Summer E-tegami Workshop: June Vegetables at Gaijin

E-tegami, meaning “picture letter” (e=picture, tegami=letter), is a form of Japanese mail art. At its simplest, you’ll create an ink drawing of a seasonal object on a watercolor postcard. At its most complex, this activity allows us to slow down and mindfully contemplate our relationships with the people and plants in the world around us.

This workshop will take place at Gaijin restaurant in the West Loop. For this workshop we will be studying the vegetables of summer! While working on our e-tegamis you can also get a snack or beverage of choice from Gaijin’s menu. The purchase of a beverage or food item is required to participate.

You will learn how to work with sumi ink and a calligraphy brush, so please wear clothes you’re comfortable getting dirty. In e-tegami, the process is more important than the product—it’s not about whether it “looks correct,” but rather that you are drawing from your heart.

Give yourself time to make art and enjoy some traditional Japanese food—sign up for this unique workshop today!

This class is aimed at adults. Please contact our office if you would like to register your child for the workshop.

BIO:

Danielle Stolz (she/her) learned the practice of e-tegami while living in Tokushima, Japan. For her, this process of 1. slowing down 2. observing 3. reflecting, is a way to connect to the land, its cycles (time), and ultimately her place within it (community). She is still penpals with her e-tegami teacher and classmates back in Japan. She looks forward to sharing this magical practice and creating an e-tegami community within Chicago. (instagram: @etegamichicago)