NAJGA Midwest Regional - Kokoro and the Gardener: Health for Spirit, Body, and Community

  • Thursday, August 15, 2019
  • 7:00 PM
  • Saturday, August 17, 2019
  • 8:00 PM
  • Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, Illinois
  • 0

Registration

  • Discounted registration for NAJGA members for Thursday, August 15 - Saturday, August 17. (No single day options available)
    *Lunches included on Friday and Saturday (Breakfasts and Dinners on your own)
  • Discount registration for members of the Anderson Japanese Gardens for Thursday, August 15 - Saturday, August 17. (No single day options available) *Lunches included on Friday and Saturday (Breakfasts and Dinners on your own)
  • Regular price registration for Thursday, August 15 - Saturday, August 17. (No single day options available) *Lunches included on Friday and Saturday (Breakfasts and Dinners on your own)

Registration is closed

NAJGA Midwest Regional - Kokoro and the Gardener: Health for Spirit, Body, and Community


Click Show Details below before registering!



We are excited to bring to you NAJGA’s Midwest regional event, Kokoro and the Gardener: Health for Spirit, Body, and Community, at the stunning Anderson Japanese Gardens, in Rockford, Illinois, August 15th through 17th! 


Kokoro is a Japanese word encompassing multiple meanings including "mind," “heart,” and “spirit.” A healthy garden begins with a gardener’s good health in both kokoro and body. In return, a well-tended garden nourishes the gardener, but also the larger community.  Japanese-style gardens are ideal environments for integrating physical and mental health. There is likely no better place to learn techniques for fostering the gardener’s mind and body than the spectacular Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois. Created slowly over 40 years to delight the senses and nourish the soul, Anderson Japanese Gardens now features impressive programs in mental and physical wellness as well as various Japanese arts and culture. Led by Kimiko Gunji, lauded professor Emeritus of Japanese art and culture at the University of Illinois, and Anderson Japanese Garden’s long-time curator Tim Gruner, “Kokoro and the Gardener” presents a very special  “once in your life time” program.


There will also be an additional opportunity the following two days on the 18th and 19th for the Sekitei: Rock Setting Workshop. Click here to register for this amazing experience as well!


Not a member? Join today, then return back to register for the event at the discounted rate. If you are interested in joining or checking out what other benefits membership offers, please check out our membership page for more information here at https://najga.org/membership/


Interested in sponsoring the event? Please contact us at info@najga.org for more information on how you can help support NAJGA through sponsorship.



NOTES:


NAJGA Members: Please register using the email address that is linked to your NAJGA Membership account in order to receive the discounted rate. 


Members of Anderson Japanese Gardens: Don't have a discount code? Contact Anderson Japanese Gardens to confirm your membership with them and receive your discount code.


Everyone: When registering multiple attendees please complete registration process for each individual, using unique email addresses. We apologize for the inconvenience due to this limitation of the registration system.


Cancellation: refunds may be requested up to 14 days prior to the event (a 10% administrative fee applies). Contact info@najga.org to inquire.



SCHEDULE:


*Note: This timeline is subject to change. Please refer to final timeline emailed to registrants shortly before the event.

Thursday, August 15


7:00 - 8:00 pm Visitor Center Gallery

“On the Nature of Things: The Path to the Garden,” Douglas Dawson (artist, collector) “Having spent my adult professional life involved in the art world I have come to consider the garden as the ultimate art form as it integrates all those criteria by which art is judged. The creation of a garden is conceptual, intuitive, physical, philosophical, strategically considered, and ultimately the result of intent and the nature of things. The garden is also profoundly ephemeral in that its existence is subject to the vicissitudes of nature, man’s folly or favor, and a rapidly changing world.” – D. Dawson


This talk presents the various paths that lead to meaning in the garden by considering things that connect humanity with the natural world and ultimately inform the garden.



Friday, August 16


*Breakfast on your own (Note: Fresco at the Garden opens at 8 am with great garden views)


9:00 - 9:15 am Visitor Center Gallery:

  • Welcome, David Anderson (AJG Founding Family Member)

  • Program Introduction, Tim Gruner (AJG Garden Curator & Head of Horticulture)

9:15 - 9:40 Visitor Center Gallery:

  • “What is Kokoro?” lecture, Kimiko Gunji  (Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois)


9:55 - 10:30 Guest House:

  • Tea ceremony led by Prof. Gunji

10:45 - 11:30 Pavilion:

  • Tai Chi for Gardeners, with Sensei Craig Westland
    "Maintaining the Maintainer"
    Since ancient times Tai Chi has been used as a natural medicine to keep the body fit and flexible. You will be learning a traditional Tai Chi set/routine that you will be able to practice for many years to come. We will cover exercises to help the strengthening of sinews, muscles and joints, all with an emphasis on correct posture. We will cover some Qigong (breath work) and some minor stretching.


