August 17 – 23, 2003
Château de St. Julien l’Ars, France

Enjoy a week-long workshop in traditional and contemporary Japanese calligraphy while staying at a 16th century château in the beautiful French countryside. Participants of all levels are welcome.

Classes will be taught by master calligrapher Kazuko Saito of Kyoto, Japan, and American artist, Tommer Peterson. A solid core study of classic styles will be supplemented with workshops exploring contemporary forms and experimental work. All materials and supplies are included. Students of all levels of experience and all ages are welcome. Classes will generally meet in the mornings, leaving afternoons free for practice, sightseeing and exploring the region. Optional afternoon field trips will visit local handmade paper mills and other sites of interest. Instruction will be available in both English and Japanese.

Kazuko Saito has been practicing calligraphy for over fifty years. She is a membe of the Zen-Nihon Shogei Gakuin where she has studied with Shozen Nishino since 1982. Saito has exhibited numerous times in the Mainichi Shodo-ten, the Sogen Calligraphy Exhibition, and other group exhibitions. Tommer Peterson studied with Saito on a JUSFC/NEA fellowship in Kyoto and later with Yoshiyasu Fujii of the Akashi School. His work has been exhibited at the Mainichi Shodo-ten in Japan and widely in the United States..


View calligraphy by Kazuko Saito

View calligraphy by Tommer Peterson


Workshops and lodging will be at the Château de St. Julien L’Ars.
The 16th century château has 9 beautifully remodeled rooms and suites, all with private baths. Most rooms can be set with single or double beds. All have phones, and some suites can sleep up to 7. The oldest part of the château, the12th century medieval tower with its distinctive spiral staircase, was built on the site of an old Roman fortification. Graced with hundreds of trees, including mature sequoias, giant oaks and a beautiful double alley of plane trees, the château sits among 56 acres of gardens, fields and wooded walking paths. Fruit orchards and a large kitchen garden provide seasonal produce, from wild strawberries in the early summer to apples and walnuts in the fall.

The château is located in St. Julien l’Ars, near the city of Poitiers, which is well connected with other important destinations in France by freeway and rail. The TGV (high speed train) makes the trip from Paris
to Poitiers in approximately 90 minutes.

Tuition and lodging
Tuition, materials, lodging and meals is $2000 for the week. Lodging and meals for individuals not participating in the workshop, but sharing a double room with a student, is $1,500 a week.

For registration and further information please contact:

Château de St. Julien L’Ars United States office
4302 Fremont Avenue North
Seattle, Washington 98103 USA
phone (206) 632-1923
[email protected]
www.chateaustjulien.com

For specific information about the content of the Japanese calligraphy workshop, please contact:

Tommer Peterson
Phone (206) 783-7481 PST, evenings
[email protected]