Reading Environment & BOOKSHELVES Program | Kiyomi Fukui, “Tea at 3307”

As one may sing for their supper, come talk for your tea.

For the weekend of October 29th and 30th 2016 artist Kiyomi Fukui operated a non-monetary tea shop out of the 3307 W Washington Blvd storefront. Customers were able to purchase a cup by participating in a dialogic tea ceremony with Fukui and up to two other guests. Sign-ups for the tea ceremonies were scheduled in advance, while the 3307 reading room was open all day for browsing and relaxing.

Upon arriving at 3307, guests were invited to engage Fukui’s selection of titles on-loan to the 3307 book collection and then make their own tea ball from a display of dried herbs. A laminated infographic, titled “Figure I: A Diagram of Taste,” explained how the different flavors may be combined. An accompanying booklet provided in-depth descriptions of the ecological characteristics and health benefits of the three base ingredients (Hibiscus, Turmeric, and Butterfly Pea Flower) along with Fukui’s distinct relationship to each.

Guests then entered a lush seating area where Fukui facilitated group discussions inspired by her deeply personal selection of texts, revealing her own vulnerabilities to welcome spontaneous intimate exchange amongst participants. The table contained traditional tea tools but no saucers, requiring that the tea balls be left to stain the rice paper table mat at the visual discretion of each guest. What resulted is a set of multicolor prints that document the daily social activity of the program, providing an illustrative trace of these intimate gatherings.