A Brush with Words Haiga – Ekphrasis Art Practice Workshop
Schedule
Fri, 09 Jan, 2026 at 11:00 pm to Sat, 10 Jan, 2026 at 05:00 am
UTC+13:00Location
Opawa Zendo, 4 Kennedy Place, Hillsborough, Christchurch | Christchurch, CA
with Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei
Saturday, January 10, 2025
9am–3pm
Opawa Zendo, 4 Kennedy Place, Hillsborough, Christchurch
In this workshop, we enter the still point where brush, breath, and word meet in quiet dialogue. Through haiga — the union of haiku and painting, and ekphrasis — writing inspired by images, we explore how creativity naturally arises from presence itself. Here, brush, breath, and word become a single path of practice: meeting the world freshly, moment by moment. Everyone has the experience necessary (No prior Zen or art experience is required — everyone is welcome).
Workshop programme:
Please arrive a few minutes before 9am.
Newcomers will be offered Zen meditation instruction in the first part of the day.
The morning includes time for refreshments.
Teacher:
Hojin Sensei is the Abbot of the Zen Center of New York City, and an authorised teacher in the Mountains and Rivers Order. She began residential Zen training at Zen Mountain Monastery (ZMM) in 1990, and served as training co-ordinator at ZMM for more than two decades.
Cost:
$100 **Registration is required. Please register here: https://www.zen.org.nz/zen-workshop-jan-261239.html
Subsidies:
We wish to make this workshop accessible. If you are unable to meet the listed workshop cost, please indicate this in the registration form.
Hojin Sensei will also be presenting an evening talk on January 9th in Christchurch, and leading a week-long meditation retreat in Canterbury.
Location:
The Opawa Zendo, 4 Kennedy Place, Hillsborough, Christchurch
Where is it happening?
Opawa Zendo, 4 Kennedy Place, Hillsborough, Christchurch, New ZealandEvent Location & Nearby Stays:


















