Asian Mindful Art

Asian-inspired Art Activities with a

Mindfulness Approach

Learn about Asia and create original artwork mindfully! Surapsari ("Sari") Megumi Fujimaru grew up in Japan, lived in Bali, and studied holistic wellness in India. She is a certified teaching artist and has taught at K-12 schools, libraries, and other educational venues for 20 years. As the former Education Specialist at the Asian American Resource Center (City of Austin), Sari designed, directed, and taught the 8-week Creative Mindfulness Youth Camp, where one hundred 6 to 10-year-old day campers enjoyed Asia-themed mindful arts. She shares her experience and knowledge with classroom teachers in her professional learning program, Introduce Mindfulness into Your Classroom. In addition to teaching at public venues and online, Sari offers workshops at her private retreat facility in Driftwood. 

Balinese Shadow Puppet (Grade K-12)

Enjoy a short shadow puppet play based on a beloved Indonesian folktale about a mischievous mouse-deer (K-3) or learn about unique shadow puppet styles in India, Indonesia, Thailand, and China (4-12).

Make a shadow puppet and try it with the screen and light.

Feeling Art (Grade K-12)

Learn how the Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama, expresses her emotion with polka dots. Create an original artwork with different shapes and lines that represent your feelings. SEL program.

Manga Drawing (Grades 1-12)

Practice drawing manga characters and make a manga bookmark.

Peace Origami (Grades 3-12)

Learn about the Japanese legend of a thousand origami cranes and the importance of taking action for peace. Fold origami doves (grades 3-4) or cranes (grades 5-12) and dedicate them to the Children's Peace Monument in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (optional).

Japanese Chigiri-e (Grades 3-12)

Carefully tear Japanese paper to create collage art that expresses the beauty in nature.

Haiku Bookmark (Grades 3-12)

Express the beauty of a season as a haiku poem and create a bookmark that features your haiku and matching image.

Indian Henna Design Drawing (Grades 3-12)

Learn about the symbolism of basic henna designs and make a greeting card with your henna drawing.

Mandala Art (Grades 3-12)

Look into your heart and express your feelings as mandala collage (3-5) or drawing (6-12). SEL program.

Japanese Calligraphy (Grades 6-12)

Learn about the Japanese writing system and write Zen words mindfully with a brush and ink.

Asian Herbal & Spice Teas (Grades 6-12)

Learn about herbal and spice tea making in diverse Asian cultures.

Make your own herbal tea blend and enjoy tasting it in class.

Introduce Mindfulness into Your Classroom (Professional Learning)

Mindfulness is paying attention to what is happening at this moment, inside and outside of us. Research shows that mindfulness increases student focus, classroom engagement, and empathy. It helps students deal with stress, disturbing emotions, and interpersonal conflict. This workshop begins with participating teachers trying mindfulness practices. They will learn how to make them kid-friendly and incorporate them into daily classroom activities, from beginning and ending-of-class rituals to mindfulness art projects during time-outs. Sari will share teaching tips she gained while directing and teaching the 8-week Creative Mindfulness Youth Camp at the Asian American Resource Center, City of Austin.

Testimonial

“I received many unsolicited and favorable comments from teachers – more than I’ve had from any other cultural arts event I’ve helped with. The workshops were very efficient and effective. The second-grade teachers plan to tie in their unit on fables to this experience.“

​- Janet Alexander. Wiley Elementary School, Raleigh, NC

For more information, visit https://www.surapsari.com/youth-teen-programs

Contact:
Sari
Telephone: (941) 445-0608
Email: info@surapsari.com