'Shodo' Japanese Calligraphy: Meditations on Love

Join us for a hands-on workshop in ‘Shodo’, the art of Japanese calligraphy. Guided by Aoi Yamaguchi, we will practice this traditional craft as a meditative process － finding balance in the mind and body, in celebration of love and friendship.

In this workshop, we will learn and practice basic Japanese calligraphy skills. Aoi will begin with a brief overview of the history, an introduction to tools and supplies, and a model of the proper posture and manners associated with the craft. She will then guide us through the fundamental calligraphy writing techniques, focusing on the Regular Script (Kaisho) on a selected Japanese kanji character in the theme of “Love”. As we contemplate the meaning of this Kanji character, we will practice and make our own calligraphy artwork on hanshi paper. You will be invited to take your own finished artwork home － a perfect Valentine for yourself or a loved one.

This workshop is designed for adult beginners. No prior experience or knowledge of Japanese is necessary.