Spring Arts and Summer Plans
Dear Sangha
I hope this finds everyone well as we navigate our bi-polar Portland Spring! One thing that supports my sense of balance in a chaotic external environment is to nurture my creative practices of writing and movement. This has certainly been useful this past month as we celebrated the Equinox with our own 2014 installment of the International Shambhala Arts Festival, Spring Thunder: Treasuring Creativity in Community at the PDX Shambhala Center. Our Spring Arts Festival this year included many delightful offerings from the community, from a collage open house to the evening performance salon. We had a strong theme of appreciation this year, and it wouldn’t be complete without appreciations for all of the participants, volunteers, and artists who helped make the event a success. Here are some snapshots of the afternoon.
Abbey and Becky find images for their pieces.
Special thanks to Laurie Smith (left) and everyone who donated images and supplies for us to use!
A special note of gratitude goes out to Elizabeth Craig, who donated the use of her dolls for our Festival arrangements. This one pictured here was arranged by Ikebana Practice Coordinator Amy Aycrigg.
Collages made to reflect visions for the New Year.
After we finished our collages, the whole shrine room was transformed once again to set up for a performance salon and reception. The collages became the backdrop. There was a video recording taken, and we hope to share some of it soon. If anyone caught any pictures of the salon please share! Personally, I was touched by many of the offerings of poetry and song, and I know that plans are in the works for more nights at the Shambhala Center with opportunities to showcase our community’s expressive talents and culture.
I am so pleased that the Spring Arts Festival has received such enthusiastic local support. This annual event, which first drew me in around 2006 during my time at Naropa University, has become a precious community celebration to me, highlighting the importance of the arts in our contemplative mandala. I appreciate all the support our Portland edition has received, especially from Arts Council members Amy and Abbey over the past three years. I have witnessed both incredible creativity and heart in so many with whom I have come into contact through this project.
On a personal note, while I plan on being involved in the Spring Arts Festival through many more incarnations, this year was my last as the sitting chair for the PDX Dharma Arts Council. I will be transitioning out of the role for the next two months, and will be using the space to pursue a yoga teacher training certification this summer, along with preparing to attend Enlightened Society Assembly. It has been such an honor to serve our community through the arts, and I look forward to supporting and continuing to practice and study contemplative arts in the future. Most immediately, projects include helping remount the Portland Shambhala Writers Group and offering more of my writing for our community blog. Fellow writers, please feel welcome to reach out!
For those of you hungry for more Arts in Community, keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming July Life.Art.Being Integrative Arts Festival put on by our friends at BeSpace.
Blessings,
Caitlin
PDX Shambhala Dharma Arts Council, outgoing Chair
