On Tuesday, September 28, we invited members of the Nippon Club and JCCI and hosted The Art Appreciation Reception at the High Line Nine gallery in the Hudson Yards area. The reception started with greetings from Mr. Maeda, Vice President & Assistant Secretary of the Nippon Club, and the event host, Ms. Christina Maxwell, Executive Director, High Line Nine.

The focus of the event was Mr. Makoto Fujimura, a well-known American-born artist with Japanese roots who has been highly praised by the New York Times. In the wake of 9/11, he co-founded Tribeca Temporary, a collective for talented but traumatized displaced artists. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, Fujimura served as an international advocate for the arts, speaking with decision-makers and advising governmental policies on the arts. At the reception, guests viewed an exhibition of Makoto Fujimura: “Re-membrance” and received an explanation of his work from him.

A music performance was given by Ms. Mariko Anraku, a harpist and the only Japanese member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The audience was mesmerized by the gentle, beautiful, and sometimes intense sound of her harp.

Program：Carlos Salzedo “Quietude” and “Introspection” and Gabriel Fauré “Impromptu, Op. 86”

After the music performance, the guests enjoyed conversations with Mr. Makoto Fujimura, Ms. Mariko Anraku and other guests while viewing Mr. Makoto Fujimura’s artworks.

Special thanks to Mitsui Fudosan and Itochu International, whose support and cooperation allowed us to hold this event. Thank you also to our guests who participated. If you have any comments or suggestions about the event, please email us at info@nipponclub.org.

The exhibition, Makoto Fujimura: “Re-membrance”, will be on view at High Line Nine Gallery until Sunday, October 31. For more information, please click here.