“A Japanese Art Journey and the Transformative Power of Art” at Shumei in Pasadena (Photo – Shumei)
This Sunday, February 1, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, Shumei in Pasadena will host A Japanese Art Journey and the Transformative Power of Art, a free public program featuring Japanese art historian and curator Meher McArthur.
By News Desk
Meher McArthur will discuss her new memoir, A Japanese Art Journey (Tuttle, 2025), and reflect on how Japanese art—ranging from ceramics, swords, prints, and textiles to Buddhist art, folk painting, and animation, shaped both her professional path and personal understanding of identity.
Raised in Scotland, Canada, and England, McArthur originally planned a career in international business. After studying Japanese and spending two years in Japan, she developed a deep passion for Japanese art that led her to become a Japanese art historian. She later served as curator at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena for eight years and has spent more than 25 years curating exhibitions for museums, galleries, and national tours.
In her 208-page memoir, McArthur brings readers into the world of Japanese art one artwork and one language lesson at a time. The narrative traces curiosity, inspiration, heartbreak, and resilience, offering a warm vision of how art can illuminate identity, bridge cultural difference, and challenge the idea that there is only one way to belong in the world.
The program will highlight works such as a Chiyogami Doll from around 1975, made from printed decorative handmade paper, and Seated Buddhas from the 11th–12th century, ink printed on paper.
The event is free and open to the public. Unlimited street parking is available at Shumei on Sundays, with additional parking potentially available in the underground garage.
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