The Northeast's Premiere Henna Conference
November 1st-3rd 2019
East Hartford, CT
Welcome to The Henna Society!
The Henna Society conference prides itself on providing a comfortable
learning environment for every level of henna artist. Our classes
are geared towards the new learner and the seasoned professional.
You can choose your experience! Come to learn and leave with
a new henna family!
Your Henna Society Experience Includes:
- Over 20 regular classes to choose from.
- A goodie bag filled with fun items.
- A conference workbook with all class handouts.
- Dinner Saturday and Sunday night.
- The chance to take additional pay classes with your favorite instructors.
Upcoming Events
The Henna Society Conference
November 1st – 3rd, 2019
East Hartford, CT
Register Here!
Contact
Founder, Jamilah Zebarth of Jamilah Henna Creations
http://jamilahhennacreations.com/
If you have questions about The Henna Society, you are welcome to contact us directly at
thehennasociety@gmail.com.
Your Henna Weekend Getaway!
We are very excited to announce our new venue, The Holiday Inn Hartford!
The hotel boasts newly decorated guest rooms and common space, an
indoor pool, a fitness center and an onsite restaurant. We are most excited
about the new conference space. We have secured 4 large rooms to hold
classes, hang out and have fun!
Book Your Overnight Stay
The Henna Society has reserved a block of hotel rooms at a special rate. Your room includes
breakfast for up to 2 people and is only $104 per night. Once you've registered as an
attendee, we will add you to a private event Facebook page where you can find a roommate
or book a single and hog the whole bed!
To reserve a room with our block, you can call the hotel at 877-834-3613 and use the group
code HEN or ask for the Henna Society Room Block. You can also follow this
LINK.
If you experience any difficulties, please feel free to reach out to
us directly at
thehennasociety@gmail.com.
Reserve your spot today!
The Henna Society conference limits it’s registration to 100 spots. We do this to keep an intimate feeling where small group learning is encouraged!
You will have a choice between two main classes and the occasional breakout session for specialized niche subjects.
Super Early Bird Registration 24 hour flash sale April 15th : $199.00
Regular Early Bird Registration Fee April 16th-April 30th : $239.00
Standard Registration Fee May 1st-Oct 26th: $275.00
Registration is available through October 25th, 2019 or until spaces have been filled - whichever comes first! Be sure to register early to reserve your spot!
Your Registration includes your choice of scheduled classes, a goodie bag filled with fun things, a handout book with all class content,
dinner Saturday and Sunday night, and the opportunity to participate in additional small group pay classes with your favorite instructors!
Vendor Night
If you would like to participate in vendor night you can add your table fee to your registration. $15 for a 1/2 table and $25 for a full table.
You can sell anything you want with the exception of henna powder which is going to be available at The Henna Society table only.
Payment Plan Available!
Reserve your spot with only $75! If you’d like to spread your registration costs out over several months, our payment plan is for you! Payment plan option
is based on our full registration cost of $275. Your first payment of $75 will be followed by two additional payments of $100 each over the following 2 months.
To complete a payment plan, click
HERE and choose the payment plan option.
Refund Policy
While we understand that plans can change, registrations for The Henna Society are strictly non-refundable. Prospective attendees whose payment
plans are returned as uncollectable a single time will be provided the opportunity to update payment information within 48 hours. Those whose payment
plans are returned as uncollectable twice will have 24 hours to complete payment in full, or their place will be lost.
Henna Society registrations are non-transferable. In the event that you cannot make it to the event, your registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Rules/Regulations
×
- Videography of any sort is prohibited during class sessions.
- Only registered attendees are permitted within the class space during sessions.
- Children who cause disruption during class sessions will be asked to leave the conference space. Please monitor your children appropriately.
- Paid attendees reserve priority for available seating. Accompanying children are welcome to use the provided floor spaces for seating.
- This is a dry event. Alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited in all conference spaces.
- The use of recreational drugs is strictly prohibited in all conference spaces.
- Please do not talk during scheduled classes.
Radial Geometry
Geometry is all about relative measurements and spatial relations, and many people hear "math"
in the word and freeze up or make assumptions that it doesn't apply to their work. Most stylized
flowers are geometric, and really any successful design will reflect some insight into spatial
relations. This class will focus on radial patterns, or designs that work outward from a central
point...flowers, mandalas, and even the 8-pointed Moroccan star among them...and will give the
participants some tools for creating more even, more impactful radial designs.
Tricky Geometry
Building on the concepts of consistency and planning for spacing that we introduced in the
Radial Geometry class, this class will explore the popular sacred geometry patterns that create
the seed and flower of life as well as Metatron's cube and depending on the interests of the
group, we will do step-by-step breakdowns of some designs that can be confusing but have
tremendous appeal like the quatrefoil and variations on the asanoha.
