July 13, 2025 - July 20, 2025

Kurinuki – The Ancient Japanese Carving Technique

Kurinuki – The Ancient Japanese Carving Technique

WORKSHOP COST:
2.150,0€
Workshop Dates:
July 13, 2025 - July 20, 2025
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About the Workshop

Kurinuki (the term is Japanese) is a Japanese ceramic technique that embraces the natural surface of the clay and the individual imperfections that form in the intuitive process of making. Each vase is hand built and hand carved inside and out.

The kurinuki process is a "sculptural" technique of volume formation: instead of adding material, as happens in the dovetail or slab construction, we start from the block of clay and gradually remove it, digging internally and modeling the external wall with the help of tools, until the desired shape is obtained. It is therefore a question, as in sculpture, of freeing a form enclosed in the formless.The idea of ​​the artistic object may not be clear at the beginning: it is precisely the lack of clarity (not seeing clearly) that guides the path, that digs a path. What he obtains in the end is a symbol, something that continues to be linked to his origins, but like a child his destiny is autonomous.

The program will also be a way to travel internally, allowing yourself to abandon yourself to this ancient art, creating unique objects linked to Zen culture with different stoneware clays.  At the end, a tasting of Japanese tea will be offered on cups made of kurinuki.

To complement the program, a visit to the famous Deruta, its museum dedicated to majolica and a Deruta artisan workshop.

Throughout the workshop, participants will be housed in the remarkably well-preserved Umbrian hill town of Monte Castello di Vibio. Your workshop package is all-inclusive, providing welcome and departure services and airport transfer from the Rome Fiumicino, Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO). Aboard our comfortable private bus, single occupancy accommodations with shared bath (a wide range of upgrades with private bath are available), 3 meals per day Monday-Thursday, Prosecco brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday (no meals are served on Friday, our excursion day. Your workshop includes one excursion per week and many additional options are available on weekends for an additional fee. Of course, 24/7 access to facilities and 24/7 bi-lingual support are provided.

 

                

