Asian Arts Workshops
                           *
       1) HAIKU: Being in the Moment,

           Flowing with the Seasons

     all the sunflowers
     bowing to the earth
     autumn rain

                         - Mankh

Though its roots go back at least 2600 years, haiku began to flourish in 17th century Japan. Akin to Zen Buddhist and Taoist philosophy (and other Asian arts), haiku poetry encourages attention to the present moment as well as keeping connected with the pathway of seasons. A wonderful way to align with nature, enhance one's mindfulness (as well as Zen mindlessness), and hone your verbal skills (being so short, haiku require great precision!).

must be good friends,
three sparrows gathering
On a lilac branch

Learn about haiku as a way of life, literary genre and creative hobby.
Workshop topics include: a brief history of the shortest poetic form;
traditional guidelines and modern adaptations; the Asian culture,
philosophy, and meditative-ness behind the poem; how to write haiku
AND apply the haiku-essence to longer poems. For beginner to advanced.

             2) BRUSHSTROKE CALLIGRAPHY
The ancient technique of East Asian brush calligraphy has been considered
part art form and part meditation. In this basic presentation you will learn how to grind ink, hold a brush, and apply basic brushstrokes, as well as how to respect the "four treasures" - brush, ink stick, ink stone, and paper. Plus, get a glimpse of ancient Chinese picture-writing and modern variants. If you would like a more in-depth experience you are welcome to bring your own brush calligraphy kit. 

Mankh (Walter E. Harris III) is a self-taught calligrapher. He has led workshops at North Shore Library, Deer Park Library, Bellport Library, Smithtown Library, Middle Country Public Library, Sachem Library, Emma Clark Library, Mattituck-Laurel Library, East End Arts Council, Mills Pond House, and other venues. He authored/edited Haiku One Breaths, a how-to write haiku, plus anthology, & edits and does calligraphy for the Haiku Calendar. Mankh’s haiku and essays have also been published in Frogpond and at simplyhaiku.com   

e-mail: mankh (a) allbook-books.com
ph# (631) 716-1385 -- 10a.m. - 8p.m. Eastern Time

3) Finding Balance: Eastern Serenity Meets Western Activity

A Cultural, Philosophical and Artistic presentation about what happens when East and West meet.

From the East, The Way of Tao advises "going and pausing" on one's life-path. In the West, however, we are often told to "keep going and going and..."

Through Zen stories, music, poetry, current events, discussion, and more, this presentation will share ways to help learn about and balance East and West within.

To read Mankh’s  essay on the topic:“East and West, More or Less”
http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_61947.shtml

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