Four Seasons Exhibition
This Exhibition made possible
by a gift from
Mr. and Mrs. M. Burnham
The arrival of each new season is acknowledged and celebrated in the Japanese culture. This
sensitivity to seasonal change is an important part of Shinto, Japan’s native belief system, which
has focused on the cycles of the earth. Similarly, seasonal references are found everywhere in
the Japanese literary and visual arts. A distinctive Japanese artistic convention is to depict a
Bamboo in Four Seasons
A distinctive Japanese artistic convention is to depict a single environment transitioning from spring to summer to autumn to winter in one work. In this way, Japanese painters and poets expressed not only their fondness for this natural cycle but
also captured an awareness of the inevitability of change, a fundamental Buddhist concept. This tradition expresses the confluence of Shinto and Buddhism in the use of seasonal references. Shiro Nakagawa was acknowledging this tradition when he suggested the four seasons concept to Paul Saito, Shinzen’s original landscape architect. He was inspired by the 15th century Japanese artist, Sesshū Tōyō, famous for his 50 foot long hand scroll taking the viewer on a journey through the four seasons.
Our Four Seasons exhibition opening November 1 featuring deciduous bonsai will display trees with the last of their green foliage. As the weather cools and the days shorten, we can enjoy the gorgeous color display of the deciduous tree species. Some of these trees are selected for bonsai simply because of their spectacular fall colors. The gingko, for example, will show us intense yellow-gold autumn foliage. The fall color of the bald cypress is typically a lovely rust, we can see anything from yellow-orange to bronze hornbeams or the vibrant red of the
Japanese maples.
Irene Tamura’s Japanese Maple forest through four seasons.
Past Exhibit
Wild Thing
Missed the "Wild Thing Exhibit" but would like to Read More.
Ranked one of the best public bonsai collections!
John Naka Memorial Bonsai Exhibition August 2026 – Japanese Cultural Center George J. Doizak Gallery, Downtown Los Angeles
A tribute to the master who shaped bonsai in the West, this exhibition highlights John Naka’s life, vision, and timeless contributions to the art form.
Details on this special memorial exhibit coming soon.
TOURING EXHIBIT
More Learning
Future Exhibits in The Clark Bonsai Museum
Four Seasons: A Showcase of Deciduous
June of 2026 to Oct. 2026
As living artifacts, bonsai occupy a three-dimensional space, height, width, and depth, but the art of Bonsai also involves the dimension of time. In bonsai, the concept of time has three expressions: the tree’s true age according to when it sprouted. How long has it been a bonsai, that is, the time elapsed since its creation, the age the tree aesthetically represents, and finally, the generational aspect of an entity that exceeds a lifespan longer than our own.
March of 2026 to June of 2026
Explore the style of yose-ue and other multiple-trunk techniques, where trees are planted together to represent landscapes in miniature form. These works offer a glimpse into the lilliputian world, of peaceful maple and elm groves to towering conifers and striking mountain views.
Journey to the Fourth Dimension: The Element of Time
June of 2026 to Oct. 2026
As living artifacts, bonsai occupy a three-dimensional space, height, width, and depth, but the art of Bonsai also involves the dimension of time. In bonsai, the concept of time has three expressions: the tree’s true age according to when it sprouted. How long has it been a bonsai, that is, the time elapsed since its creation, the age the tree aesthetically represents, and finally, the generational aspect of an entity that exceeds a lifespan longer than our own.
Museum location
Clark Bonsai Museum
114 W Audubon Dr
Fresno, CA 93720
We would love to hear from you.
Hands On Learning
Hands-On Bonsai Classes: Interactive Learning (First Saturday Each Month, reservations recommended, fee involved)
Bonsai Team Building Workshops (reservations required, fee involved)
Seasonal Festivals and Special Events
- Jan – Shogatsu, New Year’s Decorations, Games, Activities (Dec. 31- Jan. 4)
- 19 - Day of Remembrance of Japanese Internment
- May – World Bonsai Day*
- 6, 9 – Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration
- – Annual Anniversary Celebration*
- – Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange*
*dates to be announced
The Clark Bonsai Museum’s exhibitions weave together art, science, history, and the restorative touch of nature. Visitors are invited to wander its pathways throughout the year, discovering new perspectives with each return. Whether you seek the serenity of ancient trees, the thrill of contemporary creativity, or the joy of hands-on engagement, the museum’s ever-changing schedule of Programs ensures there’s always something extraordinary to see and experience.