THURSDAYS
June 18, August 27, October 29
5-9 pm | $10 Admission
MATCHA isn't just a mixer—it's what makes your visit to the Asian Art Museum downright exhilarating. Experience mesmerizing performances, create your own art, embark on gallery tours, see the latest special exhibition, sit in on a talk, mingle with friends over cocktails, enjoy what the DJ is spinning, and much, much more.
Each MATCHA event has its own unique flavor and vibe. Check out the schedule below, and don't forget to mark your calendars.
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Upcoming Events
June 18: Kampai! Sake + Tea
Quench your summer thirst with all things sake and tea. Savor a sake tasting and multi-media presentation by Kirsten Shilakes, art history lecturer with an expertise in the visual history of the culinary arts. Sip, learn, and chat with Miwa Wang, sake sommelier and manager of True Sake, about the nuanced tastes and bouquets of sake. Stroll the galleries, see Lords of the Samurai, discover a Japanese tea ceremony showcasing matcha, a powdered green tea and namesake of our program. Observe its meticulous preparation and whisk your own. Dip into a talk on tea ceremony and warrior culture, join a docent conversation, or relax with a sake-tini, friends, and DJ-spun music. Click here for details.
August 27: Way of the Sword
Hailing from the sword techniques of Japanese samurai, Iaido (ee-ay-doe) is a martial art from battle and warfare preserved for 450 years. The iaidoka (practitioner) wields a sword not to control the opponent but himself. His mind is peaceful, harmonious, and active, ready to react. MATCHA is honored to present a rare appearance of Esaka Sensei, one of Japan's finest iaidoka with a prestigious background of impressive achievements. He will give a talk on this martial art. Drop in on a movement workshop, watch a riveting demo, or cool down with an art activity, docent chat on Lords of the Samurai, or by the DJ booth.
October 29: Thai River Festival
The Thailand river festival’s Loi Krathong is the practice of floating offerings along waterways, performed on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month (usually November). A banana-leaf cup drifting down the stream carries away ill-fortune and honors the River Goddess. The ritual is believed to have strong ties to Buddhism. You can’t go to Thailand, but you can still observe this peaceful tradition at MATCHA with live music and dance by Thai Cultural Center. Sample exotic food, create your own river offering, and partake in docent conversations in the luminous exhibition, Emerald Cities.