Tea Appreciation Class - Enroll NOW!

Tea Appreciation  
Enrollment Open Now!

Saturday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM;
3 sessions starting June 7, 2008, ending June 21, 2008 
~ Summer, 2008 semester at UNM Continuing Education ~
Cost $80
Course number - 15936
Instructor: Renee Adams  
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico - Factory on 5th Artspace

Tea has been enjoyed for thousands of years. From the high mountain Oolong of China and Taiwan to the dark, robust Indian Assam and delicate African Honeybush - the consumption of true tea and herbal tea is meditative, relaxing, invigorating, and reflective. Tea brings health benefits and stress relief. It’s used as medicine, as a beauty product, and even in art and douse cleaning. Delve into this lush class, which offers you the chance to taste, sample and discuss tea from all over the world. It’s an ideal class for those seeking something beyond supermarket tea bags, or for those wanting to learn more about (or to sample) world teas. Proper brewing methods, tea tasting, tea grading, and even some tea tales will be discussed.

This fun, hands-on course allows you to sip tea, and learn about its complex flavors, in a friendly environment.

Note: $10 materials fee due to the instructor at the first class.

To enroll, visit the UNM Continuing Ed. Website!

The Joys of Tea…

Today was my first “Tea Appreciation” course, taught through the University of New Mexico Continuing Education department. It was a huge success!The students had a great time tasting, discussing, and savoring teas from all over the world.

The class is broken into three sessions, with the first session (today) covering an overview of the tea drying, steaming, and fermentation process, tea facts, and the core component–tea tasting! (of various Green, Oolong, and Darjeeling teas).

Everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves, tasting the different grades of Chinese and Japanese green tea, special blends, delicate and clean oolongs, and the robust Darjeeling of early spring. The class was made up of a wide range of people, with a diverse pool of knowledge about gourmet foods, wine, gourmet coffee, and–tea!

Today reminded me of why I love tea so much. It’s an entire experience. Relaxing, invigorating, mysterious, complex, lively, and soothing… it’s a creature of history, spanning eons and civilizations as one of the core things we humans have found deep satisfaction with, in almost every culture.

If you’re in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and you’re craving a hot cup of African Rooibos, or a medicinal swig of Pu-Er, be sure to stop by Ta Lin World Food Market, which has a fantastic tea section (a great overview of world teas), including a variety of herbal, and special blend teas–or hit 99 Banh market, for a more specialized, and fascinating, pan-Asian selection.

Albuquerque is also home to the New Mexico Tea Company, and the St. James Tea room!

Ta Lin World Food Fare
230 Louisiana Blvd Se
(corner of Louisiana & Central)

99 Banh
5315 Gibson Blvd SE
(across from the Lovelace Hosptial)

New Mexico Tea Company
1131 Mountain Rd Nw
(near the FHAB Art Gallery)

St. James Tea Room
(traditional British high tea)
901 Rio Grande Blvd Nw Ste E130

Like a fine wine, a rich gourmet coffee, or a refreshing microbrew… tea is the drink f scholars, artists, emperors, and goddesses–the liquor of life, and the starter of a million conversations.

Although, tea tasting can sometimes make you really happy the facilities have restrooms…

I am really looking forward to doing many more tea classes through UNM!

Gyotaku - The Art of Japanese Fish Printing - Classes Forming NOW!

I am adding a fresh line-up of art, craft, and humanities courses that many be of interest to all of you inquiring and creative minds out there.

Are you an artist or craftsperson who enjoys learning new techniques? Are you new to art and want to learn an intriguing, classical form of printmaking?

At the Factory on 5th Artspace:

Gyotaku, the Art of Japanese Fish Printing
A modern course in 19th century rubbed art

Current Class Dates:

1.) Saturday, October 20th, 2007 (1 - 5 p.m.)

2.) Thursday, November 15th, 2007 (1 - 5 p.m.)

Cost: $65.00 (each class is at least 4 hours)

(The class may stay longer if we’re on a roll; open studio style)

Learn a traditional 19th century Japanese printmaking technique in this inspiring, hands-on course.

Gyotaku (literally 魚拓, from gyo “fish” + taku “rubbing”) is a form of nature printing which developed in Japan during the mid-1800s. Fisherman originally uses the technique to record the size of their catch. Actual fish were covered with pigment and rice paper was rubbed over them, creating an imprint on the thin paper which was both practical and intrinsically beautiful.

It didn’t take long for the beauty of fish printing to be recognized and Japanese artists began working with it as a unique printmaking technique.

This fascinating 19th-century technique is enjoyable to learn and will add new depth to your artistic palette. It’s also fun for those at any level of artistic experience, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

This hands-on course will cover direct and indirect fish printing on paper, cloth, t-shirts, and other materials.

Some materials will be provided and students will also be given a supplies list for additional items they should bring (as well as optional items). All fish and nature models will be provided by the instructor. For the sake of cleanliness, rubber fish models will be used in class. This fun class will cover several methods of printmaking, using rice paper, cloth, and other matierals.

Location:

At the Factory on 5th Artspace
1715 5th St. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104

To enroll, contact me through my web form, via email or use the “Add to Cart” button on my classes page to enroll directly. Enrollment is open until October 18th for the October 20th class, and until November 13th for the November 15th class.

(Classes are forming now! Sign up to reserve your space. Spaces are limited. You can also give a class registration to someone else as a gift!).

Classes are taught by me, Ren Adams. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.