Holistic Henna
When we sit down with a friend or stranger to touch them and create spontaneous artwork on
their body with ancient leaf mud, some powerful things happen. Every time. This course gives
participants an opportunity to consider all the reasons a person wants to wear and receive henna,
and to consider in what ways they are able to (or unable to!) provide what those people might be
showing up for. We will talk about the gifts of giving and receiving, healthy boundaries, levels
of depth and meaning, and how to "level up" as a holistic henna provider in ways that feel right
to you.
Bio
Catherine Lent lives for creativity, beauty, communication, and connection. Her work life is a gratifying
patchwork of professional henna art, teaching, calligraphy, and paper marbling, and she spends her free time
organizing an empowerment group for teenage girls. She believes in building a better world through a loving
connection to self and community, and she is always seeking ways to help others build as well. She lives with
her husband and daughter in an artsy little river town in New Jersey.
Introduction to Polynesian Body Art
Fall in love with Pacific Island motifs. Learn the foundational design elements of Polynesian body art, it's geographic origins and how to respectfully practice
this form of body art.
Hands On Polynesian Workshop
A deeper dive into island inspired body art. This will primarily be a hands-on class with interactive drawing exercises to get you comfortable using Polynesian
design elements in your everyday henna. "Introduction to Polynesian Body Art" class is not a pre-requisite but is highly recommended so that you learn the background
behind the art form.
Symbolism in Henna
Join a panel of instructors for a round table discussion of symbolism, especially the symbols we see and interact with in henna. How many times has a customer
asked you "what does this henna drawing mean"? Does a flower connote peace? Or Beauty? Or even death? Is it okay to draw religious symbols from a religion to
which you do not ascribe? Nothing is off limits and everything will be approached with an attitude of mutual respect and we look forward to hearing experiences and
opinions.
Bio
Starting with his college degree in Forestry, Jed Rau is not your typical henna artist. The first thing most people notice is his beard. Followed by his loudness.
And he talks while he draws, weird right? Thankfully, most people are forgiving of his history and appearance and like his henna anyway. He's been practicing henna
for 5 years: on his wife and two boys of course, along with parties and summer festivals. His love of traditional Polynesian body art, especially Maori, and his inability
to leave any surfaced unadorned by doodles, has led him down a happy path of artistic exploration. Like all good doodlers, Jed loves to break down designs into their
simplest forms, testing how they go together until he reaches the ultimate doodle outcome: mindless, satisfying, flow. Following his love of bold body art, he has done
a deep dive into the motifs and and stylistic elements of the Pacific Rim islands, ofttimes combining that with more traditional henna forms and of course a few flowers
to develop his signature style. For a guy who used to get in trouble for doodling at work (whoops!), it's pretty cool to have other people asking to copy his designs.
Henna Practice Methods
Tracking progress is a great way to motivate yourself and build a portfolio at the same time
while building muscle memory and hand strength - important things to keep in top shape as a working
henna artist. Avoid a rough start to your busy season through frequent practice using practice journals,
graph paper, drills, and use your drawings to create a reference for later inspiration.
Floral Flow
Create balanced floral arrangements in henna on the fly, learn tricks to convey movement, and use repetition
and limited motifs to create interest and reduce creative block when providing artist choice works of art.
Mixology & Henna 101
In this class with Angela Crawford and Jamilah Zebarth you will learn the basics of henna! We will cover
mixology, cone rolling, beginner drills and basic design. Q&A session included!
Bio
Angela Crawford of Taide Henna began her henna journey in 2015 after a military move relocated her family to Washington D.C.
Her new neighbor gifted her with a beautiful bridal style piece, and after learning of Angela's background in art, shared all
she knew and connected her to the online henna community - which led to attending the first Henna Society in 2017.
Angela loves working at music festivals, henna parties and events, private sessions, coffee shop appointments, art festivals, and as an artist
who typically works alone, she remains obsessed with booth space efficiency.
Her focus at this conference is on artist's choice Flowy Floral designs and drill filled growth tracking journals and Practice Methods.
Education and experience outside of henna includes six years of classical musical training with a focus on flute, trombone, and piano, a short stint in
college pottery, painting, and photography, a black belt in taekwondo, nine years as an Ombudsman with six different commands for the Coast Guard, and home
schooling her two kids (now teens) since birth. She now lives with her husband and kids in West Michigan and is in the process of converting a Chevy van into a
home on wheels for festy life, henna parties, and travel.
Kenzi and Jenpa will present a three-part series over the weekend, designed to immerse you in every aspect of Moroccan henna culture. Starting with design and
ending the weekend with cultural traditions, consider this a master class in making and understanding Moroccan henna designs. You’ll leave with comprehensive knowledge
of the rich artistic, cultural, and spiritual traditions of Morocco, and design fluency developed through practice with instructors who have each spent more than 20 years
studying and working in the various Moroccan styles.
Moroccan Design Elements, part 1: Basics
In this class, you will start out drawing. Jenpa and Kenzi will introduce you to the diverse elements of Moroccan Fassi designs as everyone draws together. They’ll lead you
through the creation of a full hand design from start to finish, introducing each element one by one and showing you how to use it. They will also cover different ways of
laying out the design and go over popular misconceptions about Moroccan designs. Take this class to get an overview of the building blocks of Moroccan Fassi design that
will carry you through all other experiences with Moroccan henna.
