Gerard Menzel Artist Profile

Gerard Menzel; Artist
                      

Gerard has been the student of the renowned Andre Sollier since 1985 one of the few western Sumie masters and author of books on Kyudo and Sumie. He has exhibited on numerous occasions and taught school children and adults at art society's and colleges. He has received grants from the NAVA, National Assoc. Visual Artists, and the SA Education dept CARCLEW,
History of the Artist
1985 Student of Andre Sollier Melb. C.A.E Sumie artist/author.
1987 Solo exhibitions in Wadenswil and Zurich Switzerland
1988 Solo Exhibition in the Shiatsu centre Adelaide

1989 Sumie the art of meditation, exhibition Indian Dance studio Adelaide
1990 Combined writers and artist exhibition M.A.C. space Adelaide
1991 Watermarks Exhibition M.A.C. space Adelaide and Kapunda Gallery

1992 The sound of the wind, Exhibition the Prospect Gallery Adelaide
1993 Sunya...Empty space, Exhibition at the Lotus Sumie Gallery Adelaide
1993 A Retrospective Sumie Adelaide lending Library
1994 Serenity is not a Raging bull exhibition Lotus studio " "
1995 Sumie and Haiku Lotus studio Lotus Studio Adelaide
1998 Sumie Meanderings Golden light studio Adelaide
2008 Radmac art centre Ballarat exhibition of works

Community Art , Awards and Grants
1988 school touring
NAVA award grant 1992 for exhibition installation
Artist in Schools grant 1994, and 1997 Carclew,
S.A Ed Dept. Touring Schools grant state of Play 1997
Workshop Australia Japan Assoc 1993 1995, member Australia Japan Assoc
Workhops given Asia education Foundation 1994 SA, 2000 Vic
Art Instructor Workers Education foundation  SA 1992-1997
From 2000  Gerard worked and traveled in China, Korea and Japan
2004 Dept Arts Vic Artist in Schools grant St Bernards College Essendon
2008 Vic arts Grant Sumie with Publishing Artist Ballarat Vic


Artist in schools touring
See wildlotus-arts.blogspot.com and go to school workshops for the full touring programe started in 1990  Gerard has toured hundreds of schools teaching Asian arts based programes in primary/secondary and higher education.  The focus of the workshops include oriental painting, Indian music, martial arts and Tai Chi, Yoga
Gerard is also a qualified yoga, tai chi and Aikido teacher.  He has toured with the Vietnamese musician Dang Tao extensively since 1992 including ABC radio performances, CD production with the band Bamboo Ochre a world music band.

                                 

1992 The sound of the wind, Exhibition

1992 The sound of the wind, Exhibition the Prospect Gallery Adelaide

Soundtrack East West fusion music

The Music on this video is by Dhang Thao and Bamboo Ochre band

If you would like a copy of the CD contact 61407734479 or email Gerard email gmenzel@hotmail.com

Cost $15 plus postage

Bamboo Ochre band  From Left;  David Hung Gerard Cathy Thao

CD Zither Nostalgia

Contents 14 tracks Plus booklet with beautiful explanation of songs and Vietnamese music.

Side 1                                                                               Side 2
Sound of Joy                                                                     Xang Xe
Evening Dew                                                                     Meditation
Soundless Path                                                                  Dang DanCung
Song of the starling                                                            Van Thien Cung
Flowing Water                                                                   Fond Remembrance
Longing                                                                             Binh Ban Van
Parting                                                                               Dreaming

What is Sumie?

What is Sumie?

Ikebana displayed kindly at the exhibitionby Marjorie Bromilow Adelaide.

SALE; Sumie Cards

Sumi Cards for sale

Packs of 10 or more ;

                               small $25     ;         plus post + GST

                               large $37.50      ;    plus post + GST 

Individual cards

$3.20 small            $4.50 large

small envelope 23x10cm   @   $2.50 each plus GST

large half A4 21x15cm   @     $3.75 each plus GST

Wholesale

prices for cards

5% discount Minimum purchase $30

10% discount Minimum purchase $50

Paper types

210GSM white

150 GSM marble

100 GSM white textured (very soft and light feel)

100 GSM parchment (clear crisp soft and light)

How to order

Go to wildlotus-arts.blogspot.com.au

Copy and paste the order form into an email. Or Phone 0407734479 or Mail (ring for details)

I will send you a confirmation with the final package and postage cost in an invoice.

Payment options;

1 Pay into my bank account after I send you the invoice by email usually (or post)

2 Australia Post Cash on delivery 

Normal Mail

Unless requested all cards are sent ordinary mail. 

Registered Mail

You have the option to Register your post which is advised as it has a tracking code.

I will send you a copy of the receipt for the mail order to you by email once it is sent.

Returns and refunds

If you are not satisfied with the product just send them back within 7 days undamaged and I will refund your money less a handling fee of $10

Order Form

Booking details.

Contact:

Phone

Post address:

Email

Note;  postage costs will be added to the total

Email form to gmenzel @ hotmail.com  0407734479 Mob.

/          

No of cards	Packs of 10	Large	Small	Image	Cost:

Large Cards

large half A4 21x15cm @ $4.50 each



Haiku style poetry

The Haiku poetry is a Zen literary form.
On each large card is a haiku style poem.
Usually it is 17syllable but it is best suited to Japanese.
 I have not stuck to this rule for this.

