APA’s 2007 Annual Convention attendees had private access to the Asian Art Museum, as part of a special reception planned by APA President Sharon Stephens Brehm, PhD, and co-sponsored by the Asian American Psychological Association.

“The museum’s collection is extraordinary in its range and quality, and the foyer was the perfect place for the reception,” said Brehm. “This setting helped emphasize the international focus of my presidential programming.”

The two-hour event featured a performance by the Murasaki Ensemble, a jazz group that incorporates Asian and Latin themes and instruments in its music.

During the reception, the 1,200 attendees perused the galleries alone or as part of a docent-led tour.

The museum—with more than 17,000 pieces—is one of the largest collections of Asian art in the world, representing countries as diverse as India, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. Guests also explored an exhibition of anime and comic artist Tezuka Osamu’s manga, or Japanese comic books.

—L. Meyers