Autumn E-tegami Workshop: Spooky Gourds

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

E-tegami means picture letter (e=picture, tegami= letter) and is a kind of Japanese mail art. At its simplest, you will make an ink drawing of a seasonal object onto a watercolor postcard. At its most complex, this activity allows us to slow down and mindfully contemplate our relationships to the people and plants in the world with us.

The theme for our fall workshop is spooky gourds, and we will be drawing the bumpy and textured vegetables that define the spooky season! Gourds will be provided to draw, however the subjects of these postcards take inspiration from the natural world around us—so if there is a local and seasonal plant/flower/vegetable/fruit that you are eager to draw, you are welcome to bring it in to study.

You will learn how to work with sumi ink and a calligraphy brush, so make sure to come in clothes you are comfortable with possibly getting dirty. In e-tegami, the process is more important than the product—it is not important that it “looks correct” but rather that you are drawing from your heart.

Give yourself time to contemplate and make art — sign up to learn e-tegami today! Can’t make it?—look out for our next workshop soon!

This class is aimed for adults, please contact our office if you would like to register your child for the workshop.

BIO:

Danielle Stolz (she/her) is currently a welder with previous experience in arts education. She learned the practice of e-tegami while living in Tokushima, Japan. For her, this process of 1. slowing down 2. observing 3. reflecting, is a way to connect to the land, its cycles (time), and ultimately her place within it (community). She is still penpals with her e-tegami teacher and classmates back in Japan. She looks forward to sharing this magical practice and creating an e-tegami community within Chicago. (instagram: @etegamichicago)

Host or Publisher Japanese Culture Center