Join  79° West and the Chatham Artist’s Guild for a Wang Ning Chinese Calligraphy Workshop on Sat, Feb 21, 11am-4pm. A day of immersion in traditional Chinese brushwork and the meditative exploration of its relationship to ink and paper, Wang Ning welcomes both beginners and experienced practitioners. Step by step, Master Wang will guide you in this ancient art:

• Grinding your own ink in the traditional way – a meditative preparation for picking up the brush and touching the paper.
• Studying one or more characters in depth.
• Envisioning writing.
• Writing! Not painting.
• Weaving form and meaning as you write.

The cost is $80 per person and includes supplies of ink, paper, and a brush. You may bring your own supplies if you have them. Vegan chili will be served for lunch; please bring a sandwich or other lunch items of your choice. Each participant will receive a personal calligraphy as a gift (your Chinese name or another meaningful word). The workshop will be limited to the first 20 participants. If you are able, please let them know early that you intend to participate and contact Violet so Wang Ning knows which supplies to bring. RSVP via email at [email protected]. You can pay via cash, check, or Venmo at @violet-may-anderson.

Wang Ning is a master calligrapher and Chinese seal maker in addition to being a Tai Chi adept. His writing in Chinese characters reflects the same kind of flow and relaxed breathing of Tai Chi Chuan: playful yet precise and focused. A philosopher and optimist, Master Wang makes the art of brush writing accessible and enjoyable.