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"I BOW TO YOU"
2007 Traveling Exhibition of Buddhist Sculptures by Thomas Matsuda

PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE July 20-22, 2007
2751 Louis Road Palo Alto, CA 94303
July 20 Friday 10AM-5PM Exhibit
7-9PM Opening Reception
July 21 Saturday 10AM-5PM Exhibit
11AM-12Noon Slide presentation of contemporary work
1-4:30PM 'Creating Jizos in Clay' workshop in self- hardening clay
July 22 Sunday 10AM Service followed by a Buddhist sculpture carving demonstration

DENTOH GALLERY July 24-31, 2007
1737 Post St. #365 San Francisco 94115
Hours: SUN-TH 10AM- 6PM, F,S 10AM- 7PM
TBA: 'Creating Jizos in Clay' workshop in self-hardening clay:
TBA: Demonstration of carving Buddhist sculpture:

SAN FRANCISCO ZEN CENTER August 2-5, 2007
300 Page St. San Francisco, CA 94102
August 2 Thursday Hours: 9:30AM-12:30PM, 1:30PM-4PM, Check in at the office
5:30-8PM Reception and Buddhist carving demonstration.
August 3 Friday Hours: 9:30AM-12:30PM, 1:30PM-4PM,Check in at the office
7:45PM-9PM Slide presentation of contemporary work in the dining
room. Open to the public
August 4 Saturday Hours:9AM-12PM, then by appointment
1-5pm 'Creating Jizos in Clay' sculpture workshop in self-hardening clay
August 5 Sunday by appointment

Participating temples and galleries are pleased to announce "I Bow to You", 2007 Traveling Exhibition of Buddhist Sculptures by Thomas Matsuda. The exhibit will feature the recent Buddhist sculptures of Thomas Matsuda. Receiving his basic training in the arts at Pratt Institute, where he now teaches, his aesthetic sensitivity has been shaped by American artistic beliefs and attitudes. But he has lived in Japan for twelve years as an adult, first studying under the renowned sculptor, Koukei Eri of Kyoto, who specializes in Buddha images, later spending most of his time in remote mountain villages in the tradition of Enku and Mokujiki, both well known sculptors who carved Buddha figures for the populace. Also, having worked closely with Native American spirituality, he identifies with their respect for mother earth and all living beings equally.  

While this rich background comes together in various, positive ways, Matsuda is also his own person and brings his own vision to his works. His Buddhas and bodhisattvas are neither Japanese nor American; rather, they are creations of an artist who brings something new and universal to our fragmented world. They reflect what his teacher Eri said of old sculptures that contain “a mysterious strength that has the power to penetrate our spirits.” Among people who saw his works displayed at the Hillyer Gallery at Smith College in October 1998, one praised his sculptures, saying that “There is stillness and transcendence conveyed through these forms. They draw me into the flow of shapes, form and meaning.” Tom Matsuda is quickly becoming one of the foremost Buddhist sculptors in North America.
Full Schedule: July 7th - August 12, 2007
July 6-11 Los Angeles Zen Center
July 13-17 West LA Buddhist Temple
July 20-22 Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
July 24-31 Dentoh Gallery
August 2-5 San Francisco Zen Center
August 8-9 Dharma Rain, Portland, OR
August 10-12 Great Vow Monastery, Clatskanie, OR

For more information contact:
Palo Alto Buddhist Temple: (650) 856-0123
Dentoh Gallery: (415) 359-9570
San Francisco Zen Center: (415) 863-3136