春色、夏彩
SPRING COLOURS, SUMMER HUES
Icha Tea 235 Spadina Ave
March 21 to April 21
Spring Colours, Summer Hues is a mini exhibition featuring handmade ceramic teawares by Helen Kong (Secret Teatime) and a series of tea cloths by hand weaver Amanda Rataj. The work celebrates the nuances of local elements of spring and summer in the respective landscapes we live and work in. This exhibition will be accompanied by a series of tea gatherings (formal and casual) and hands-on workshops facilitated by local artists and tea people featuring teas from Icha Tea. Thanks to C Mag for sponsoring some workshops as part of their Vitamin C program.
EXHIBITION
Ceramics by Helen Kong
Textiles by Amanda Rataj
More information coming soon
TEA GATHERINGS / WORKSHOPS
Happening at Icha Tea - 235 Spadina Ave
COME HAVE MATCHA
*NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. WE WILL UPDATE THE RESCHEDULED EVENT
Saturday March 23: 11:00-11:45, 12:00-12:45, 1:00-1:45 (upto 6 guests per gathering)
Fee: $35 per person
Be a guest to a small group tea gathering where Helen Kong will serve you a sweet and prepare a bowl of usucha (thin matcha) in the Ryurei procedure. Ryurei (Table Tea), was introduced to the Chado procedure repertoire during the modern age when Japan was open internationally and started to import western furniture into their daily life. The introduction of table and chairs to tea made Chado accessible for those who could not sit in seiza (kneeling on the ground). In this semi-formal tea gathering, there will be a brief introduction to Chado/Chanoyu, the procedure presented, the etiquette of serving and receiving a bowl of matcha, appreciating the teawares and Helen will share her lived experiences of her ongoing study of tea.
Helen has over 16 years of studying Chado (3 years intensively in Japan and continued when she returned to Toronto). While that may seem like a long time, it is a drop compared to the vast ocean of knowledge and wisdom of the tea world. Helen's passion lies in the connection of humans, tea and the tea vessels. These ceramics items might seem to be just objects, but when taken good care of, these vessels last beyond a single human's lifetime. Many tea bowls in Japan are passed down from one generation to the next. When we sip tea from a bowl, we are connecting with a lineage of past and future users.
Sweet: a piece of dried fruit and Wasanbon (Japanese pressed fine sugar candy)
Tea: Koyamaen Kinrin Matcha (part of Icha Tea's collection of tea for sale)
MATCHA MONDAYS AT THE ICHA TEA BAR
NOTE: Previously posted available on March 25. This has been cancelled due to a matcha supply issue. Sorry for the confusion.
Monday April 1, 8, 15 3:00-6:00pm (RSVP preferred, but drop-ins welcomed)
Fee:
Usucha (thin tea) with a piece of dried fruit and wasanbon (Japanese pressed fine sugar) - $12
Koicha (thick tea) with a mung bean dessert - $18
This is a casual service at the tea bar with Helen Kong. Helen will serve the selection of matcha available in Icha Tea's collection. This is an informal way to experience a sweet and matcha while conversing with Helen (if you wish). Helen will share stories of her tea experiences and will let the conversations free-flow depending on the guests.
Helen has over 16 years of studying Chado (3 years intensively in Japan and continued when she returned to Toronto). While that may seem like a long time, it is a drop compared to the vast ocean of knowledge and wisdom of the tea world. Helen's passion lies in the connection of humans, tea and the tea vessels. These ceramics items might seem to be just objects, but when taken good care of, these vessels last beyond a single human's lifetime. Many tea bowls in Japan are passed down from one generation to the next. When we sip tea from a bowl, we are connecting with a lineage of past and future users.
THE STORIES OUR THINGS TELL OF US
Thursday March 28th, 6:30-9:00pm (8 seats available)
Fee: Free (Paid for by C Magazine - Part of their Vitamin C programming)
Tea practice is an exercise of self-conscious relation to the tools, vessels, water and tea leaves that are necessary to make a cup of tea. This might range from a minimal setup to a complex, multistep process. Either way, the objects we work with, we work with intimately.
Inspired by this intimacy, we will playfully explore our relation to objects we use through experimental flash fiction. Participants will be guided through tea drinking and verbal prompts to build a short fictional piece written from an object’s point of view of ourselves.
This event is facilitated by Jasmine Gui of Teh Studio, and is part of C Mag’s Vitamin C program, and is inspired by the article "Different Things in Different Scenes: Encountering Ichi-go Ichi-e in Tea" by Jasmine Gui in C Mag (Issue 156), which reviews the 2022 IchiGo-IchiE Tea Project.
RSVP via C Mag. This workshop has been fully booked. Please join the wait list if you are interested.
No prior writing experience necessary.
IN ONE TEA BOWL
Saturday April 13:
11:00am-12:30pm (free, paid for by C Mag - register at the C Mag website)
1:00-2:30pm (up to 8 participants) - $50 - register at Icha
Finding a mindful moment doesn't have to be complex or time consuming. All you need is a bowl, some tea and hot water. In this workshop we will discover our unique relation to the rituals of drinking tea and the understanding of the spiritual connections we have with our drinking vessels and how it can help us discover clarity, reflection and calmness in our minds. In engaging in a bowl of tea we can find a moment of peace. This workshop is co-facilitated by Carina Fung and Helen Kong.
Carina has over 10 years of experience working within the Community Mental Health Field and an even longer life time as a tea enthusiast. As a community mental health worker she has had the opportunity to work with a wide range of individuals and community support programs. Through her work she has had the privilege of witnessing the importance of building community connections and engaging self connecting in the journey of self recovery. As a lifelong tea practitioner, it has also not been lost on her, the practice of tea as a tool for mental wellness. Tea has a way of connecting individuals to a greater community but also an instrument in seeking knowledge within the self. As such Carina continues to pursue a path in which she can merge her professional experience with her passion for tea.
Helen Kong is the owner of Secret Teatime, a clay maker space hidden in Scarborough. She specializes in making teawares for Japanese and Chinese Tea. She is also an ongoing student/practitioner of Chado (The Japanese Way of Tea). The way of tea is her guide in life and in her creative practice. Tea has been the source of inspiration and sense of grounding during times of life/creative burnout. It’s a lifelong journey of learning and development. Currently, Helen is stepping into a new role in organizing collaborative group projects and creating multisensory tea experiences in hopes to mutually promote and support local makers and small businesses.
Tea #1: Bilouchun
Tea #2: A surprise selection
The 11:00 workshop paid for by C Magazine is fully booked. Please join their wait list or book the paid workshop at 1:00pm
A SIMPLE MATCHA RITUAL
Saturday April 20, 11:00am-12:30pm OR 1:00pm-2:30pm (up to 8 guests)
Fee: $55
Learn the basics of making a bowl of matcha in a simplified ritual with Helen Kong. There will be a demonstration on Ryakubon Temae (Tray Procedure) of making tea. This is the basic teachings of chado where it can be easily practiced with minimum tea tools in any home. After the demo, participants will be guided through a simplified version.
Helen will cover: like
- how to carve time and space to rest and enjoy this process of making and drinking tea
- how to create a ritual and have these skills transferable to other mindful mediums
- how to care for your own teawares and tea tools
Sweet: a piece of dried fruit and wasanbon (Japanese pressed fine sugar candy)
Tea: Koyamaen Kinrin Matcha