11:45 - 12:30 pm Visitor Center Gallery:

  • “Tea Ceremony and the Garden” lecture, Tim Gruner
    (How garden design relates to chado and enhances the guests’ experience.)


12:30 - 1:30 Visitor Center Gallery:

  • Bento Box lunch, with Japanese food culture discussion by Prof. Gunji


1:45 - 2:45 Garden:

  • “Garden Tour: Conversing with the Garden” with Tim Gruner & AJG Staff

            (Understanding the forms and functions of a “kokoro garden.”)


3:00 - 4:00 Garden:

  • “Pruning Beyond the Ladder: Keeping Gardeners Safe,” with Ben Chu (Horticultural Supervisor, Missouri Botanic Gardener) (Fundamental practices of tree practice)

  • Display of climbing equipment, Dan O’Brien (Arborist & CTSP, Russo Power Equipment)


4:15 - 5:15  Visitor Center Gallery:

  • Kokoro reflection with Prof. Gunji
    (Participants will draw a calligraphic Zen circle [enso] on shikishi.)

6:00 - 8:00

     * Dinner (on your own in nearby downtown or suburban Rockford)

  • Garden will be open for private viewing to “let the notes of the day resonate”


8:00 - 9:00  Visitor Center Gallery:

  • “Japanese Gardens as Therapeutic Spaces” lecture, Prof. Ken Brown (CSU Long Beach)
    (Survey of how Japanese gardens are being used for physical and mental wellness)

Saturday, August 17

*Breakfast on your own (Note: Fresco at the Garden opens at 8 am with great garden views)


9:00 - 9:25 am Visitor Center Gallery:

  • “Kokoro II” lecture, Prof. Gunji
    Finding Kokoro in gardens and chado (The Way of Tea)


9:45 - 10:15 Guest House:

  • Tea ceremony led by Prof. Gunji


10:30 - 11:15 Pavilion:

  • Tai Chi for Gardeners, with Sensei Craig Westland  
    "Maintaining the Maintainer"
    Since ancient times Tai Chi has been used as a natural medicine to keep the body fit and flexible. You will be learning a traditional Tai Chi set/routine that you will be able to practice for many years to come. We will cover exercises to help the strengthening of sinews, muscles and joints, all with an emphasis on correct posture. We will cover some Qigong (breath work) and some minor stretching.


11:30 - 12:15 pm Visitor Center Gallery:

  • “Staying on the Path: Strategies for Guiding Guests in Garden Etiquette” with John    Powell (Zoen LLC)(How garden staff can help guide people who mistreat the garden)


12:30 - 1:30 Visitor Center Gallery:

  • Bento Box lunch with Food Culture talk II by Prof. Gunji


1:45 - 2:30 Visitor Center Gallery:

  • “Architectural Restoration to Endure” lecture, David Sipos (Minka Woodwork)
    (How true craftsmanship can survive multiple generations)

2:30 - 3:00 Refreshment & Garden Stroll


3:00 - 4:00 Visitor Center:

  • Kokoro Reflection II with Prof. Gunji

            (participants will write kokoro 心calligraphy on shikishi)


4:15 - 5:00 Guest House:

  • Reflection on kokoro by Prof. Gunji


6:00 – 8:00 Anderson Japanese Gardens:

  • Following dinner on your own, return for private viewing of participants enso and kokoro calligraphy in the Gallery, and for private time in the garden.

RECOMMENDED HOTELS


Note: Prices are only estimates for the purpose of providing a general sense. There are other less expensive, Red Roof Inn, etc, in the same area.


Hotel                                 

King     

Double 

Courtyard

$152

$156

Fairfield Inn & Suites

$144

$144

Hampton Inn

$195

$205

Hilton Garden Inn

$197

$197

Holiday Inn

$140

$145

Radisson

$171

$159

Riverview Inn & Suites

$171

$171