Lost Oath

Austin garden hosts premiere of lost film in mini Japanese festival

The Oath of the Sword will be shown at Zilker Botanical Garden with live music, snacks, and more.

Film still from The Oath of the Sword, courtesy of Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF)

A cinematic time capsule awaits at Zilker Botanical Garden. On September 5 it will host the Southern U.S. Premiere of The Oath of the Sword, a silent film masterpiece from 1914 that offers a rare glimpse into the dawn of Asian American filmmaking.

Put on in collaboration with the Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF), this showing offers more than just a movie screening; it's a cultural immersion event and a celebration of rediscovered history. Local Japanese American composer James Tabata and his ensemble Maru Haru will provide a live, original score, breathing new life and emotion into the century-old film.

There will also be a performance by the Austin Japanese Minyo Dance group, showcasing the traditional art of fisherman folk dance, plus snacks and drinks for sale from Asahi Imports, an exclusively Japanese food market in Austin.

Made by the Los Angeles-based Japanese American Film Company — one of several independent studios founded by Japanese immigrants in the pre-Hollywood era — The Oath of the Sword embarked on an incredible journey to reach this moment. Once thought lost to time, the film was rediscovered in 2016 and restored, allowing modern audiences to experience a piece of cinematic history.

Before arriving in Austin, it visited the screens of Harvard University, the Smithsonian, and even enjoyed a premiere at The Academy Museum in Los Angeles. Now, Austinites have the exclusive opportunity to witness this cinematic treasure firsthand.

The film tells a poignant tale of ambition, love, and tragedy. We meet Masao, a young man driven to pursue his dreams of education at UC Berkeley, leaving behind his beloved Hisa in Japan. As he flourishes in America, becoming a star athlete and scholar, Hisa faces her own trials, caring for her ailing father in their homeland.

For those seeking an even more immersive experience, VIP ticket holders can enjoy exclusive guided tours of the serene Zilker Botanical Garden's Japanese Garden, led by expert Evan Taniguchi. The film will be shown in the Mabel Davis Rose Garden.

This collaborative effort between the Austin Asian American Film Festival and the Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy promises an unforgettable experience for film buffs, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a night of cultural enrichment.

The Oath of the Sword will be shown on September 5 at Zilker Botanical Garden. General admission and VIP tickets are available at zilkergarden.org

New

Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

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