The Bhutanese Buddhist works that will be in The Honolulu Academy of Arts’ “The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan,” opening Feb. 26, arrived on Friday. Three Bhutanese monks—Norbu Tshering, Sonam Tshering and Sonam Tshering (yes, they have the same name)—also arrived in their gorgeous silk robes. They did a puja, or chant, on Friday in the Claire Booth Luce Gallery, something they will do twice a day as they help prepare the exhibition. The administrative offices are above the gallery and the incense wafts up and wraps us in its sweet scent. We are immersed in Bhutan.

Before the sacred shipment arrived, director Stephen Little, Asian art curator Shawn Eichman, Asian art conservator Eddie Jose and other key Academy staff and board members, traveled to Bhutan for the blessing ceremony of the artwork. They were there for Thanksgiving (photo by Shuzo Uemoto) feasting on a fried turkey, mashed potatoes, rice, salad and some cranberry sauce brought from Hawai‘i for the occasion.

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Honolulu Academy of Arts Director of Communications Lesa Griffith gives the inside scoop on what’s happening at the museum every week.

—LesaG, 12/17/07