Ronald Nakasone "Formless Form, IV"

Reception and Sho demonstration
Saturday afternoon, Nov 16th, 2-4p

Calligraphy Workshop (limited to 6)
Sat, Dec 14th, 2-4p
(inquire at Gallery)

Formless-form IV explores the aesthetic and spiritual geography of the hand-written word. Just as a geographer studies the features of the Earth and the impact of human activity on the physical landscape, the Art of Sho requires an appreciation of the visual topography—line, space, and time (rhythm)—that emerges while the brush moves across the writing surface. In addition to communicating ideas, feelings, and aspirations, the hand-written word is a vehicle through which the sho-artist discovers, nurtures, and gives form to his or her spiritual landscape, through the ideal medium of free flowing ink and permeable paper. Transcending formal aesthetic values, formless-forms have the capacity to embrace and draw the viewer into a rarefied world.

Join us for a reception, short talk and demonstration of "line and space" by master calligrapher, Ronald Nakasone.

Mr. Nakasone has exhibited in major venues in Asia and the USA. The Museo de Arte Contemporaneo in Santiago, Chile hosted his most recent solo exhibition in 2017. He studied with the avant-garde sho-artist Morita Shiryū (1912-1998). Born and raised in Hawai‘i, he was educated at University of Hawai‘i, Ryūkoku University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Harvard University. Professor Nakasone is a member of the Core Doctoral Faculty at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley and was a long-time faculty at Stanford University Center for Geriatric Education. He has published extensively on Buddhist doctrine, ethics, aesthetics, Aging and Spirituality, and Ryūkyūan (Okinawan) Studies. He is an ordained Jōdo Shinshū (Pure Land) priest.