Etegami workshop

At Seabeck Haiku Getaway, instructor Darlene Dihel introduced us to etegami (e= image; tegami= letter).

The technique consists of holding the brush at the very top, so your lines are squiggly and the sketch a little rough, but that’s the look you’re looking for. The clumsier it looks, the better.

The workshop was really fun. Even though we started with the same templates – pumpkins, grapes, wine glasses — each artwork was different.

Etegami intructor Darlene Dihel at Seabeck Haiku Getaway 2017.

Etegami workshop at Seabeck Haiku Getaway 2017.

Etegami workshop at Seabeck Haiku Getaway 2017.

Etegami created by a participant of the workshop at Seabeck Haiku Getaway 2017.

 

etegami

the gift

or imperfection

• Jessica Tremblay

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Weathergrams

At the recent Seabeck Haiku Getaway 2014, our conference package included a blank piece of kraft paper and instructions on how to make a weathergram.

A weathergram is a clever way to display your haiku outside.  The concept is simple: you write a haiku on a piece of kraft paper and hang it outside for people to enjoy until it biodegrades and returns to Earth.

 

8 clever ways to display your haiku

Here are 8 clever ways to display your haiku (as seen at the Seabeck Haiku Getaway 2013).

1. Weathergram: hang your haiku outside for everybody to read.

(Our weathergrams featured poems from Haiku World, by William Higginson)

2. Haiku Mobile (aka “The Sputnik”), an original idea by Tanya McDonald.

(Our “Sputnik” featured poems by guest speaker Marco Fraticelli)

3. On a labyrinth: (Margaret McGee guided us through the construction of a labyrinth which we then decorated with haiku and natural objects.The labyrinth stayed for the entire conference, for everybody to enjoy.)

4. Flagbook (creations by Susan Callan):

(Susan Callan will teach a flagbook workshop at Seabeck Haiku Getaway 2014. Isn’t that a beautiful way to display your haiku?)

5. Haiku Board (creation by Susan Constable):

(Susan Constable celebrates each published haiku by printing them on a colorful piece of paper and putting them on a board. She now has two boards in her office! Wow!)

6. Mini-books (creations by Terry Ann Carter):

(Terry Ann Carter displayed her beautiful handmade books featuring her haiku.)

7. A crankie!

(Dejah Leger created a crankie featuring all the poems submitted at the kukai. Beautiful!)

8. Leaflets and promotional material.

(The table at Seabeck was filled with beautiful leaflets and original promotional material)

Don’t hide your haiku in your drawers! Display them proudly!

The next Seabeck Haiku Getaway will take place October 16-19, 2014.

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What type of ball are you?

Stories from Seabeck Haiku Getaway, part 2.
At the Seabeck Conference Centre, the playground was filled with different balls.

Each ball made me think about the various people who attend haiku conferences.

What kind of ball are you?

1. The Hardcore. The first person to arrive and the last person to leave the conference. Usually, the conference organizer.

 

2. The Tetherball. Likes to collaborate. Usually the first person to propose to write a renku.  Will often ask you to read and comment on their haiku. Likes to bounce haiku back and forth.

3. The Odd Ball. The person who comes up with unusual subjects for an activity or presentation. Becomes a huge success — often the highlight of the conference. Attendees will remember them many years later.

 

4. The artist. Fills her sketchbook, takes photographs, or makes a crankie in a few hours… When you ask them if they’ve written a haiku during the conference, they blush. No, they didn’t have time.

5. The Basketball. Usually, an academic. Classic move: will hit you with a hard question during your presentation.

 

6. The Hardball. Attends ten conferences a year. This “small conference” is a real treat for them since they don’t have to present. They can rest and enjoy themselves, but “Boy, Oh Boy!” are they tired.

 

7. The Straight Ball.  This person wants to see everything, so she’s keeping a tight schedule. Always on the move. Usually, you’ll cross them in the hallway, but they don’t have time to talk, they have to go to the next session.

 

8. The Ghost Ball. Comes to one session or two, then disappears for a nap.  Usually elderly. (We love them. We wished we could see more of them.)

 

9. Black and White Ball: writes both haiku and tanka and excels in both. Not sure which one she likes best.

 

10. The Long Lost Ball. Very quiet. Doesn’t go to conferences often. In fact, hasn’t written a haiku in years.  Came the conference to rekindle their romance with the genre. Leaves the conference more confused than when they arrived.

 

11. The Ping-Pong Ball: you may be new to haiku, but during the conference, you will write a haiku that will blow us away — that’s guaranteed!

 

12. Football. Most of us. You attend conference regularly to catch up with your friends. You absorb knowledge like a sponge.

At the end of the conference your head is filled with information. Once at home, you won’t remember a single thing that happened at the conference, just that you had a good time and that you look forward to next year.

The next Seabeck Haiku Getaway will take place October 16-19, 2014.

Come play ball with us!

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