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Shibuie: When Beauty Happens Accidentally: Seeing with deep-seeing eyes - Sumie and Raku: Japanese brush painting and pottery
Teacher: Louis van Loon and Ingrid Adams and Georgina CalderCost: 4 days accommodation + R350 surchargeDates:
Shibuie is the ancient Japanese concept of Accidental Beauty in which the artist is just one ingredient in a number of dynamic interacting natural processes, the outcome of which is delightfully unpredictable, but strangely beautiful - not ego-driven or deliberate. Louis will teach the classical Japanese brush painting techniques (Sumie) as these are applied to traditional subjects, such as landscape, bamboo and flower studies, while Ingrid will introduce contemporary subjects. We will use the genuine, traditional materials: solid pine-soot ink, a hollowed-out slate to liquefy it, a deer-hair bamboo-stemmed brush and absorbent mulberry paper. Tools will be provided, but sets can be purchased (R850) from the BRC. Each retreatant will receive a bisque-fired tea bowl to sumie-decorate and glaze. Georgina will then fire up the kiln after which we will watch the magic as the pots emerge from their ordeal of having been subjected to 1000ºC heat, smothered in sawdust and immersed in cold water. The pots will emerge triumphantly from the scorching heat and will be used in a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony on the final evening.View teacher detailsLouis van Loon lectured in Buddhist philosophy at the Universities of Cape Town and Durban-Westville for 22 years. He established the Buddhist Retreat Centre in 1980 and, along with his wife, Chrisi, directs its affairs. Both were involved in the compilation of the BRC’s popular recipe books Quiet Food, The Cake The Buddha Ate and Plentiful: The Big Book Of Buddha Food. His interest lies in the psychology of meditation and in the relationship between art, science, religion and philosophy. He is an architect and consulting civil and structural engineer and teaches Sumie, Japanese brush painting, and sketching.Ingrid Adams qualified as a fashion designer, an art teacher and completed a B.A. Fine Arts with Unisa. She travelled extensively whilst running a successful business in fashion and home textiles. Viewing Sumie and ink painting in China, Japan and Korea, she embarked on a Sumie course with Louis and was instantly smitten. Retiring from business, Ingrid completed a B.A. Fine Arts Honours, and recently a Masters, with UKZN Pietermaritzburg. Both the research and practical were focused on Sumie. She currently paints and teaches Sumie part-time.
Georgina Calder has a Masters degree in fine art from the University of KwaZulu Natal and specialized in ceramics, glass and display/exhibition setup. She is currently Head of Design at Pinetown Boys' High School. She loves sharing the magic of ceramic alchemy and helping people to grow in their artistic endeavours. She practises yoga and loves being in the outdoors with her two dogs and two cats.
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Christmas At The BRCTeacher: Self RetreatCost: 3 days accommodationDates:
Be here now. How do we do that when life keeps tumbling us along like a sand grain in a river? Take time out at the BRC over Christmas to slow down into the moment. A loosely structured retreat with sitting and walking meditation, qigong, walks and quiet time, you will experience Christmas with a difference - in silence.
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Christmas At The BRCTeacher: Self RetreatCost: 3 days accommodationDates:Be here now. How do we do that when life keeps tumbling us along like a sand grain in a river? Take time out at the BRC over Christmas to slow down into the moment. A loosely structured retreat with sitting and walking meditation, qigong, walks and quiet time, you will experience Christmas with a difference - in silence.
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Christmas At The BRCTeacher: Self RetreatCost: 3 days accommodationDates:Be here now. How do we do that when life keeps tumbling us along like a sand grain in a river? Take time out at the BRC over Christmas to slow down into the moment. A loosely structured retreat with sitting and walking meditation, qigong, walks and quiet time, you will experience Christmas with a difference - in silence.
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Christmas At The BRCTeacher: Self RetreatCost: 3 days accommodationDates:Be here now. How do we do that when life keeps tumbling us along like a sand grain in a river? Take time out at the BRC over Christmas to slow down into the moment. A loosely structured retreat with sitting and walking meditation, qigong, walks and quiet time, you will experience Christmas with a difference - in silence.