New South Wales, Australia
Photos by Mei Ching Chua and Alex Amies 2013
Buddha’s Birthday 2013 to be a unique celebration in Australia Art exhibition travels from US to connect past and present, and East and West; and reach out to the Australian community
Australia will be the second country in the world to host the Buddha’s Birthday Education Project – a multimedia art exhibition and range of educational activities celebrating the birth of the Buddha that will run from 29 March to 5 May 2013.
The exhibition – entitled ‘Through These Doors: Connecting Past and Present, East and West’ – makes its way to Australia after the successful celebrations in Southern California – hosted by the University of the West and Hsi Lai Temple during Buddha’s Birthday last year.
The original US exhibition has been evolved for Australian audiences with the inclusion of inspiring and thought-provoking artworks created by local Australian artists working in diverse areas throughout the Illawarra region and stretching to the Hawkesbury’s Dangar Island.
The exhibition will be held at NTI’s Temple Campus – the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere, and award winning NSW South Coast tourist attraction. It will open on 29 March, and be open to the public until 5 May, in Hui Hai Hall, NTI’s Temple Campus Art Gallery.
The exhibition and supporting events celebrating Buddha’s Birthday in 2013 around the Illawarra and Sydney areas will be a creative collaboration of many volunteers including artists, musicians, curators, and docents (tour guides).
Entry is free and based on the success of last year’s attendances at the exhibition in the US, and previous years’ attendances at Buddha’s Birthday celebrations at Nan Tien Temple and Darling Harbour of over 25,000 visitors, is expected to be well-attended.
The will also be art and crafts Birthday party activities for children aged 5 to 10 on certain days:
29 March 12:30 – 1:30pm
30 March 12:30 – 1:30pm
31 March 12 – 1:00pm
1 April 12:30 – 1:30pm
Location: Nan Tien Temple, 180 Berkeley Rd. Berkeley (Wollongong area)
Directions: Directions: NSW Transport Info Trip Planner.
See photos of the Nan Tien Exhibition setup and video.
Past Events
Australia
Presentation at Wollongong City Art Gallery on 13 March
See post of photos.
29 March – 5 May 2013, Nan Tien Temple, 12:00 am – 4:00 pm (closed Mondays)
Hai Hui Hall, Nan Tien Temple, 180 Berkeley Rd. Berkeley (Wollongong area)
See the Virtual Tour, exhibition catalogue, and meet the artists at BBEP Art Workshops, April 2013. For more info: Poster Australia 2013, email: info@nantien.edu.au, tel: 02 4272 0618.
11 May – 12 May 2013 Darling Harbour, Sydney
For more info: Poster Australia 2013, Events page, email: info@nantien.edu.au, tel: 02 4272 0618
Wednesday 17 April 2013, 6:00 – 8:30 pm Protection of Mes Aynak, Wollongong City Gallery
For more details see the page NTI Seminars at Wollongong City Gallery in 2013.
Friday 26 April 2013, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Seminar by Professor Lewis Lancaster
Is Buddhism a religion, a philosophy, or a cognitive science
Venue: Conference Room (next to Main Shrine)
For more details see Seminars in April 2013 by Professor Lewis Lancaster
Saturday 27 April 2013, 10:00 am – 11:00 am Seminar by Professor Lewis Lancaster
International Maritime Trade and Religious Expansion
Venue: Conference Room (next to Main Shrine)
For more details see Seminars in April 2013 by Professor Lewis Lancaster
Radio Program 5 May
Australian Broadcasting Commission Radio “The Spirit of Things” with Dr. Rachael Kohn on 5 May 2013 at 6pm.
Interview with Professor Lewis Lancaster and Venerable Juewei on Buddha’s Birthday. Audio download.
Los Angeles Area
The Buddha’s Birthday Celebration and Exhibition was held at Hsi Lai Temple, Hacienda Heights in the Los Angeles Area, California on May 4-5 and May 11-12 in Harmony Hall.
Last edited on May 14, 2013