Meet The Instructors

Included Amenities

Click on the links below for detailed information about our included amenities.
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  • Airport transfer from and to the Leonardo da Vinci Rome/Fiumicino Airport (FCO) aboard our private bus (on scheduled dates only). Bus departs the airport promptly at 12PM.
  • Airport welcome service and assistance with baggage
  • 24/7 bi-lingual support with manager on site at all times
  • All ground transport aboard private buses or our ICA van, unless otherwise specified. Licensed and insured professional driver and ICA guide accompany all excursions. Orientation at each destination is provided as is departure coordination (guide service is available upon request — unless specified — for an additional fee)
  • Village orientation and complimentary drinks provided on arrival day
  • Private access to our 5-storey tower at our Palazzo Persiane (on sign-up basis) for spectacular morning and evening views
  • Access to our art materials shop (during posted hours)
  • Thorough orientation lecture and maps provided the evening before departure
  • Return transport to the Rome/Fiumicino Airport (departs 5:30AM) with rest stop
  • Departure service/airport assistance at airport
  • Unless otherwise specified, single occupancy accommodation is provided in rooms with a view of the Tiber Valley that includes sink and vanity. Rooms are with shared bath on each level (3 rooms per bath) in our 14th century convent building, The Asilo. Apartments, rooms with private bath and AC, double rooms, group or villa accommodations are available for couples, business associates/ friends, or groups for an additional fee
  • Linens and towels provided
  • Weekly housekeeping service with change of towels and linens
  • Free washing machine access
  • Good Wi-Fi connection and access to our library and film collection
  • 3 chef-catered, gourmet meals per day (buffet breakfast, 3-course lunch, 4-course dinner) — with wine at lunch and dinner (table wine provided at lunch and dinner. An excellent wine list is offered at additional cost), while in Monte Castello
  • Group dining service is as follows, with breakfast and lunch served in our dining room, etc, with dinner (weather permitting) served on our private terrace overlooking the Tiber Valley
  • Lunch and dinner are plated as follows: pasta course, main course, vegetable, fruit/salad, dessert
  • When requested at registration, vegetarian, vegan, and special dietary options are provided
  • After dinner drinks on our terrace overlooking the Tiber valley
  • Dining service is as follows: Breakfast: 8:00 AM; Lunch: 1:00PM; Dinner: 8:00 PM. No meals are served on Fridays (excursion day) unless otherwise specified
  • On Saturday and Sunday, a full buffet brunch with fresh pastry and Prosecco is served at 11:00 AM
  • On Saturday, homemade, wood-fired pizza is served at 7:00 PM (except on departure days, when a special farewell dinner is served)
  • Sunday dinner with antipasti is served at 7:00 PM
  • Farewell dinner on the evening prior to departure
  • 24/7 access to our primary building and library is provided, including access to workspaces, studios, and ceramics facility
  • Special access to certain cultural and art collections is available upon request
  • FOR VISUAL ARTISTS: private, or semi-private secure and monitored studio space is provided (24/7 access)
  • FOR WRITERS: private workspace is provided (24/7 access)
  • FOR GROUPS: Group workspace is provided (24/7 access)
  • FOR CERAMIC ARTISTS: 24/7 access to our ceramics facility
  • Free access to lectures and events at the Teatro Concordia
  • An end of the session exhibition with reception that includes hors d'oeuvres and Prosecco in our gallery. Posters are prepared to promote the event with copies provided to all participants
  • 1 excursion per week is included (unless otherwise specified in the itinerary) aboard our private bus. Additional trips can of course be scheduled and given our central location. (Day trips are possible to as far north as Siena or Florence and as far south as Rome.)
  • Advanced reservations and ticket purchases for groups and individuals
  • Concierge services provided upon request at an hourly rate
  • Restaurant reservations (provided under Concierge services)
  • Car rental
  • Critique series with visiting visual artists
  • Artist materials workshops
  • Drawing and painting sessions from the figure
  • Cooking classes
  • Cheesemaking workshop
  • Pizza-making workshop
  • Kids cooking classes
  • Wine appreciation and Sommelier Courses
  • Wine and olive oil tastings
  • Vineyard tours
  • Truffle hunting
  • Ballroom dance classes
  • Weekend excursions to flea markets and natural sites
  • Shopping excursions to cashmere and leather outlets, to Deruta famous for fine painted traditional ceramics, and antique stores
  • Overnight excursions to the sea and day-trips to Rome beaches
  • Hot air balloon tours
  • Hot springs excursions
  • Lake Trasimeno tours
  • Umbria abandoned castle and fortress tour
  • Sustainable farming tour 
  • Babysitting services
  • Soccer, archery, and horseback riding camps for kids
  • Motorized mountain bike rentals
  • Electric car rental 
  • Golf-cart tours of Rome and Florence
  • Hiking/naturalist guides to national/regional parks - mountain hiking available
  • Fishing/Hunting Excursions

Payment Options

Refund/Cancellation Policy

Payment in full must be made within 30 days of submission of € 500 (Euro) non-refundable deposit in order to hold the reservation.

Payment in full is required within 60 days of the start of the workshop- no participant will be admitted to our airport transfer with an outstanding balance.

All payments are non-refundable after payment in full has been made - however, under certain circumstances (see below) credit from one course may be utilized for another within a one-year period.

Session Cancellation by ICARTS

ICARTS only “cancels” retreats in the event of low enrollment or in circumstances in which providing the opportunity to re-schedule is not possible.

In circumstances in which travel is interrupted due to travel restrictions or health protocols, Force Majeure (such as a: strike, riot, acts of God) ICARTS WILL NOT CANCEL and will re-schedule programs to the soonest reasonable opportunity.