The form is characterized by minimalism and the observation of nature and the seasons.
It is a potent word picture on a "moment in time and place".




Leaping frog Haiku on rear side large card

Small cards

small envelope 23x10cm @ $3 each

small envelope 23x10cm @ $3 each

Large and Small Cards

Type; blank, expanding greeting card style

 mountainman small envelope 23x10cm @ $3 each



Haiku rear side large card

small village in mountain

dragon

Green dragon

large half A4

                                                                    Rear side Haiku

small size and large half A4

flute player

Haru's cherries with Haiku inset

Two blackbirds feasting
On his cherry tree...
Now Haru is angry!

Haru's cherries small size

Little fishing boats


Boats bobbing up and  down
Like floaters
The clunking of hulls

large half A4

small village in mountain

large half A4

                                         Silence and the distant snow
                                         Memories fade like flakes
                                         Melting Dawn

Postcard style
Details; Picture on the front and empty on the back 

Postcard type

                                       

Lao Tzu and Guoyang Temple China

In 2008 when I was teaching in China at Huinan University one of my students took me to her village of Guoyang which happened to be one of the 2 disputed birthplaces of the famous Chinese philosopher poets Lao Tzu who wrote the Tao Te Ching.

The town itself was unremarkable insofar as it was like many other Chinese towns but within the walls of the town there was an amazing history of Chinese history.In between dining out with my guests from the local school and getting horribly drunk as a result and making an idiot of myself doing Tai Chi in the town square I was quite amazed by the atmosphere of this quite unknown place an definitely not on the normal tourist route for tourists.

Guoyang Temple museum

Here are some of the pictures from the amazing temple museum to Lao Tzu fro Guoyang. For a reader and lover of Tao it was much like a wish fulfilled dream.  My student Lavender took me there to meet her father a teacher.  It was only after I left and returned to the university that I was able to take it all in. Some travels are like dreaming aren't they.  They far exceed ones expectations and imaginings.  Life sometimes exceeds our expectations of reality in its surprises and  beauty.

In the middle of the entrance walk was a huge yin yang symbol in the tiled path. Everything in the temple was buperbly handcrafted with great dexterity, love and care.  It was akin to entering a religious space.

Around the walls of the various buildings was a pictoral and written narative of the sages life from birth to when he passed on. There was beautiful caligraphy in various styles that just took you breath away.

The fine lined drawings of Lao were breathtaking in their sense of poise and calm.  The subtlety of  colour and use of subdued colour was wonderful.

History of Lao Tzu go here;

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ki-Lo/Lao-Tzu.html#b

Materials for new students

Sumie materials
sumi - ink,  fude - brush, Kami - paper,  suzuri - ink stone 

Materials

Brush - Fude
We use goat hair brushes called calligraphy brush length 23 to 26 cm from tip of hair to top of handle Medium to larger

Ink - Sumi 
Sumi stick, a solid block of ink about 10cm long x 2cm wide

A small miniature saucer 
This is for mixing the ink. I use the small soy sauce saucers 8cm to 10cm across available at any Chinese grocery for about 80cents each

Paper - Kami
A4 or A3 butchers paper / newsprint reams available at art shops or butchers shops over the counter. For advanced students rice paper is needed.

Paper tissue towel used in kitchens for absorbing water from the brush drying hands alternatively use and absorbent cloth like cotton.

Water containers - Misukashi
1 glass jar 250 ml volume size

One Felt Cloth to put under your painting paper, size A3


Where to purchase equipment?

Ask your teacher when you book 04077344479 Most art shops can order materials.

Information links
See video of materials here

Baba Virsa Singh

Looking for the way- Wandering youth or spiritual struggle

The 70’s and 80’s were a period of extremes. People in the west were affected by the two significant arenas; 1. the Vietnam war and 2, the Peace movement emanating out of the 60’s. As a result I hated the images and aftermath of war as a young teenager in the 60’s and later at university yearned for a more emotional and spiritually satisfying way to live.  This story is about a man who entered my life when I was not expecting it.  It seems all like a dream now, some years after he left this world we humans call earth.  


His name was Baba Virsa Singh, (or "Maharaj" Great King to his followers) a Sikh by birth from a small town in the Punjab (Sarawan Bodla 363klms NW of Delhi) who was for all intents and purposes illiterate. Despite this he was able to infuse people about him with the spirit of love and kindness as well as heal the emotional mental and physical being. Those who were able to meet him were surely blessed by some sacred karma beyond their dreams.  I am forever indebted to his love.


This is an extract from a book I am writing on my time with Baba from 1991 to 2007 when he died. 
See www.gobindsadan.org for more on his spiritual community called "The Farm"


Here is Babaji's mantra

EK ONKAR SAT NAM SIRE WAHE GURU


This is the principal mantra from Baba Virsah Singh to his followers.

IK ONKAR SAT NAM SIRE WAHE GURU

Translation; One God whose name is truth , unspeakably wonderful Master of both light and darkness.  See Gobindsadan.org for more.







Music, tabla and harmonium by Gerard Menzel
copyright
Please contact Gerard Menzel for any reason you wish to copy and reuse this music.






The fire is called a 'haven' where the mantras and prayers are sung and recited by.

This mantra used daily throughout your life will make ones soul peaceful.