Integrating Mind, Body, and Art, a Color Woodblock Printmaking Workshop

To teach is to learn, and this 3-day gathering (Friday late afternoon to Sunday midday) explored a different way to share color woodblock printmaking using the Japanese method (hanga). The ukiyo-e and shin hanga prints of Japan were made by a team. This workshop explored team-making aspects of hanga printmaking.

The weekend started Friday evening with a talk led by Matt Daniell.
Matt has made a career teaching Buddhist meditation. Hanga printmaking has Buddhist roots, and the talk sought to glean insight into images of working as a team, and integrating parts, through an exploration of aspects of Buddhist thought.

Saturday began with a Qigong movement time out on the deck, led by Todd Binzen. Printmaking work went 10 - 5 with a break for lunch. Much was already in place and much left to work on: there were blocks carved and blocks ready to carve, partially printed papers awaiting further printing blocks, blank papers, colors mixed and colors yet to work out and apply. Our goal was to finish a batch of prints reflective of our work-time together, prints inspired by an image by Todd Binzen. Taking roles as printers, carvers, and/or designers, the way it was done in 19th century Japan, we made a number of interesting and varied prints which participants were able to take home.

Saturday ended with an optional evening time of music-making led by Maureen Burford down in the Chapel. This was a very beautiful time.


Sunday morning we talked shop, shared more about the craft of hanga printmaking, labeled and mounted the prints, and distributed them amongst ourselves. We'll address questions and bless our work and our time together.

The workshop included six meals, lodging, opportunities for fine walks on trails in the adjacent Pelham Lake Park, happy conversation and fellowship. There was a commuting option, and it was nice in our music-making on Saturday evening to be joined by a few Rowe residents.

Visit the Teaching page of Matt's website for more details of future workshops.
To get a visual impression of the print project, visit this page of print proofs we pulled during our preparations of the blocks.

We are talking of doing the workshop again. If you are interested to know more, send me an email.

Matt