In case of death or illness. of instructor, a substitution will be made at the discretion of ICARTS

Each ICA Retreat requires a minimum number of participants in attendance - including the Residency Program. While the minimum enrollment number may vary according to the timing and duration of the session, the limit is typically, six (6), to nine (9)

If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we reserve the the right to cancel those programs.

If deemed necessary, notification of cancellation will be made as soon as possible following the close of Registration or typically, 30 days before the start of the session/course/tour/event.

When a condition arises that results in a cancellation, participants will be notified and the class will be rescheduled to a later date.

In event that ICA determines that enrollment for a particular session/Retreat is insufficient, ICA will typically offer you:

(a) an option to join an alternative session/course/tour/event, within a one-year period or

(b) to defer your participation until the rescheduled date of the intended workshop

Cancellation by the Participant

Cancellation by the participant is not possible however, in certain circumstances - such as illness of the participant or illness or death of a close relative or spouse - payment may be applied to another workshop within a one-year period.

Candidates seeking to cancel due to personal hardship, illness, or death should contact the ICA in writing, stating full personal and course details. In this case, fees paid  – excluding deposit - MAY BE applied to another workshop within a one-year period. However, this withdrawal and substitution may not cause the enrollment to fall below the minimum number, and this is the case substitutions cannot be made.

Up to 90 days before a session/course/tour/event starts a participant may also request a transfer to another session/tour/course/event, provided the original session/tour/course/event still has the minimum number of participants.

NOTE:

In cases of Force Majeure (such as a: strike, riot, acts of God, unforeseen illness or death, or death of a family member) we highly recommend that your travel insurance policy include coverage for any trip cancellation that may occur prior to or afterdeparture. Policy coverage varies. Often, it is advantageous to purchase your coverage prior to reservation payments with us and your flight provider. Check your specific policy carefully for more information. See the travel insurance section of the ParticipantHandbook for more information.

Required Forms

All ICA participants; whether coming independently, with a group or through a college / university, must provide the following completed forms and information to icarts.info@gmail.com at least 2 weeks prior to attending their program. 
Emergency Contact & Medical Information »Liability Waiver »
Proof of Insurance / Travel Insurance
Itinerary and Passport
For detailed information and to download the required forms, please visit our Guides and Forms page.

Itinerary

Day 1: Sunday, July 13

Arrival in ROME FCO on Sunday 13 July

We will be waiting for you at the Infopoint column in FCO Arrivals T3.

Departure for Monte Castello di Vibio, where the International Center for the Arts is located, is scheduled for midday. We therefore advise you to book flights with an arrival in Rome no later than 10.30am, in order to have the necessary time to carry out all the procedures relating to baggage collection and passport control.

To get to Monte Castello di Vibio it takes approximately 2 hours, traffic permitting, in which you will be able to glimpse the landscapes of the Lazio countryside first and then the Umbrian one.

Once you arrive in Monte Castello, our staff will be waiting for you to assign you accommodation. You will have time for accommodation and relaxation.

In the evening, a briefing over a glass of Italian Prosecco on our terrace overlooking the Middle Tiber Valley will allow you to get to know each other and become familiar with the places and times of the services.

The welcome dinner is scheduled for 8pm

 

Day 2: Monday, July 14

Breakfast from 8am to 9am

- 9.30am departure for the laboratory

Class timetable:

- Morning 9.45am 12.45pm

- Lunch break from 12.45pm to 3pm

- Afternoon 3pm – 5.30pm

Return to Monte Castello di Vibio around 6pm

Time available for relaxation, in-depth study, knowledge of the places or for extra activities agreed in advance such as wine or oil tasting.

-Dinner at 8pm

Day 3: Tuesday, July 15

Breakfast from 8am to 9am

- 9.30am departure for the laboratory

Class timetable:

- Morning 9.45am 12.45pm

- Lunch break from 12.45pm to 3pm

- Afternoon 3pm – 5.30pm

-Return to Monte Castello di Vibio around 6pm

Time available for relaxation, in-depth study, knowledge of the places or for extra activities agreed in advance such as wine or oil tasting.

