I recently had the wonderful opportunity to once again study with the great calligraphy master Kaz Tanahashi. The intensive weekend workshops are always a pure delight. Any of the contemplative art I practice – calligraphy, Zen archery, Miksang contemplative photography, or my daily meditation practice itself – make me slow down and deepen my understanding. The simplest forms produce the most profound discoveries. Learning each character, having Kaz guide our hand, some minuscule atom of the teacher’s wisdom seems to be transmitted.
I must admit that, this time, I was slightly distracted, though: for the past year, I have been looking at calligraphy also from the point of view of a craft artist. I have been working on the idea of translating calligraphy into three-dimensional objects. Studying how the brush and the breath move with each stroke, I have begun to experiment with sculptural forms.
Of course I am never one to take the easy route: I am making these attempts in steel! My passion for calligraphy took flight about the same time as my fascination with blacksmithing … naturally, the two intermingled.
I am a long way from producing any finished pieces, but the journey has most definitely begun, and thus I took the opportunity of Kaz’ visit to consult with him on some of the concepts and ideas. I was so grateful that he took the time to look at some of the ‘etudes’ of calligraphy in (3/4 inch!) steel I had been working on.
Apparently, I am not the only artist who is inspired to pull the experience of training in calligraphy into their own practice: contemporary dancer and choreographer Sarah Cox and Jacinte Armstrong have also created works inspired by Kaz’ worskhops. Sarah – a long time student of the art of calligraphy, as well as cha-do, the way of tea- performed a piece last year, which featured a large triptych painted by Kaz Tanahashi, and Jacinte Armstrong created the contemporary dance piece Out Of Bounds.
Jacinte has been participating in Kaz’ workshops for several years as well, and this year she gave a presentation on the piece she created from this training. I wish I had an image of the dancers’ hair becoming brush on a huge sheet of paper … stunning! If you live in or near Halifax, you have the opportunity to experience this piece live on stage April 25/26/27 as part of 3x3x3, This show features 3 up and coming artists from 3 different cities. Jacinte will be presenting her gorgeous duet, Falling Off the Page, with Susanne Chui (here is a clip: http://vimeo.com/38686925). Also featured will be Dorian Nuskind-Oder from Montreal, and Maryse Damecour from Quebec. You can read about it and buy tickets at Live Art Dance Productions.
