FLUSHING, NY.- Flushing Town Hall hosts “Within The Emperor’s Garden – The Ten Thousand Springs Pavilion,” a highly detailed 1:5 scale model of the classic Wan Chun Ting pavilion found within Beijing’s Forbidden City. Handcrafted using red sandalwood – a cherished material in Imperial China, it is a stunning example of traditional Chinese carving. This major exhibition was organized by the Smithsonian Museum’s Conservation Institute, with the assistance of the China Red Sandalwood Museum, and the Savannah College of Art and Design, and is supported by Flushing Bank, Cathay Bank, and Crystal Window and Door Systems. The pavilion will be on view for one year at Flushing Town Hall, and the community is invited to receptions, related exhibitions, community events, and education programs throughout the year.
“Within the Emperor’s Garden” begins October 16, 2010. The community is invited to view the installation on October 12 and 13, 2010 from 12 to 5 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 5 to 7 p.m. sponsored by Mulan Restaurant, and gallery hours will be Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Suggested Admission for the exhibition is $5 and FCCA Members are free.
“It is an honor for Flushing Town Hall to host this unique model—a stunning example of traditional red sandalwood hand-carving”, said Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek. “Significant not only for the beauty and intricacy of its carving but also because it represents current issues—such as the endangerment of the art form due to the rareness of the wood, the disappearing skills of traditional artisans (mostly women) due to factory manufacturing, and the creation of a scaled replica to ensure a global treasure is not lost.”
“It took an extraordinary financial partnership amongst many friends and supporters to bring the Pavilion to our community including the Smithsonian Affiliates, Savannah College of Art and Design, and locally—Flushing Bank, Cathay Bank, and Crystal Windows and Door Systems. Our Host and Honorary Committee also worked diligently to support this year long project.”
An outstanding example of traditional Chinese carving, the model captures the beauty of the original pavilion. Artisans at the China Red Sandalwood Museum constructed this model of red sandalwood, treasured for its dark glossy color and musty floral fragrance. No nails are used; the entire structure is put together with mortise-and-tenon joinery. Currently, nearly 60 percent of red sandalwood carvers are women. Red sandalwood was highly prized in imperial China, and was used to create intricately carved furniture and decorative objects. Because of the demand for this wood, the tree nearly disappeared in China – along with the art of carving it.
Located in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The world’s largest palace complex, it contains thousands of buildings and other structures within its 247 acres (1 million square meters), all surrounded by a deep moat and high walls. At the north end of the complex is the Imperial Garden, a private retreat for the emperor and his family. The Ten Thousand Springs Pavilion is one of the 20 or so structures that embellish that garden.
Honoring the season of spring, the Ten Thousand Springs design embodies a vision of a perfect world. The square base symbolizes earth, while the round top represents heaven. The roof ornamentation, symbolizing protection and imperial power, features dragons and phoenixes.