-Dinner at 8pm

Day 4: Wednesday, July 16

-Breakfast from 8am to 9am

- 9.30am departure for the laboratory

Class timetable:

- Morning 9.45am 12.45pm

- Lunch break from 12.45pm to 3pm

- Afternoon 3pm – 5.30pm

-Return to Monte Castello di Vibio around 6pm

Time available for relaxation, in-depth study, knowledge of the places or for extra activities agreed in advance such as wine or oil tasting.

-Dinner at 8pm

Day 5: Thursday, July 17

Breakfast from 8am to 9am

- 9.30am departure for the laboratory

Class timetable:

- Morning 9.45am 12.45pm

- Lunch break from 12.45pm to 3pm

- Afternoon 3pm – 5.30pm

-Return to Monte Castello di Vibio around 6pm

Time available for relaxation, in-depth study, knowledge of the places or for extra activities agreed in advance such as wine or oil tasting.

-Dinner at 8pm

Day 6: Friday, July 18

Excursion

-Visit to the Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Bagni in Casilina where you can admire an ancient place of worship dedicated to the Virgin, famous for the hand-painted majolica representing the votive offerings of the faithful.

-Visit to the Deruta Regional Ceramics Museum, (ticket included)the oldest Italian museum for ceramics. Its foundation dates back to 1898 thanks to the Deruta notary Francesco Briganti who had the idea of ​​establishing an "artistic museum for majolica workers".

-Lunch (included)

-Visit to Rolando and Goffredo Nulli's artisan workshop, a family-run workshop where majolica is made entirely by hand.

Their qualified production keeps the tradition alive by recalling the classic decorations of the various Deruta periods.

Nulli Maioliche are established not only in Italy but also abroad, in particular in Europe, the United States and Japan.

To all those who want to try the experience of creating an object on the lathe, Rolando Nulli will give the opportunity to do so by providing valuable information and all the necessary assistance. With the collaboration of Rolando's wife it will then be possible to decorate the objects and witness this ancient art,

-Free time to visit the town and for shopping.

-Return in the evening.

-Dinner (included)

Day 7: Saturday, July 19

-All guests will be offered a visit to the Teatro della Concordia in Monte Castello di Vibio, the smallest Italian theater and one of the smallest historic theaters. It is defined as "the smallest in the world" as it is the faithful and successful miniature reproduction of the great Italian and European theatres, entirely made of wood, with perfect acoustics, frescoed by the painters Cesare and Luigi Agretti.

-11.30am - 12.30pm brunch

-2pm departure for Todi, visit to the town, one of the cities in contact with the Etruscan civilization that thrived on the right bank of the Tiber. In Roman times it was a colony and municipality. Thanks to its perched position and its solid defensive system it did not have to suffer the destruction of the barbarian invasions and was able to continue to live in relative tranquility even during the turbulence of the Early Middle Ages.

During the visit it will be possible to see the Temple of Consolation of Santa Maria, the Piazza del Popolo, the heart of the town, where the Palazzo del Popolo and Palazzo dei Priori stand, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata, the underground cisterns, the church of San Fortunato, the "O'Doherty" Painted House, where you can admire the combination of archaic, ancient and modern factors, and finally the park dedicated to Beberly Pepper, American sculptor and painter, represents the first monothematic park of contemporary sculpture in Umbria and the first by the American artist in the world.

-Return to Monte Castello di Vibio at 7pm

-Aperitif with prosecco and farewell dinner on the terrace.

 

Departure: Sunday, July 20

-Departure for Rome FCO airport at 5.30am.

The bus arrives at FCO around 7.30am/8am, therefore we advise you to book a flight that leaves no earlier than 11am in order to have time to complete all the necessary procedures.

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