A Textmas Card 4 U

                                                                                  Photo by R Allen-Sherwood 201

Hello everyone, I'm back. It's been quiet due to a few unforeseen circumstances that needed my full and undivided attention. Thank you for your continuing patience and faith in this blog. (And for your kind messages)

I'll be back in January, to pick up where I left off - on my favourite topic of space and things related,.

In the meantime, have yourselves the Merriest Christmas & a joyous New Year 2015!  

Skies can't keep secrets / Spencer Finch

"The Skies Can't Keep Their Secret " Spencer Finch             (photo R, Allen-Sherwood)

Went to the Turner Contemporary in Margate recently and was enchanted by the light & space themed work, of artist Spencer Finch.  (My picture doesn't really do it justice.)

Using the wide open airy spaces of the building as his point of departure, he weaves together the simplest of materials to create an installation which exudes a delicate and ethereal sense of "being". As the setting sun streams light rays into the room the tones and shadows in the work subtly shift and change....... 

Perhaps a time-lapse video of the final 'Grey Out' might have helped those of us who don't have time to stay and watch the changes happen in real time? Just a thought.

The artist speaks about the thoughts behind the work here.

Rilke's Space-motion

Dancing Trees                                                 photo: R. Allen-Sherwood 2014

"These trees are magnificent, but even more magnificent is the sublime and moving space between them, as though with their growth it too increased.”  Rilke

Blank paper. Empty mind

Chinese rice paper

The recent talk I gave about the art and practice of Shodo (at Mirfield monastery), has inspired me to return to the origin of my own work. Back to blank paper, fude ink brush, empty mind and the word.

My training word is "Ku", the Japanese character for emptiness or the void. To see more images, click  here.

Space, Art & Quiet Gardens

The theme of CR Oswin Gartside's talk at Mirfield Monastery. Space!

Statue of Kuya, a Buddhist monk

Fr. Oswin Gartside

*Image from my talk. This is Shoko Kanazawa writing kanji with help from her mother

One of my own ink works from my art residency at the monastery in 2012

*Contemplative use of sumi ink by Thich Nhat Hanh

A thank you offering that was given to me after my talk. My first one ever..

Mirfield Monastery main building

A teepee I found on the grounds! It was being readied for a wedding

Inside the teepee

Monastery grounds

One of many paths on the 23 acres of land surrounding Mirfield Monastery

These are some pictures from my recent talk at the Quiet Garden day at Mirfield Monastery. It was interesting and quite eye opening to hear Fr. Oswin Gartside's talk about Japanese art and space from his point of view. I learned a lot about the history of Japanese art through the eyes of the "hidden Japanese christians" during the persecution era.

I myself am not Christian, but having lived much of my life in Japan, my section of the talk focused on introducing the Japanese concept of space through the culture of Sumi ink and Shodo.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Thank you so much to Mirfield Monastery for inviting me.

 Note: *Asterisk marked images of Thich Nhat Hanh & Shoko Kanazawa courtesy of internet.

Edible Zen Garden

I'm off to the monastery for the workshop. I leave you with this wonderful idea I came upon, courtesy of the folks at  Spoon & Tamago    Edible Zen garden. Who knew! 

See you soon.

Shodo: 100 Ways to Wield an Ink Brush

"Surrender"  Pop up exhibition  (Sumi ink, mixed media)  R. Allen-Sherwood 2012

The brothers of Mirfield Monastery  - (where I did a month-long artist residency in 2012) , have invited me back to give talks on the world of Sumi ink, my own work and the relationship to space as part of a 'Quiet Garden Day' workshop in mid-June. I'll be joined by CR Oswin Gartside, who certainly knows a thing or two about traditional Japanese art, as he lived there for some time during his younger days.. For more details please see  here.

Calligrapher Sarah Moate, demonstrating a perfect Zen circle.  Photo R. Allen-Sherwood

Truthfully speaking, one day is not enough to cover the sheer variety of brush and ink styles, trends and traditions. For example, there is a great difference between the approach of  Sarah Moate, an Englishwoman who is a qualified Zen calligraphy teacher in Japan, and the working ways of award winning calligrapher-turned- -contemporary-artist Koji Kakinuma.. Both emerged from a solid foundation of rigorous classical training, but from very different traditions.

Calligrapher/ Superstar  Koji Kakinuma in front of his latest artwork  (via Jagar 2014)

I will be talking about some of these traditions, as well as introducing a few artists currently working with sumi ink in Japan and elsewhere. Shodo roughly translates into' "Way of the Brush". In classical Shodo, the aim is to build character and strengthen the spirit. Beautiful handwriting is the by-product of the practice not the aim.. In this way, Shodo is similar to martial art practice. "Wax on, wax off." "Ink on. Ink off" 

"Space"   Pop up exhibition Mirfiled Monastery   R Allen-Sherwood 2012

I greatly look forward to giving this talk. Thanks to Mirfield Maonastery and Mirfield Centre for inviting me. Hope some of my blog readers can make it too.

(PS, If you can't come you can always invite me to speak at your next function. I'm quite reasonable!! )