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Portland Japanese Garden & Portland Art Museum to Co-Present Lecture Exploring How Gardens are Living Museums

Featuring Guest Lecturer, Richard Deverell, Executive Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London)

Richard Deverell, Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

PORTLAND, Ore. —July 25, 2022—Portland Japanese Garden and Portland Art Museum are co-presenting a lecture by Richard Deverell, Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London), titled “Kew as a Global Living Museum: Gardens as a Metaphor for Change, Creativity, and Community-Building.” This event will take place on Sunday, July 31 at 1:30pm PDT in the Whitsell Auditorium at Portland Art Museum.

During his 10-year tenure as Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – one of the largest and most acclaimed gardens in the world – Deverell has reimagined the role of gardens in the 21st century. As a global living museum of botany and art, standing at the intersection of nature and culture, Kew has not only brought about some of the most revered research and educational programs over its 180-year history, but it also continues to offer transformational experiences to diverse global visitors, constantly reimagining itself to better address modern issues.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Photo by Jeff Eden.

Portland Japanese Garden and Portland Art Museum are considered cornerstone cultural institutions in Portland. Both organizations share the values of creating human connections and being a voice for meaningful social change in our modern world. For Portland Japanese Garden, it achieves this through the beauty of nature and expression of Japanese culture and tradition. Portland Art Museum achieves this impact by connecting people to art and each other.

“Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a global leader in the field of public gardens and is proof that these kinds of institutions can be a catalyst for community-building and social change,” says Steve Bloom, CEO of Portland Japanese Garden. “I am excited to welcome my esteemed colleague, Richard Deverell to Portland to explore the conversation around the important role that Gardens play in elevating communities through dialogue and engagement.”

Japan Institute of Portland Japanese Garden CEO Steve Bloom giving his plenary address at the 2022 APGA annual conference in Portland. Photo by Jonathan Ley.

“Impactful programs like this collaboration returning to our spaces is so gratifying,” said Brian Ferriso, Portland Art Museum Director and Chief Curator. “Our gardens, like works of art, are a wonderful opportunity to experience beauty and joy as well as connect us.”

Following Deverell’s lecture, Bloom will join him on stage for a discussion on the intersection of nature, science, art, and culture. Upon the event’s conclusion, attendees are encouraged to enjoy complimentary access to the rest of Portland Art Museum. Come learn more about gardens as “living museums,” places that stimulate curiosity and encourage engagement in nature. Seating is limited, so those interested are encouraged to register early to reserve their spot.

Event Details:

  • Date: Sunday, July 31, 2022
  • Time: 1:30 – 2:45 pm PDT
  • Location: Whitsell Auditorium, Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR
  • Tickets: https://secure.japanesegarden.org/4013/kew
    • $25: General Public
    • $20: Portland Japanese Garden members, Portland Art Museum members, those in Portland Japanese Garden’s Golden Crane Recognition Society, and Portland Art Museum Asian Art Council members
    • $12.50: Students under 25 with valid ID

About Portland Japanese Garden & Japan Institute: 

This lecture is brought to you by the Japan Institute of Portland Japanese Garden.

The Japan Institute was established in 2022 as a sibling organization of Portland Japanese Garden. As an international hub for world leaders, artists, gardeners, and scholars, the Japan Institute organizes symposia, gatherings, and experiences through its three programming centers: the International Exchange Forum, the International Japanese Garden Training Center, and the Global Center for Culture and Art. The Japan Institute and Portland Japanese Garden share in the mission of Inspiring Harmony & Peace, and the vision to be a leading global voice for cultural understanding, in pursuit of a more peaceful, sustainable world.

Portland Japanese Garden is a nonprofit organization originally founded in 1963 as a place for cross-cultural understanding following World War II. A hallmark in the City of Portland, the Garden was founded on the ideals of peace and mutual understanding between peoples and cultures. Portland Japanese Garden is considered the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan and the foremost Japanese cultural organization in North America.

About the Portland Art Museum:

The seventh oldest museum in the United States, the Portland Art Museum is internationally recognized for its permanent collection and ambitious special exhibitions drawn from the Museum’s holdings and the world’s finest public and private collections. The Museum’s collection of more than 45,000 objects, displayed in 112,000 square feet of galleries, reflects the history of art from ancient times to today. The collection is distinguished for its holdings of arts of the Native peoples of North America, English silver, and the graphic arts. An active collecting institution dedicated to preserving great art for the enrichment of future generations, the Museum devotes 90 percent of its galleries to its permanent collection.

The Museum’s campus of landmark buildings, a cornerstone of Portland’s cultural district, includes the Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art, the Gilkey Center for Graphic Arts, the Schnitzer Center for Northwest Art, PAM CUT, and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Center for Native American Art. With a membership of more than 22,000 households and serving more than 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum is a premier venue for education in the visual arts. For information on exhibitions and programs, call 503-226-2811 or visit portlandartmuseum.org.

The Portland Art Museum welcomes all visitors and affirms its commitment to making its programs and collections accessible to everyone. The Museum offers a variety of programs and services to ensure a quality experience and a safe, inclusive environment for every member of our diverse community. Learn more at portlandartmuseum.org/access.

The Portland Art Museum is pleased to offer accommodations to ensure that our programs are accessible and inclusive. Please email a request to access@pam.org two to three weeks in advance, or call 503-226-2811.