golfkat Travel Blog

Hanford was famous in the Sixties for being the home of the famous, five star, Imperial Dynasty restaurant.  It was known for their food, which drew the rich and famous from Hollywood, and Wall Street.  It would be rather common to see limos parked outside, party buses containing rich and famous people, or private planes at the Visalia airport. Sadly, the restaurant has been gone for some time now.  The restaurant was founded back in 1883 by Richard Wing and family.  It closed in 2006, with Mr. Wing passing on in 2010 at the age of 89.

But perhaps even better, the Clark Center has become equally or perhaps more famous. Founded in 1995, the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture, their goal is to collect, conserve, study, and exhibit the art of Japan.  It is comprised of many famous works from the 10th to the 21st century in Japan.

From their website:  Through a significant gift of Japanese paintings from the Clarks, the Clark Center’s collection was established in October of 1995. Today, around 1,400 works of art like hanging scrolls, screens, ceramics, kimono, sculptures mainly from the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and decorative art primarily from the Meiji period (1868-1912) are housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Among the highlights of the collection are exquisite Buddhist sculpture and painting from the Kamakura period, a wide range of paintings from the Edo period (1615-1868), and a selection of folding screens of the finest quality. Exhibitions from the collection in Minneapolis, Minnesota are hosted in Hanford twice a year.

And sadly:  “The transfer of the Clark Center’s Japanese art collection to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) last year and the arrangement with GSBF and Shinzen, are two major steps to preserve the Clark Center’s legacy. The Clark Center’s Board of Directors has decided to host two final exhibitions of Japanese art in Hanford starting with 33 Dances: Japanese Calligraphy from the 16th to the 19th Century on September 2nd. From February through June 2015 we will host a last, exciting farewell exhibition of masterpieces from the Clark collections, curated by the MIA, after which the Clark Center will close its doors.”

Personally, I do not see the logic of placing Japanese art in a place like Minneapolis.  Of course, I wonder why it was placed in Hanford for that matter.  But it seems California would be the logical place, since many Japanese Americans live here, and the state is often visited by tourists from Japan and Hawaii.

 The Bonsai garden on the grounds of the Clark Center

The collection is nonetheless, quite impressive, with over 1400 works of art.  The final exhibition at Clark Center is called Elegant Pastimes: Masterpieces of Japanese Art from the Clark Collections at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The exhibition will cover a period of 1200 years, from the 8th century to 2013.  Though I know little about Japanese art, the collection is one of the best collections in private hands.

The Clark Center is located in Hanford at 15770 Tenth Avenue.  I suggest you visit before the collection leaves next month. While you are in Hanford, I suggest you visit the famous Superior Dairy (325 N. Douty) for their fabulous ice cream.  We have fond memories of stopping at Superior for ice cream cones after a dinner at The Pagoda or the Imperial Dynasty in Hanford.  I heard a rumor that Starbucks has purchased Superior.  Is that true, Alice?

 Is this Superior or ??

PS:  It turns out the Minneapolis Institute of Art was the only museum that did not ask for a large endowment to go along with this magnificent collection.  All the west coast museums wanted $$$.  Shame on them!!!!