Welcome to the tenth instalment of Culture Box!

Delivery 1

Martin is a visual artist who specialises in botanical and zoological painting. To find out more about him click here.

Acer palmatum by Martin Jordan

Oil on Canvas

A print of this painting with its corresponding activities is included in this month’s physical box.

The Acer palmatum tree (commonly known as the Japanese Maple) is a magnificently decorative tree. It’s not very big, up to about eight metres (twenty-five feet) tall. You can judge the size by the person standing beneath the tree.

Join Laurelle from Arts Nursery as she introduces six of her favourite Japanese Maples including Sangu Kaku, Osakazuki, Shaina, Shishigashira, Red Dragon and Full Moon maple.

• Are you superstitious?

• Do you believe in good luck? 

• What can bring good luck?

• What do you think are the secrets to having a long and happy life?

Red Crowned Crane Birdsong Video

We have chosen the Red-Crowned Crane this month because of its particular importance in Japanese culture. 

This bird is one of the largest in the world, standing up to 1.6 meters, or just over 5 feet tall, with a wingspan of up to 2 meters, or 6 ½ feet. They can live for up to 70 years, and they mate for life. For these reasons, in Japan the crane is seen as a symbol of love, long life, and good luck. It is also seen as a symbol of peace and harmony, and is a popular subject for origami, the art of creating sculptures by folding paper.

Japanese Sound Garden by mynoise.net

In this recording, you can hear many of the elements of a traditional Japanese garden:

• The breeze in the bamboo

• Running water, in the form of a waterfall and a small stream

• A windchime

• A traditional deer-scarer (the hollow knocking wooden sound)

• The sounds of different birds

On the website, you can make certain sounds louder or quieter by adjusting the sliders.

Japanese gardens are designed to give a sense of calm and peacefulness. 

Maybe you could listen to this as you do the Acer tree activities?

Martin is a visual artist who specialises in botanical and zoological painting. To find out more about him click here.

Acer palmatum by Martin Jordan

Colouring-in activity

A print of this painting with its corresponding activities is included in this month’s physical box.

Box of Smiles by Ronald Amanze

Black History Tube Map by TFL & The Black Cultural Archives

The Black history Tube map celebrates the rich and varied contribution Black people have made to London and the UK from Pre Tudor times to the present day.

The Metropolitan line – Physicians Princess Ademola

Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola was a Nigerian princess and nurse. She trained as a nurse in London in the 1930s living in Africa Hostel in Camden Town – an important social and political scene for West Africans in Britain. Her nursing career spanned 30 years, including through World War II. She was the subject of a film, Nurse Ademola, made by the Colonial Film Unity. The film was screened across West Africa and said to have inspired many African viewers for the imperial war effort.