-based JASC Tsukasa Taiko – the Midwest’s leading taiko artists who are nationally and internationally recognized. The group performs Sunday the 23rd at 3 p.m. Adult and child drummers in lavish, traditional costumes stand, sit, or partially lay down as they pound out syncopated rhythms that often have audiences clapping in unison with the beat. Performances on the beautiful, wooden drums of all sizes are part drumming, part dance, part posing, and all delight.

Group members say they’re proud to display part of Japanese culture, and share it with others.

“We offer the chance for all people to learn about the rich artistic heritage we represent,” says Tatsu Aoki, JASC Tsukasa Taiko Artistic Director.

The Filipino heritage is well represented as a student dance troupe from DePaul University’s Asian cultural exchange uses eight-foot-long sticks in performing the traditional stick dance. In beautiful costumes, the dancers maneuver the sticks to music, and then, audience members get their chance to participate.

Visitors are also invited to learn about the dragon, the empress, two fossils, and a grandmother in guided walks to the Arboretum Asian collections. Docents will share stories of trees in Asian cultures, such as the empress tree. This fast-growing tree is planted when a girl is born, so that by the time she’s old enough to marry, the tree’s wood is made into furniture for her dowry. In Chinese medicine, there are 50 fundamental herbs, and visitors will see several of these plants on the walks. Walks are Saturday and Sunday, at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Children will adore working the Asian craft of origami. Kids will experience the joy of creating an animal or other structure made from folding paper, each day from 11 – 4 p.m.

For relaxation and personal growth, an instructor will lead Tai Chi demonstrations on Saturday morning. Visitors can enhance their physical, mental, and spiritual health as they’re taught to improve balance and coordination, increase flexibility and range of motion.

Daylong activities both days include Ikebana, or Japanese flower-arranging. Artists strive for unusual beauty, seeking to use flowers in harmony with wooden accents.  Bonsai demonstrations will show how to shape trees into works of art. Also, Chinese musician Kerry Leung will play Chinese wooden instruments and discuss them. Visitors can sample Asian inspired food – sushi, Asian beef with peapods, Thai shrimp stir fry, and jasmine rice. Price is per order.

Events are free with Arboretum admission.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,057 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission – the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier, Central Time. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630-968-0074 to learn more.

Media Contact:    Gina Tedesco, 630-725-2103, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marty Cusack, 630-719-5768, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it