Studio Japan — Attraction in Franklin Township

I first visited the Heineken’s Museum three years ago, when I heard about it from a good friend who went there every year in early October. I had no special interest in Japanese art more than any other kind of art, but I valued my own opinion about what would please my eyes and my feelings. Their unpretentious, Japanese studio was a revelation, so close to home, but so authentic than it felt a little like a dream place. The simple Japanese garden that led my approach was calming. I looked through the first floor, which held antiques from the early twentieth and the nineteenth century, wooden chests that surprised me with their simplicity, and cartoon art imagery with symbols that begged interpretation. I saw pictures, different from what I was used to, and collections of small artifacts each one interesting. There were bowls with unusual glazes that invited scrutiny. Each piece had a brief description of its source. There were so many objects displayed so tastefully, that I found myself with many questions—and that was before I went upstairs. As curator, Mr. Heineken made no attempt to engage me, but he looked friendly. I approached him with simple questions about the origin of some pieces. He was not put off by my naiveté: he treated my questions as authentic aesthetic observations. I found myself learning, and I actually felt proud of my capacity to make associations about my last visit to the oriental wing of the Metropolitan Museum and my trip to Korea. Many pieces were from other East Asian countries. I wondered how he acquired them. He had a story to tell in response to each question. Then, I explored upstairs. More imposing objects were there, real treasures that were centuries old. Many had a humorous side; objects that I wished could dress up my house. The tea room in the back conveyed a sense of decorum in space; on that occasion there was a special exhibition of kimonos. Mr. Heineken told me that his Japanese wife, Kiyoko, presided over tea ceremony instruction. On my next yearly visit, I felt like I was communing with a friend who was freely sharing his knowledge and pleasure about Asian art and history. He had taken other objects out of storage and the new display was intriguing. He was so devoted to the works that I, as a psychoanalyst, could see that he took them as the fabric of his life, while treating each one as having its own life.

Jay Evans...

This is a wonderful little private museum of Mr. Ty Heineken, dedicated to the culture and life of Japan. A real Japanese house, which was bought in Japan, dismantled, transported and reassembled in Kingston. The house is full of antique Japanese furniture, various utensils. Ty can tell you amazing stories about all the things that are carefully stored there. On the second floor of the house there are two rooms for the tea ceremony. One for public display, the other according to all the canons of Japanese tea houses. The owner of these treasures is a professor of anthropology, writer and poet, he arranged the museum for educational purposes. We spent an unforgettable time in...

Ty was such a pleasure; he was a wealth of knowledge and so kind. What a wonderful experience. We learned so much about Japanese day-to-day culture and traditions. So glad we went. We brought an 8 and 10 year old and he was able to keep their attention, which was amazing! Would highly recommend. I’m looking forward to going...