College of East Asian Studies

Opening Reception: Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at Noon for Wesleyan students, faculty, and staff. The opening reception will include a talk by garden curator and caretaker Stephen Morrell. Please note that due to COVID-19 safety protocols, this exhibition opening reception will not include food or drinks.

The general public will be welcomed back to Wesleyan this fall to enjoy Center for the Arts outdoor programming and exhibitions in both the Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery and the College of East Asian Studies Gallery at Mansfield Freeman Center. All patrons must adhere to and follow the University COVID-19 safety guidelines. Wesleyan requires all visitors to be fully vaccinated. All visitors will need to provide proof of having been fully vaccinated. Public health officials consider an individual to be fully vaccinated two weeks after their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Masks are required in all University buildings regardless of vaccination status. Indoor performances as well as special events, including opening receptions in the galleries, will be open to Wesleyan students, faculty, and staff. Vaccinated visitors may attend outdoor events and outdoor activities unmasked. Patrons under the age of 12 are required to wear a mask at outdoor events. Due to current CDC age limits on vaccinations, individuals under the age of 12 will not be permitted at indoor exhibitions.

The College of East Asian Studies celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Japanese Garden (Shôyôan Teien) with an exhibition in their gallery at the Mansfield Freeman Center. The curated show will feature archival photographs, poetry, photography, video, and installation demonstrating the breadth of the garden’s cultural connections over the last two and a half decades. This exhibition was originally planned for the anniversary year of the garden in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Shôyôan Teien was constructed in 1995 through the generosity of Mansfield Freeman ’16 and encouragement of Mr. Freeman’s son, Houghton Freeman ’43. It was designed, built, and is continuously cared for by Stephen Morrell, a landscape architect specializing in Japanese-style gardens. Planned from the start as an educational resource, the garden provides visitors the opportunity to explore the intricate relationships between landscape and culture in Japanese aesthetics. For over 25 years, the garden has been one of the most beloved spaces at Wesleyan University, and actively used for a range of purposes, from art classes to daily meditation practices. This exhibition celebrates and contemplates the garden’s rich history.

The College of East Asian Studies Gallery at Mansfield Freeman Center is curated by Associate Director of Visual Arts Benjamin Chaffee and Exhibitions Manager Rosemary Lennox.

GALLERY HOURS
Open Tuesday through Friday, Noon–4pm

College of East Asian Studies, Wesleyan University
Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies
343 Washington Terrace, Middletown CT 06457
860-685-2330

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