Event Calendar:

Make your reservations now. Tour dates fill up fast with our part time staff and volunteer leaders.

=================================================================

Annual Events:                                                                                                                            

Join us in April for our spring cultural event, the Cherry Blossom Festival. We will have a variety of programs for all ages to enjoy. Tour the garden, attend programs and feed the Japanese Koi.... Call 502-316-4554 for the final schedule. 

2010 Events:

Ancient Clay with Vince Pitelka

Wednesday April 7 - Sunday April 11, 2010

Experience ancient ways of working with clay at Vince Pitelka's Ancient Clay Workshop at Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, the official Kentucky -Japan Friendship Garden in Georgetown, Kentucky  USA.

 

Who:    Professor Vince Pitelka, well known and well respected ceramic artist, educator and author and frequent poster on Clayarts listserv

What:   A 5 day worskhop for beginners  advanced clay workers alike - for this hands        on workshop ending in a firing of your work in a spectacular bonfire at the Garden

Where: Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, Georgetown KY  USA

When:  Wednesday April 7 - Sunday April 11, 2010

 

Set in the picturesque Bluegrass Region of Kentucky on the banks of Elkhorn Creek, Yuko-En is the only Japanese style garden in the world with a Kiln House. Ancient Clay will be the first 5 day clay workshop offered at the Garden, and is in part a fundraiser for our developing Pottery Center.  The workshop will take place when the redbuds and cherry blossoms will be in bloom, if the weather cooperates.

 

Ancient Clay is a 5 day workshop described by Vince as:

"[a] workshop [which] gives beginning and experienced clay-workers the opportunity to investigate the techniques and aesthetics of ancient and tribal ceramics. We will focus on simple vessel construction using pinch and coil methods, exploring the broad diversity of handbuilt form and the range of decorative effects possible without the use of glazes.  Until quite recently tribal ceramic traditions were generally seen as primitive oddities, like "living ancient history," and were often ignored in the study of ceramics. Fortunately, the appreciation and understanding of ancient and tribal art has increased dramatically, and we now recognize that these traditions are "primitive" only in the tools, facilities, and firing processes, while the level of craftsmanship, the narrative content, and the design aesthetic are highly sophisticated."

 

Visit his website at http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/workshops/ancient_clay.htm for more information and to see what others have made at this exciting and informative workshop.

 

Want to join us?

A $50 deposit holds your reservation space is limited to 16 participants

email:  yukoenky@gmail.com

phone:  502.863.0026, press 3 when machine answers

Send checks to:

          Yuko-En on the Elkhorn attention: Pitelka Workshop

            c/o Georgetown/Scott County Chamber of Commerce

            160 E Main St

            Georgetown, KY 40324-1758

 

Pay in full by January 15, 2010:           $350 total

Pay in full by February 15, 2010:          $375 total

 

* If you cancel before March 1st a partial refund will be available. 

* Once you have made your reservation and paid your deposit, we will send you information  about places to stay, eat, maps and additional attractions as well as a materials list.

 

See below the 2009 schedule of events.

4-17-09

Cherry Blossom Festival          

さくらフェスティバル(SAKURA FESTIVAL) 

 at Yuko-En on the Elkhorn

The Official Kentucky-Japan Friendship Garden

Saturday April 18, 2009    Opening time: Noon

 

Bring the family to a spring celebration and enjoy cultural experiences.

 

On-going Activities:

 

Tour Yuko-En on the Elkhorn on your own - daily from dawn until dusk.  Bring a chair or blanket & the family.

Kentucky - Japanese inspired pottery exhibit - featured artist Anne Leader, Kiln House

Art Sale to benefit the new Pottery Center/Kiln House - local and regional Raku artists

Elkhorn Creek Trails Photo Exhibit - Sunny 16's Photo Club - Main Villa 

Japanese Inspired Interactive Art Installation - Dr. Carolann Freid - Main Villa and Maple Grove  

Vintage Japanese Kimono Exhibition – Villa

Paintings by Artworks Instructors -Villa

Origami, Japanese art of paper folding, Scott County High School students - Main Villa

Gyotaku, Japanese fish printing, offered by SCAC/ArtWorks – near Kiln House.

