Tiny World Tours

05/31/2025

can take you here! One of the world's most exciting art destinations just got better! We've been enjoying Benesse Art Site, or "the art islands" since it first opened, and are SO EXCITED about the newest building, designed by Tadao Ando and featuring special installations and acquisitions by Cai Guo-Qiang 蔡國强, Takashi Murakami 村上隆, Pannaphat Kunlasitphanan - Page and more! Check out this NYT article! Congratulations to all involved!

Benesse Art Site Naoshima, a sprawling art constellation on three islands, adds a 10th museum by the star architect Tadao Ando that caps the cultural quest of Soichiro Fukutake.

04/24/2025

Last night in Tokyo.
Dana and I sat quietly at the counter at Sukiyabashi Jiro in Ginza.
No photos. No distractions. Just the choreography of twenty pieces of sushi, warm green tea, cool water, and scalding oshibori, served with precision by Yoshikazu Ono—Jiro’s son and longtime apprentice, now master in his own right.

Jiro himself—turning 100 this year—was not in attendance.
But the legacy was.

Each piece: immediate, exacting, ephemeral.
Smoked bonito (katsuo). Sea urchin (uni). Baby scallops (kobashira). Sea eel (anago). The warm, slightly loose shari surprised us, binding the flavors rather than dominating them.

Between courses, lacquer plates were wiped clean, gestures subtle but constant. Temperature mattered. Timing mattered. Everything had its place.

We barely spoke.
Except to each other, afterward—about the whispered golf talk, the quiet frustrations shared in Japanese with a neighboring guest, unaware we understood.

It was more than a meal. It was 30 minutes of immersive observation, flavor, and form—a study in attentiveness.

04/19/2025

Each spring, we return to this quiet corner of Kyoto with our Japan Through Artists’ Eyes group. Here we are with Rev. Keido Maeda, abbot of Zuiho-in—a Zen temple founded in 1535 and long connected to the practice of tea and the teachings of Rinzai masters.

Rev. Maeda welcomes our Tiny World guests into a tea ceremony that values attention, stillness, and conversation.

This year’s tour also brought us to Tokyo, to the coastlines of Naoshima, and to the hillside architecture of the Enoura Observatory. Art and landscape, in dialogue.

In the fall, we will travel north to Hokkaido, where autumn foliage will complement contemporary museums, archaeological sites, and the living Ainu culture.

📍We welcome new travelers. Link in bio or DM for details.

09/06/2024

MAINE BASKETS at Portland Museum of Art featured on PBS NewsHour--a wonderful feature on the exhibition and interview with Jeremy Frey...see it in Portland through September 15, or at the The Art Institute of Chicago October 26-February 10, then at Bruce Museum starting June 5, 2025!

The ancient Native tradition of weaving baskets is now grabbing the attention of the contemporary art world. Jeffrey Brown visited one artist who is taking the form in new directions. It's for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

07/26/2024

Ciao, Amici! Help me plan my five days in Roma! I start today with MAXXI, and am seeking input on lesser known art spots, architecture, gardens, neighborhoods and experiences…what great shows are on? What are your favorite places to see local and global art? Flea markets and food markets? Also seeking vintage postcards, fountain pens, and stationary stores… thanks in advance ! Tiny World Tours

06/23/2024

Head north with Tiny World Tours this fall! Join us off-the-beaten-track to explore the cultures of Northern Japan—the ancient Joman civilization, the indigenous Ainu peoples, and lively contemporary art and design destinations...and time in nature immersed in autumn foliage. Take a look at the Joman experiences we’ll enjoy together… and check out the website for more info! https://www.tinyworldtours.com/upcoming/2024/2024-northern-japan-arts-and-culture-tour

06/09/2024

This fall, Tiny World Tours will be exploring Northern Japan, focusing on the unique cultural aspects of this region. We will devote part of the itinerary to a multi-faceted introduction to the indigenous Ainu peoples. Through nature experiences and demonstrations with Ainu guides, a tour of the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park, traditional Ainu cuisine, we'll learn together about this important part of Japanese history. We'll stay at the KAI Poroto hotel, with architecture and interiors inspired by Ainu designs. Let us know what questions you have in the comments below! https://www.tinyworldtours.com/upcoming/2024/2024-northern-japan-arts-and-culture-tour

05/09/2024

Last month I attended EXPO CHICAGO specifically to attend the rich program of dialogues and conversations--So glad that those rich conversations are archived and available for re-play... take a look! I learned a lot from these... Directors Summit programs about Paving Common Ground organized by Jill Snyder; Collector Anita Blanchard; a conversation about the legacy of Scott Burton; photographer ; and Prospect New Orleans curators and Miranda Lash ... as well as the great booths at the fair and wonderful shows at museums including Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, The The Art Institute of Chicago and many galleries there.... a great weekend!

Ashley Duchossois Joyce (Collector), Dr. David Walega (Collector), Deb Kerr (President & CEO, Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art), Rudy Aronoff (Vice President Chicago Office, Heritage Auctions). Moderated by Annalise Flynn (Independent Curator). Introduced by Juan Alonso (Chief Banki...

04/14/2024

Having a fantastic visit to Chicago during EXPO CHICAGO--especially the Directors Summit dialogues, artist and collector discussions, and an inspiring keynote presentation about the Obama Presidential Library South Side and its museum. The fair has many wonderful booths, and then so many great museums! Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago Chicago Cultural Center The Arts Club of Chicago Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, and more! Here are a few snapshots!

04/13/2024

04/05/2024

On April 8, 2024, a lively group of art and nature enthusiasts will gather at the edge of the Texas Hill Country for a rare convergence of the sun and the moon with contemporary art, modern architecture, nature walks, science talks, music and dancing, and tasty local cuisine. Tiny World Tours is curating a day-long, multi-disciplinary celebration of the total solar eclipse at The Plant at Kyle utilizing the dramatic spaces within around the innovative, iconic 1989 building designed by acclaimed San Antonio-based architects Lake|Flato, as well the varied areas of the grounds.

03/07/2024

One month until the Path of Totality passes through The Plant at Kyle, and Tiny World Tours is planning a Total Solar Eclipse Celebration at The Plant at Kyle--Art, Nature and Cosmic Convergence... Part of the excitement will be the unveiling of a new Kcymaerxthaere monument designed to amplify and celebrate this eclipse. Join us for a day-long multi-disciplinary event just outside Austin featuring art, science, performances, dancing and delicious local food. Book now-tickets still available at tinyworldtours.com/upcoming See you there!