Moroccan Design Elements, part 2: Fidah and beyond
Building on the material taught in part 1, in this class Kenzi and Jenpa will take you through the creation of another common Moroccan style design, called fidah. Fidah
designs do not fill the hand, but use the space partially, following a few typical layouts and conventions. You’ll learn some common ways of creating fidah designs,
and what sets them apart from other types of designs. Jenpa and Kenzi will re-introduce the basic design elements, as well as further variations from the basic set.
You’ll also begin to explore yet more variations on Moroccan regional styles, like Marrakechi and Sahraoui designs.
Moroccan Design Elements, part 3: Cultural Context
Tying it all together, this class will introduce you to the cultural usage of henna in Morocco. We will focus on weddings and other rites of passage, magic and ritual,
and henna’s place as a revered women’s art. We will also examine possible sources of design origin, learn about the ancient and diverse cultures that have subsumed into
modern day Morocco, and see where else in the world they have shown their influence.
Bio
My name is Jenpa Konchok Cartier, someone you may have formerly known as Nic. Call me Jen. I’ve been playing with henna for over 22 years. During that time I’ve written
a few books (including Moor: A Henna Atlas of Morocco with Lisa “Kenzi” Butterworth), helped found a few Internet communities, taught a bunch of classes all over the
world, and mixed a lot of henna paste. These days I tattoo full time, and when I have a few minutes to spare I make silver jewelry, paintings, and questionable decisions.
My deep engagement with art and science of adorning the human body is the foundation of my work across all creative media. As a teacher, I want to prepare you for anything
and everything. I have done and learned an awful lot of stuff the hard way, and having done so, it is my hope that you won’t have to. I’ve spent my whole life as an artist,
driven by an insatiable desire for authenticity, and if I could re-do it I wouldn’t change a thing. I hope my stubbornness can be tempered by softness and be received as
benefit
Kenzi and Jenpa will present a three-part series over the weekend, designed to immerse you in every aspect of Moroccan henna culture. Starting with design and
ending the weekend with cultural traditions, consider this a master class in making and understanding Moroccan henna designs. You’ll leave with comprehensive knowledge
of the rich artistic, cultural, and spiritual traditions of Morocco, and design fluency developed through practice with instructors who have each spent more than 20 years
studying and working in the various Moroccan styles.
Moroccan Design Elements, part 1: Basics
In this class, you will start out drawing. Jenpa and Kenzi will introduce you to the diverse elements of Moroccan Fassi designs as everyone draws together. They’ll lead you
through the creation of a full hand design from start to finish, introducing each element one by one and showing you how to use it. They will also cover different ways of
laying out the design and go over popular misconceptions about Moroccan designs. Take this class to get an overview of the building blocks of Moroccan Fassi design that
will carry you through all other experiences with Moroccan henna.
Moroccan Design Elements, part 2: Fidah and beyond
Building on the material taught in part 1, in this class Kenzi and Jenpa will take you through the creation of another common Moroccan style design, called fidah. Fidah
designs do not fill the hand, but use the space partially, following a few typical layouts and conventions. You’ll learn some common ways of creating fidah designs,
and what sets them apart from other types of designs. Jenpa and Kenzi will re-introduce the basic design elements, as well as further variations from the basic set.
You’ll also begin to explore yet more variations on Moroccan regional styles, like Marrakechi and Sahraoui designs.
Moroccan Design Elements, part 3: Cultural Context
Tying it all together, this class will introduce you to the cultural usage of henna in Morocco. We will focus on weddings and other rites of passage, magic and ritual,
and henna’s place as a revered women’s art. We will also examine possible sources of design origin, learn about the ancient and diverse cultures that have subsumed into
modern day Morocco, and see where else in the world they have shown their influence.
Bio
My name is Lisa Butterworth, known to henna artists as Kenzi. I keep it simple and clear so that I can build off the foundations I've laid, bringing in sounds from music,
memories from travels, drawing like a spoken word riff with a destination in mind. I'm a self-taught henna artist unless you count the hours upon hours I spent with the
Moroccan naqashat, watching them work, asking them questions and tapping into their visions, returning yearly for a top up. I've been at the henna game for 20 years,
watched it grow in the US from the inside, always carrying a torch for Moroccan henna no matter how uncool it was. One sunny day, Jen and I got this crazy idea to collect
Moroccan henna designs and write a book about Moroccan henna, and we named her Moor: A Henna Atlas of Morocco. That baby is now nearly 10 years old. Every so often we
release another volume of Moroccan designs to dress up your libraries, full of tasty hand-drawn morsels of lines and dots and diamonds and triangles. Together and
separately Jen and I have been sharing our passion for Moroccan henna with artists and enthusiasts all over the world, and we have no plans to stop. These days I draw on
people in my Brooklyn studio and by day I work as an IT trainer for an international non-profit to make sure I have balance in my life.
