Foreword
We are honoured to announce a deeper collaboration between WeCare and the Australian Calligraphers Association as well as the Australian Painters Association (hereinafter referred to as ACA). Together, we are eager to explore more exciting joint activities to enrich the lives of WeCare seniors.
As part of this collaboration, WeCare and ACA will jointly host calligraphy and painting classes on the penultimate Thursday of each month at the WeCare Activity Center located in the Hoshi Wei community. These activities aim to expose more seniors to Chinese culture’s unique charm and its calligraphic traditions’ beauty. We believe such cultural experiences will not only enrich the spiritual lives of our seniors but also bring them joy and inspiration through art.
WeCare and ACA
Our collaborative efforts with ACA are already extensive. Earlier this year, as a major sponsor, WeCare supported ACA’s 7th Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Spring Gala, an event that significantly extended the influence of Chinese traditional culture in Australia and allowed many Chinese Australians to share in this cultural celebration.
Following this, at WeCare’s annual client meeting, we invited friends from ACA to add diversity to this significant gathering. After the meeting, we organized a session where senior clients could experience the fun of calligraphy and painting firsthand. These activities have sparked great enthusiasm among WeCare seniors for such culturally rich events, where they enhance their aesthetic appreciation and learn new skills.
Many seniors, including those without prior experience in calligraphy and painting, have expressed a strong interest in participating in more such educational sessions, often inquiring about future opportunities. Those already skilled in these arts have shown a keen interest in engaging more deeply with professionals to learn advanced techniques. Thus, WeCare plans to collaborate further with ACA in offering more calligraphy and painting classes to meet the demand and promote the aesthetics of Chinese culture.
WeCare Calligraphy & Painting Classes
In response to the eager anticipation of our seniors, WeCare and ACA have launched dedicated calligraphy and painting classes. We have invited many talented instructors from ACA to provide high-quality lessons to each senior.
Moreover, WeCare is committed to ensuring variety and freshness in the classes, updating the content monthly. For instance, the class on April 24th was a calligraphy lesson by Master Zhou Daoyuan, and the session on May 23rd will be a traditional Chinese painting class led by Master Liu Jige. These instructors are not only skilled artists but also passionate educators in traditional Chinese arts.
In addition to Masters Zhou and Liu, we also have esteemed artists like Mr. Wang Yongde, founder of the Yanling style of calligraphy and a significant contributor to the digital Chinese character database, who has held personal exhibitions in China, Australia, and the USA. ACA’s instructors are eager to showcase their talents and share their creative insights with our seniors, helping to promote traditional Chinese culture.
We hope that WeCare’s activity classes not only enrich the cultural lives of our seniors but also provide them a platform for learning and social interaction, allowing every senior to find their place in the world of art.
The success of WeCare’s First Calligraphy Class
Due to the public holiday schedule, WeCare’s inaugural calligraphy class was held on Wednesday, April 24th. At 10 AM, seniors began arriving at the WeCare Activity Center. Some had previous calligraphy experience, while many were novices, unfamiliar even with how to hold a brush. Nonetheless, all participants were keenly discussing their perceptions and experiences with calligraphy.
By 10:30 AM, ACA’s Zhou Daoyuan arrived, and the class officially began. A young talent within the association, Zhou has participated in and organized numerous exhibitions and has deep insights into calligraphy. He started the class by having each senior write their name and explained different calligraphic styles. He also discussed the evolution of Chinese script through the dynasties and shared key techniques for writing well. This wealth of knowledge was highly appreciated by the seniors, who admired Zhou’s teaching skills.
After the lecture, Zhou demonstrated how to copy calligraphy and the proper brush techniques, recommending specific models for each senior to practice. At the end of the class, he asked the seniors to take home their first written names and assigned homework, looking forward to seeing their progress in the next session in June.
To facilitate focused artistic creation, WeCare provided ample calligraphy supplies and refreshments. The care and attention to detail shown by WeCare were greatly appreciated by both ACA instructors and senior clients. The event not only broadened their knowledge and filled their time beautifully but also garnered high praise for the quality of WeCare’s services and the calibre of its senior clients. All parties were highly satisfied with the event.
Conclusion
As Sydney’s most professional Chinese care service provider, WeCare deeply understands our responsibilities to our senior clients. We are committed to offering valuable and insightful courses that allow seniors to learn and understand.
