A Meditative Arts Weekend
March 15 – March 17, 2024
Rolling Ridge Study Retreat — near Harpers Ferry, WV
With a hat on my head
And straw sandals on my feet
I met on the road
The end of the year.
~ Basho (1644-1694)
Inspired by the writings of Japanese poet Basho, artist Claudia Giannini has been creating visual art out of her pilgrimage experiences since 2012. On this retreat, Claudia will provide an opportunity to learn about the art of pilgrimage and explore the creative process. We will:
- discuss the universal concept of pilgrimage and look at examples of Buddhist, Christian, and Islamic art meant to inspire pilgrims on their journey.
- examine how contemporary artists use the theme of pilgrimage in their work.
- learn some simple techniques to combine journaling and artmaking, to begin creating our own visual journals.
No artistic experience is necessary, but an open mind is a must!
Retreat leader, Claudia Giannini received her MFA from West Virginia University, with specialization in printmaking and photography and has exhibited her work widely. Her 38-year career in the museum field provided extensive experience with both western and Asian art. She has made pilgrimages to Viet Nam and Japan and walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain and Portugal. She created series of artworks based on each of these pilgrim experiences.
Retreat host, Linda DeGraf is an artist, quilter, gardener for wildlife, sacred circle dancer, and retired teacher. She has led and hosted numerous retreats on meditative arts. She lives at Rolling Ridge in an earth-friendly home that she and her husband Scot built.
The retreat costs $280 for shared accommodations in the Retreat House. This fee covers lodging; 5 meals+2 snacks; art supplies; support for the ongoing work at RRSRC and Claudia & Linda’s planning and leadership. Anyone needing a scholarship to help cover the costs of the retreat is encouraged to fill out a scholarship form before registering. You can do that at this link.
