AU museum marks cherry blossom centennial with art

WASHINGTON (AP) — The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center in Washington is opening two new exhibits marking the 100th anniversary of Japan's gift of cherry trees to the United States.

This week, the museum opened a new exhibit featuring 70 pieces of 19th century Japanese woodblock prints borrowed from the Japan Ukiyoe Museum's Sakai Collection. The exhibit, "Floating World," focuses on the cherry blossom theme and the early period of U.S. and Japanese cultural exchange.

The American University museum also is opening "Thousand Regards" to feature Japanese-American artist Tomokazu Matsuyama's blend of Eastern and Western styles in painting and sculpture. Curators say his work is influenced by both the austerity of post-war art and the extravagance of popular culture.