Winding Stream Tea Ceremony
1.5-Hour Retreat
Date
Sunday, November 9, 1:00–2:30 PM or 4:00–5:30 PM
Price
$70
Early Bird Price
$63
*Please wear comfortable clothes for the event.
*Includes two courses of premium Chinese tea and a handcrafted, low-calorie dessert.
*Up to 15 participants per session.
*Private group sessions for this workshop are available. For inquiries, please contact echoyuhe@fougallery.com
Fou Gallery and Teasthetic invite you to join The Winding Stream Tea Ceremony, which will resonate with our current exhibition with artist Saba Farhoudnia: Forsaken with the Side of Pickles. Guided by tea artisan Gong Mengyan, guests will be seated on both sides of a meticulously designed tea stage inspired by Qu Shui Liu Shang — the Winding Stream Party of ancient Chinese scholars, using tea utensils crafted by multi-disciplinary artist Ruth Borgenicht.
In this poetic tradition, cups of wine once floated along a winding stream. Whenever a cup stopped, the guest before it would drink and often improvise — composing a poem or performance on the spot. Blending poetry, nature, and ceremonial drinking, this ritual became an early inspiration for literary-scholarly gatherings.
Our tea ceremony reimagines the flowing spirit of this tradition as a serene tea experience:
Gather around the tea stage: Sit by a winding-stream-shaped stage on the wooden floor of Fou Gallery, adorned with carefully chosen teaware and seasonal floral arrangements.
Begin with meditation: Take part in a guided meditation, then flow into an intimate tea ceremony that reconnects you with your inner self and awakens awareness.
Taste seasonal teas & dessert: Savor two premium Chinese teas, masterfully brewed and thoughtfully chosen to reflect the season, paired with a hand-molded seasonal wagashi. Together, they harmonize with the moment and enrich the sensory experience.
Sip with intention: Sip from handcrafted cups by artist Ruth Borgenicht — rounded and textured like river stones, you are invited to hold each cup with intention, grounding every gesture in the present moment.
The entire experience is a quiet celebration of presence—an invitation to taste, reflect, and connect with ritual, nature, and both self and others.
Instructor
Mengyan Gong is a tea artist, pursued in-depth studies of Chinese tea culture after earning her Ph.D. from Tsinghua University in 2015, apprenticing under the highly innovative tea master Li Shuyun. Mengyan has collaborated with institutions, such as Penn State University, Suffolk County Community College and Tea Arts & Culture, as well as art and cultural venues like Fou Gallery, host numerous tea gatherings and educational events. In 2023, she founded Teasthetic, with a mission to spread the tradition of Chinese tea art and culture in a modern and innovative manner by drawing inspiration from contemporary life and art.
Payment and Cancellation Policy
At Fou Gallery, we are dedicated to offering meaningful and enriching experiences through our courses. Due to the intimate nature of our programs and the detailed planning required with our instructors, we kindly ask for your understanding of our non-refundable policy. Once registered for a course, all payments are final and cannot be refunded.
