Constantine Vaporis, professor of history and director of the Asian studies program, is a consultant and writer on a new exhibit opening at Washington D.C.’s National Geographic Museum on March 7. “Samurai: The Warrior Transformed” examines the transformations experienced by Japan’s samurai and is built around material artifacts of samurai culture, including gifts of the same given by the Japanese government to American presidents and mid-nineteenth century portraits of the warriors. A companion exhibit displays images by writer, photographer and geographer Eliza Scidmore, who was instrumental in the gift of the Japanese cherry trees to Washington that adorn the Mall and Tidal Basin.
The exhibit runs through September 3, 2012 was planned to coincide with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs from March 20-April 27. This year marks the the 100th anniversary of the Japanese gift of cherry trees to the U.S.
Students are invited to join the Asian Studies Program, the Honors College and the Humanities Scholars Program for a trip to Washington D.C. on April 7. The group will visit the exhibit and then have free time to visit the mall, other museums and festival. The bus will leave UMBC at 9 a.m. and depart from Washington at 3 pm. A $12 fee covers the cost of transportation to and from Washington and the price of admission to the National Geographic Museum. Students can contact Lisa Whittle to register.
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