Asian Arts New York Workshop Series | October 20 – December 19, 2026
Meditative Mental Health with Eastern Arts
Explore mindfulness, creativity, and well-being through traditional Eastern arts.
This workshop series is supported by: The Arts Center of the Capital Region's Statewide Community Regrant Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Upcoming Workshops
Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 5:30–7:00 PM
Meditation in Miniature: The Mindful Art of Chinese Seal Carving
Location: 435 New Karner Road, Hanover Square, Hill Street Entrance, Albany, NY 12205
Featured Artist: Anping Liu
Discover how the ancient art of Chinese seal carving can become a practice of mindfulness, patience, and inner calm.
Rooted in poetry, calligraphy, seal carving, and painting, Anping Liu's artistic journey reflects the rich tradition of Chinese literati arts. For centuries, scholars practiced these interconnected disciplines to cultivate character, express personal ideals, and find harmony between mind and art.
Through the careful design and carving of intricate characters within a small space, seal carving encourages concentration, patience, and a meditative state of mind. Each deliberate movement invites us to slow down, quiet our thoughts, and experience the calming power of artistic creation.
Explore how this miniature art form connects with Chinese painting and offers a meaningful path toward mindfulness, creativity, and emotional well-being.
Part of AANY's Meditative Mental Health with Eastern Arts Workshop Series.
Free and open to the public. Registration required.
Register WorkshopThursday, November 5, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 PM
Meditation with Healing Music
Location: Singles Outreach, 435 New Karner Road, Hanover Square, Hill Street Entrance, Albany, NY 12205
Featured Artists: Wenrui Shi — Guqin; Renjie Song — Xiao; Wei Qin — Tibetan Singing Bowl
Join Asian Arts New York for Healing Music, a special community workshop exploring the connection between traditional Eastern music, mindfulness, and well-being.
This workshop introduces the meditative qualities of traditional Chinese instruments and live music. Wei Qin will guide participants through Tibetan singing bowls, inviting them to slow down, listen deeply, and explore the calming effects of sound and mindful awareness.
Featured Artists
- Wenrui Shi — Guqin
- Renjie Song — Xiao
- Wei Qin — Tibetan Singing Bowl
Part of AANY's Meditative Mental Health with Eastern Arts Workshop Series.
Free and open to the public. Registration required.
Register Workshop
Sunday, November 22, 2026 | 1:00–3:00 PM
Meditation in Soft Brush Art — Chinese Calligraphy and Painting
Location: Shaker Heritage Society, 25 Meeting House Rd, Albany, NY 12211
Featured Artist: Richard Wang
Skilled in all five traditional Chinese calligraphy styles—Seal, Clerical, Regular, Running, and Cursive—as well as Chinese painting, Richard Wang views brushwork as both an artistic expression and a meditative practice.
Through the gentle rhythm of brush and ink, participants can explore mindfulness, creativity, concentration, and inner peace.
Part of AANY's Meditative Mental Health with Eastern Arts Workshop Series.
Free and open to the public. Registration required.
Register WorkshopCommunity Arts & Wellness Programs
Upcoming Programs
Past Programs
2026-12-07
The Miniature Landscape of Chinese Art: Penjing/Bonsai
Artist: Renjie Song
Time: Monday, December 7, 11:00 AM
Location: East Greenbush Community Library
Presented by: Asian Arts New York
Join Asian Arts New York for a special workshop exploring Penjing/Bonsai, the art of creating miniature landscapes that reflect the spirit and beauty of traditional Chinese landscape painting.
Through this living art form, participants will discover how nature, balance, composition, and patience come together to create a miniature landscape. The workshop offers an opportunity to slow down, observe, and experience the quiet, meditative qualities of working with nature.
Part of AANY’s Meditative Mental Health & Eastern Arts workshop series, this program explores how traditional Eastern arts encourage mindfulness, creativity, and a deeper connection with nature.
Come discover a miniature world where art, nature, and mindfulness meet.
Registration required.
