It’s not much notice, but if you’re a fan of Japanese gardens and you’re anywhere near Richmond, Indiana, this weekend, you might like to learn about “Japanese Garden Principles in the Native Landscape”.

Landscape artist David Slawson will present his new film, Evoking Native Landscape Using Japanese Garden Principles (32 minutes), followed by a discussion on the principles and aesthetics of Japanese garden design.

The event is open to the public at no charge from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday (March 8, 2013) in Room 105 of the Landrum Bolling Center on the campus of Earlham College, 801 National Road West, Richmond, Indiana (map).

Dr. Slawson is one of America’s most highly regarded landscape artists trained in the Japanese garden tradition. During his 40 years of design, writing, and teaching, he has defined the leading edge of how the universal principles of this art form can be creatively interpreted to evoke the beauty of native landscape in North America and throughout the world.

He apprenticed in Kyoto in 1971-72 under Kinsaku Nakane, one of Japan’s foremost 20th century garden makers. After several years in practice he returned to Japan on a Fulbright doctoral fellowship to further his study of traditional gardens. His book, Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens: Design Principles, Aesthetic Values (Kodansha, 1987), is regarded as a classic for its presentation of landscape design.

SIt’s sponsored by the Japanese Studies Program at Earlham. For more information contact Meghen Jones, jonesme@earlham.edu; 765:983-1884.

Here’s a video to whet your appetite:

(Photo courtesy of Slawson Creations)