Workshops

Traditional japanse rope or Shimenawa needs to be hammered first

Ceramic Artist Tanaka Takeshi ceramics Workshop

WORKSHOPS

Shiro Oni Studio introduces artists to Japanese rural culture, building personal relationships that benefit both artists and area locals. Workshops of interest are voted on as a group at the start of the residency period. All workshop fees cover material costs and go directly to the instructor.

TEA CEREMONY

Workshop Japanese Tea Ceremony Fuyuko Kobori 10

Workshop Japanese Tea Ceremony Fuyuko Kobori 01

Workshop Japanese Tea Ceremony Fuyuko Kobori 06

Fuyuko Kobori of the Kobori Enshu school of tea explains the history of tea culture in Japan and the change of the Japanese aesthetic senses, including explanation of Wabi-sabi, and performs a whole tea ceremony.

Fuyuko’s father is the 16th generation head of the school, and Fuyuko is the next in line to run the school.
She has been studying tea ceremony since the age of 6 and has organized traditional and contemporary-style tea ceremonies across Japan, the USA, France, Germany, Holland and Jordan.
Fuyuko’s Family Website
Fuyuko’s Personal Website

MUSIC FESTIVAL

Erin Mckenna Elise Birnbaum at Onishi Summer Music Festival Matsuri 2019

Art Residency Japan Shio Oni Workshop Music Festival 02

2017-Onishi-Summer-Music-Festival-Practice-17

2017-Onishi-Summer-Music-Festival-Aioi-Cho-209

The town of Onishi holds a summer music festival every July. The Festival is one of the most exciting times of year, with former residents coming from around the country to participate. While not required, artists are encouraged to participate in the nightly taiko drum practices at the local community center and to help pull the shrine during the festival.

Youtube video of Onishi Summer Music Festival

Onishi Summer Music Festival

CALLIGRAPHY

Japan Workshop Making Stone Hanko Stamps 08

Art Residency Workshop in Japan Japanese Calligraphy 04

Japan Workshop Making Stone Hanko Stamps 07

Art Residency Workshop in Japan Japanese Calligraphy 03

Artists can work on on their brush handling and learn to make sumi ink while studying traditional calligraphy or shodo.

ROPE-MAKING

Tadaki Hachisu teaches artists how to make traditional Japanese shimenaw rope from from straw

Local craftspeople and farmers often volunteer their time to teach the visiting artists. Japanese rope-making or Shimenawa decorates Shinto shrines and also used in traditional craft like straw tabi shoes.

INDIGO DYE

Green leaf Indigo Dyeing workshop in Takasaki Japan

Indigo Dyeing workshop in Takasaki Japan

Washing fabric Indigo Dyeing workshop in Takasaki Japan

Indigo (aizome) dyeing workshop at the Takasaki Dye Botanical garden.
Depending on the time of year the botanical garden offers traditional indigo, seasonal plant or fresh-cut indigo (namabazome) dyeing workshops.

WASHI PAPER

Yanai Tsuguo washi paper making workshop in japan

Washi paper making workshop at Tsuguo Yanai’s studio.
Mr. Yanai has more than 30 years experience creating washi paper art. He’s mastered traditional paper-making techniques and also developed his own sculptural techniques.

Visit Mr. Yanai’s website for more information about his studio

JAPANESE COOKING

Cooking workshop at Japanese Art Residency

Insari Cooking workshop at Japanese Art Residency

Frying Eggplant at Art residency Cooking workshop

Learning to use a Japanese Suribachi bowl

Japanese cooking workshop at farmers house in rural Japan

Japanese cooking workshop at art residency

Friends of the residency often to stop by the house to cook a meal with the visiting artists. Workshops can be a formally organized as a lesson with translation or as simple as a BBQ at night.

ZEN MEDITATION

Zen Meditation workshop Using incense at Kongoji temple in Onishi Japan

Artists in residency Learning zen mediation from Mr Iwao at the Kongoji buddhist temple

Artists can schedule a Zen Buddhism workshop Kongoji Temple. The resident monk, Mr. Iwao and his son volunteer an afternoon of their time to give an introductory course to zen buddhism, followed by a question and answer period and a tour of their beautiful garden.

CERAMICS

artist Takeshi Tanaka talking about the history of Japanese ceramics

Shiro Oni Studio can introduce artists working in clay to local ceramic artists. In the past we’ve organized studio visits, hand-building, and wheel-throwing workshops.

JAPANESE PAINTING

Artists Georgina Proud, Yaara Parness, Chika Wang and Jess Webb doing a Nihonga workshop in Japan

Traditional Nihonga workshop at Shiro Oni Studio artist in residency program in Japan

Nihonga workshop at Shiro Oni Studio artist in residency program in Japan

Traditional Japanese Painting or Nihonga Workshop in Onishi

Artists learning about traditional Japanese painting or Nihonga from Taiwanese artist Chika Wang

Traditional Japanese painting or Nihonga is a painting technique dating back to the 8^th century using egg white and ground minerals. Colors are not mixed as in western pigmented paints, but applied in layers. The labor-intensive process creates images with a unique warmth.