SCAC/ArtWorks Booth – art for sale, open to all.

Karesansui, the dry landscape garden - work on your own pattern at the Children’s Zen garden.

The Japanese Tea Ceremony - Participate or observe with area tea masters, location: Tea House in the Maple Grove

Volunteers needed: Help with mowing, weeding, greeting, flier distribution, tours, school groups & more.

Silent auction- help us with your donations so we can complete the Villa.

Food Vendors - Georgetown Renaissance/Main Street Program, Japanese School, Taiwanese School & Lock and Key. 

                  (A percent of the profits benefit the garden.)

Scheduled Programs and Activities:

11:30          Raking the Zen garden, David Beach.  Get a hand full of fish food for

the Japanese Koi, Jane.

12:00          Opening Dance Performance: Sakura, Soranbushi

12:05          Opening Sakura”- A Japanese song, Georgetown College students

12:20          Japanese song and dance - Scott County High School students   

12:35          Stories, poems, songs

Flower arranging, Mari Isobe

1:00            Raku Pottery Demonstration, Kiln House

1:00            Mini-Kites: make a skipper kite while supplies last- Villa. Open kite fly/kite making at Cardome field.

1:00            Kentucky Tai Chi Chuan Center demonstration - Bill Wojasinski

1:00 +         Unguided Canoe trips on Elkhorn Creek with Canoe KY – meet at boat launch, $10/hour.

1:20            Iaido and Aikido - Bluegrass Budokai

1:45            Noh performances (ancient Japanese traditional theatre)

2:15            Kyuudo, Japanese archery, Dr. Michael Rich

2:30            Poems and songs – UK students

3:00            Taiko (Japanese drums) - Cincinnati-Dayton Taiko Group

3:30            Martial arts, Kung-Fu - Taiwanese School

3:50            Ryu Toushi Academy of Mixed Martial Arts – a blend of Chinese & Japanese martial arts

4:15            Koto, Japanese harp, Tomoko Yonenaga

4:30            Closing Ceremonies & Guided Tour of Yuko-En on the Elkhorn

 

Yuko-En on the Elkhorn is a Bluegrass landscape in a Japanese style stroll garden. Enjoy spring bloom which may include our Japanese Cherry and Eastern Redbud trees, waterfalls, arched bridges, Koi ponds & programs. The garden is operated by the Scott Education and Community Foundation, a local non-profit group that empowers life-long learning. It was created with donations and in-kind service and it continues to grow.  The garden is open daily from dawn until dusk.  Contact the Program Director for school & group tours at phone 502-316-4554.  Our website is:  www.yuko-en.com.

Location: (700 Cincinnati Pike or U.S. Highway 25 North/Adjacent to Cardome Centre, Georgetown, KY)

In honor of Earth Week, please Reduce, Reuse & Recycle:  Please PACK OUT what you PACK in.  We are a non-profit organization and we do not have any maintenance staff to clean up.  In the event of rain, we will attempt to move any uncovered programs into the Education Villa.

 Scott Education and Community Foundation

Fostering Education … Building Community … Bridging the Future

Cherry blossoms in front of new Villa - Spring 2009

 ================================================================= 

SPRING: The Japanese Cherry Trees and the Eastern Redbuds are the first trees to flower in the spring at Yuko-En on the Elkhorn. Later watch for the Japanese Iris blooms.

 

Summer: schedule your weddings and events.

FALL: A great time of year to visit the garden.  Visit and check out the fall colors.

 

WINTER: A peaceful time of the year.

 

PROGRAMS

Programs and tours are available for schools and groups on a first come basis. We will set up programs to cater to school C.O.R.E. content.  Make reservations well in advance of your desired date.

           

    Scott County 3rd graders learning about fossils during a field trip to Yuko-En on the Elkhorn.

Children at Zen Rock Garden.

========================================================================

SCHEDULE YOUR EVENT

Weddings, family reunions and renewal of vows are popular at Yuko-En on the Elkhorn as we may be the most photographed place in the area. Call today to reserve your date.  The Villa is not complete so it is not for rent at this time.  The garden is available for rent for a minimum donation of $200 which covers one mowing of the site. Please contact the Program Director to make your reservations: 502-316-4554.