Register
2026-10-03
Mindful Tea Ceremony: Meditation, Mental Health, and Eastern Arts
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Guilderland Public Library
Please join us for a meditative morning presented by Asian Arts New York as we’re led through the elements of a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Live musicians will provide a healing musical ambience for this performing arts workshop. Slow down and appreciate the present moment through the elegance and ritual of traditional tea culture.
Workshop Includes:
- Guided breathing & meditation
- Live music
- Traditional tea ceremony demonstration
- Guided tea tasting and cultural discussion
This program is intended for adults. Registration is required.
Register🍂 AANY September 2026 Workshop Series
Mindfulness • Art • Culture • Connection
Free and open to the public — registration required.
September 12 | 1:30–3:00 PM
🎵 Mindfulness Through Healing Music
By AANY Featured Musicians Renjie Song & Wenrui Shi
Experience the calming and restorative qualities of traditional Asian music through live demonstration and guided listening.
September 19 | 1:30–3:00 PM
🌿 Mindfulness Through Penjing/Bonsai
The Miniature Landscape of Chinese Art
By AANY Featured Artist Renjie Song
Explore the beauty and meditative quality of Penjing/Bonsai, a living art form inspired by the principles of Chinese landscape painting.
September 25 | 6:00–7:30 PM
🏮 An Art Journey Through Mainland China’s Midwest
A Conversation with Wei Qin
By AANY President Wei Qin
Join us for a personal journey through the landscapes, cultures, and artistic traditions of China's mid-western region.
Location & Venue Partner:
THINGS! GLOBAL EXPERIENCES Gallery & Boutique
Suite 10, Stonewell Plaza
1969 New Scotland Road
Slingerlands, NY
Come slow down, experience art, and connect with culture.
Asian Arts New York — Building Bridges Through Art.
Acknowledgments: The Arts Center of the Capital Region's Statewide Community Regrant Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
📚 Library Wellness Programs
Ink of Healing: How Chinese Calligraphy Cultivates Focus & Calm
Hosted by: Guilderland Public Library — 2228 Western Ave, Guilderland
Featured Asian Arts New York Artist: Richard Wang
Date & Time: February 23, 2026 - February 25, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 PM
Registration: Ink of Healing: Chinese Calligraphy Workshop
Discover the meditative beauty of Chinese calligraphy—an art form rooted in breath, rhythm, and stillness. In this introductory workshop, participants will learn foundational brush techniques, character structure, and the essential tools used in traditional Chinese calligraphy.
Through slow, intentional practice, we explore how ink and movement can support focus, mindfulness, and emotional calm. Participants will write selected characters, explore their cultural meaning, and create a personal calligraphy work to take home.
No experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to slow down, breathe, and enjoy the process.
Register
Gentle Strength: Tai Chi for Mind & Body
Hosted by: Guilderland Public Library
Featured Asian Arts New York Artist: Master Sandra L. Balint
Dates: February 10 – March 31, 2026
Schedule: Once per week | Tuesdays | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (8-week series)
Tai Chi is a practice where breath, balance, and movement align. In this 8-week program, Master Sandra L. Balint introduces participants to Sun Style Tai Chi through gentle sequences designed to improve focus, flexibility, and inner calm.
Perfect for beginners and experienced practitioners alike, this workshop encourages relaxation, body awareness, and stress relief—one slow breath at a time.
Master Sandra L. Balint is a nationally certified Tai Chi instructor, black belt, and published writer who has taught Sun Style Tai Chi since 1998. She has earned multiple medals—including an international silver medal—and performed and instructed at major events such as the Tai Chi Gala.
Register
Ink of Healing: How Chinese Calligraphy Cultivates Focus & Calm
Hosted by: Niskayuna Library — 2400 Nott St E, Schenectady, NY 12309
Featured Asian Arts New York Artist: Richard Wang
Date & Time: March 2, 2026 | 5:30–7:00 PM
Experience the quiet strength of ink on paper—where breath meets movement and each stroke becomes a moment of focus. This beginner-friendly session introduces the tools, rhythm, and structure of traditional brush writing while guiding participants through mindful practice that nurtures calm and clarity.
Attendees will write selected characters, learn their cultural significance, and leave with their own completed piece of calligraphy.
