Member Program - Lecture by Hong Zhang

General sentiment after listening to Hong’s delightful and insightful lecture: “I wish I were going to the workshop!”

Hong was able to present the history of Chinese Calligraphy in such an accessible way and in digestible tid-bits. By the end of this delightful and insightful presentation, participants could distinguish several historical Chinese systems of writing. The history, art, communication, and poetry built into the systems and manifested in each of Hong’s own examples was very powerful.

You can view the lecture on our YouTube channel. This video is not listed for public view But members can watch here:

October Member Program

Chinese Calligraphy Workshop

A special thank you to Bob Schmitt for opening up his Laughing Waters Studio to host this 2-day workshop and for sharing his experience of the weekend.

From Bob (Day 2 notes):

Hong has been my primary teacher of Chinese brush painting for now 25 years.

What a difference a day makes.

The group that started yesterday with a broad range of experience and backgrounds was now all on the same page.

Todays group was relaxed and eager to be challenged, which Hong is able to do with precision, grace and encouragement.

This days content was built around using his book on The Thousand Character Poem (Google it). He went deep into the construct of the 5 elements in Chinese culture (wood, fire, soil, metal and water). And the balances they create.

Students then had to use the book (well indexed) to find the 5 characters and practice writing all five.

The studio was thick with adventure of working with a teacher who not only had the cultural knowledge but the skill to teach it to such a diverse group. The room was alive with the collective joy of learning.

Truly this group became colleagues of calligraphy.