CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Master calligrapher Suizan Mochizuki will be the featured artist at the annual fall open house on Oct. 7 at Japan House.
The facility, at 2000 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, is an educational and cultural facility focusing on Japanese arts, and is affiliated with the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The open house is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with demonstrations by Mochizuki planned at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. His artwork will be on view there all day.
The open house also will feature tea ceremonies, conducted throughout the day by members of the Urbana-Champaign Association of Chado Urasenke Tankokai.
Mochizuki, one of the most revered calligraphers in Japan, creates his work in the kokotsubun style, known for its vigorous, expressive brushstrokes. Kokotsubun, an ancient Chinese written language, is regarded as the origin of modern-day Chinese pictographic characters.
During his visit to the area, Mochizuki also will conduct a number of other public outreach events, including a calligraphy workshop, from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 30 at Japan House (registration required); a lecture-demonstration at 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at the university’s Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana; and workshops and demonstrations for schoolchildren, U. of I. students and community members at various locations.
More information about Mochizuki’s scheduled activities, and other upcoming Japan House events, is available on the Web or by calling 244-9934.