Open to all levels—no prior training needed.
RegisterOngoing Program Series
🧘 New Workshop Series
Meditative Mental Health and Eastern Arts
Workshop Series
Meditative Mental Health and Eastern Arts is a multidisciplinary community arts project designed to promote mental well-being through the healing power of traditional Asian art forms.
Centered on the idea that “five forms of art serve one purpose,” the program invites participants to slow down, enter a meditative state, and reconnect with themselves through artistic practice.
The program features five interconnected disciplines:
- Asian Penjing (Bonsai): Cultivating patience, balance, and harmony with nature
- Tea Ceremony: Fostering mindfulness, presence, and ritual awareness
- Healing Music: Featuring the vertical bamboo flute (xiao), guqin, and Tibetan singing bowls to create immersive soundscapes for relaxation and reflection
- Ink Arts: Including calligraphy and Chinese painting, encouraging focus, breath control, and expressive stillness
- Meditation in Motion: Korean dance (Seon) and Tai Chi, integrating slow, intentional movement, rhythmic breathing, and embodied mindfulness
Booking is now available. For more information or to schedule a program, please contact ed@asianartsny.org.
Acknowledgments: The Arts Center of the Capital Region's Statewide Community Regrant Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Past Program Highlights
🧘♀️ Asian Arts New York – Past Program
The Healing Power of Tai Chi
Instructor: Master Sandra Balint
This Fall & Winter Tai Chi program explored the healing and meditative qualities of Sun style Tai Chi through guided movement, breath work, and mindful practice. Designed to be accessible for participants of all ages, the program emphasized balance, relaxation, and overall well-being.
Led by Master Sandra Balint, the class introduced students to the core principles of Tai Chi as both a martial art and a holistic wellness practice.
🎨 Asian Arts New York – Past Program
Begin Your Journey into Chinese Painting
Instructor: Dr. Anping Liu
This Fall & Winter Chinese Painting program introduced students to the fundamentals of traditional Chinese brush painting, emphasizing expressive brushwork, ink techniques, and the relationship between movement and meaning.
Under the guidance of Dr. Anping Liu, participants explored classical subjects such as bamboo, orchid, landscape, and water, developing both technical skills and artistic sensibility rooted in Chinese artistic philosophy.
“The brush follows the heart, the ink echoes the soul.”
Explore Chinese Painting & Fine Arts at Asian Arts New York →
🎭 Asian Arts New York – Past Program
The Art of Majesty Movements in Peking Opera
Instructor: Wenhua Nie
This Chinese Opera Academy program introduced students to foundational movement training in Peking Opera, emphasizing posture, stage presence, and expressive coordination of hands, eyes, body, method, and steps.
Led by Wenhua Nie—an acclaimed performer and instructor—participants explored movement vocabulary associated with classical role types including Hua dan and Daoma dan, experiencing the discipline and beauty of traditional Chinese opera training.
Watch more highlights: Performance / Teaching
Program Offerings
🎭 Performing Arts Workshops
• Dragon Dance: In Motion — Where Tradition Meets Performance
• Tai Chi: Grace in Motion — Fan and Sword Techniques
• Peking Opera: Movement and Meaning — Inside the Art of Peking Opera
• Chinese Tea Ceremony: A Journey into the Art of Life
• Folk Dance: Experience Dance from East Asia
📚 Lecture Series
• Unlocking the Key Elements of Chinese Painting
• Calligraphy — From Brush Stroke to Meditation
• History and Techniques of Seal Making
• The Healing Power of Tai Chi: Mindfulness in Motion
• Chinese Tea Ceremony: A Journey into the Art of Life
• Grace in Motion: Tai Chi Fan and Sword Techniques
• Exploring the History and Majesty of Peking Opera
• Sounds of Tradition: An Immersive Journey into East Asian Folk Music
🏧 Community Programs
• Young Artist Empowerment Workshop: Heritage Arts and Its Impact on Children and Youth
• Community Arts Panel Discussion: Community Art and Unity
For enquiries, contact us at: ed@asianartsny.org
