The Carnegie Arts Center will be holding a preview night party for the Japanese ceramic arts exhibit coming to town in September.

Curated by Christine Knoke from the Mingei International Museum and organized for tour by International Arts & Artists, the "Nature, Tradition, and Innovation: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics from the Gordon Brodfuehrer Collection" will be on view at the Carnegie from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31.

A preview party will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 14, and will include a sampling of Japanese food and beverages, viewing the new exhibition, and performances by students in the Ballico Taiko Club and the Bando Junjiro Dance School of Stockton. A raffle of Japanese-themed gift baskets (bonsai, samurai movies, sushi, tea and sake) will raise funds for the Carnegie’s ongoing educational programs and activities for youth, families, and the community at large.

The exhibition features 55 ceramic pieces from 43 Japanese artists. The collection has works that are closely associated with Japan’s historical pottery centers and reinterpret traditional methods in a modern context. The spiritual link between art and nature is highlighted by pairing some of the ceramics with exquisite digital images of Japan’s unique landscape by photographer Taijiro Ito.

In coordination with the exhibit, the Carnegie Arts Center is hosting a juried art show in the Lobby Gallery of works inspired by Asian arts. "Pacific Currents" is an all media exhibition that explores the ways contemporary artists have been inspired or influenced by the arts of Asia.

The Carnegie is currently seeking submissions for the art show. Artists from throughout northern and central California are invited to submit work in any medium that is influenced or inspired by experiences with Asian art or culture. There is a total of $950 in prizes available. Jurors for the exhibition are Carnegie Director Lisa McDermott and Rob Stevenson, Modesto Junior College Professor of Art/Art History/Humanities. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 17. Visit http://www.carnegieartsturlock.org/call-for-entries for rules and more information on submissions.

Tickets for the preview night are $35 for Carnegie members and $45 for non-members and are available at https://japanpreview.eventbrite.com or at the Carnegie office.