Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Figment NYC - Free Art Show


Natarajasana

Figment on Govenors Island is a really special weekend long event. Free transportation, free entry, no commercialization of products and nothing to buy. What a novel event based on community service, volunteering, creativity and play. 
View from Govenors Island
My friend Maitreya Levanchild performed a roving sacred dance piece,"Not An Island". I wasn't able to see her performance, but I did go out with her the day before the event to help her set up and bring about 60 pounds of art installation. Also on the island close to my heart, The ID Project had a mala of plastic bags in an effort to bring awareness to plastic bag consumption, an activist project that was launched in 2007. Govenors Island is absolutely beautiful. You feel like you are on sacred land, land that is unique, special and one of a kind. 




Andy Golub painting a model

I went out on Saturday to work with Andy Golub as a model for body painting. It takes about an hour or so to get the look that he did on me. He starts with a base coat, gold everywhere for this project, and then added the design in segments. He works on other models - as one is drying another is getting painted. Andy doesn't stop. He's really quite amazing with his vision. A lot of people ask is it hard to wash off? The paint comes off quite readily with soap and a washcloth. Some scrubbing is necessary and some parts of the skin have a light stain, but that comes off in the next shower or bath. I find color in my ears for a couple of days, too.

Andy Golub's art work in action

meditation

upside down

After Andy finished painting, his friend and photographer Dave Hoffman graciously followed me around the island as I chose locations to strike some asanas. He used my iPhone for all of these photos.  : -)




Figment Project Organization
Drawing inspiration from other community-based arts events, the development, production, and experience of FIGMENT are guided by these 11 principles:
PARTICIPATION
Transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play.
DECOMMODIFICATION
FIGMENT seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We will not substitute consumption for experience.
INCLUSION
Anyone may be a part of FIGMENT; no prerequisites exist for participation except willingness to work and play. We welcome and respect the stranger.
SELF-EXPRESSION
Each individual and collaborating group has unique qualities, and through self-expression can offer a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of others.
SELF-RELIANCE
FIGMENT encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources.
GIVING
FIGMENT is devoted to acts of gift giving and volunteering. FIGMENT itself is a gift from volunteer artists and event staff, who hope that each participant brings an attitude of giving. Giving does not imply a return or an exchange for something of equal value.
COMMUNAL EFFORT
We seek to create an environment ripe for each individual to achieve personal artistic transformation — but the creation of such an environment can be done only through creative cooperation and collaboration.
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
Each participant in FIGMENT is responsible for creating a civil environment for all other participants. We endeavor to produce this event in a way that fosters a civil society and that is socially responsible.
LEAVE NO TRACE
We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves to leave each place in a better state than we found it.
IMMEDIACY
Too often the limit for creative expression is the barrier between our inner selves and the selves that we present to the world. By breaking down that barrier, we can gain a profound appreciation for the opportunities that lie in each time and place.
GRATITUDE
We believe it is important to remind ourselves where we come from, and to appreciate what has been given to us to get us to where we are. We are not entitled to anything, and approach our relations to others from a place of gratitude for their efforts.


Monday, May 14, 2012

Inspired by Avatars and Creatures



Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana


I first became aware of Robert Sturman photography through the work that he does with The Prison Yoga Project at San Quentin Correction Facility. I've been keeping an eye on his work since then and quite honestly in awe of his ability to capture yogis as artistic expressions.

Urdhva Dhanurasana
A few months ago, Robert posted that he was doing a photo shoot tour for yogis on the east coast. I jumped on the opportunity to work with him and get the creative juices flowing. Surrendering to the idea that I am "married" (united intimately) to yoga being that yoga has been in my life for 20 years, I came up with the idea being a bride and wearing a long white beach dress, keeping it elegant, soft, ethereal.

As you can see, that idea went out the window.


Andy Golub appeared  on my radar just about a month ago while strolling through photos on Instagram. Someone had captured him working on a model and in the commentary someone else identified Andy as a rad artist who has a niche for painting bodies. And there you have it. The idea came to me to put us all together and see what we can create.

I did the unthinkable ... I picked up the phone and called Andy directly. 

To my surprise, he answered. We spoke for about 40 minutes and hashed out a plan. It took a bit of juggling with everyone's schedules, but we were able to make it work out and Mother Nature was on board, too. I had some back up ideas in case of rain, but we didn't have to go there. Couldn't have been a more picture perfect day.
Sirsasana with Garuda legs




Having my entire body painted and being naked in Central Park is far more my style and my essence than being a bride. Go figure. I am a New Yorker and I fully embrace my wild side, creative side, quiet side, upside down side and right side up side. All kinds of new experiences that day. To me that is what life is all about - experiencing. 


I am fortunate to have the paths of yoga and Buddhism to guide me on this extraordinary trip of life.  



Vashistasana Variation


Many thank yous to Robert, Andy and Andy's daughter, Indigo. Jacqui and Thaddeus, thanks for letting us do the prep painting in the privacy of your apt.

Namaste

Monday, April 30, 2012

Coachella 2012

 WELCOME TO COACHELLA
3 Day Music Festival In The Desert 
April 20 - 22






















Coachella site created by my friend Chevon Hicks at Heavenspot

Top bands that I saw: Radiohead, The Hives, The Black Keys, Florence and The Machine, Bon Iver, Mazzy Star

Scorching hot if you get there before 5, which I learned that on Friday, day one. Bands started at 1:00 PM and played until 1:00 AM. That's a lot of music. I think there were 5 stages. VIP pass for parking and venue is also the way to go. I didn't want to deal with drinking and driving, so I didn't buy parking when I bought my pass, but since I didn't drink, driving wasn't an issue and worth the $50 for the parking pass which actually costs more to shuttle yourself to and from ... and the walk to get out of there! Holy crap. Took me over an hour! I got lost in all of the "fake" streets and ended up in the wrong shuttle lot.

I don't consider Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre a band. I am rock -n -roll. In fact I would have left before the closing act and had no desire to see the hologram, but I didn't so I could get a ride home with these guys in the photo above. Very generous of them to take me to and from on Sunday.

Overall loved my Coachella experience and will go again if I don't have to buy that steep $ VIP pass. I won't turn down an offer of a pass and I'd prefer an Artist or Film one for next time. Just saying. Also, would be fun to have a friend or two along, though I am adventurous and happy to tackle the world on my own. I like making friends.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Photos of India Jan/Feb 2012



Gauru Vani kirtan
Shiva
 Attempting side crow in a dress
 Fatima showered by flower petals - Mumbai
Flower festival
                                                                                       
 Radhanath Swami - his temple in Mumbai
 Mumbai taxi 
Ropes
Udupi Kaustubha and Gitapriya


Krishna Festival

photo by Fatima
Lakshmi the elephant - India loves their elephants

Mataji

Market Spices - Udupi

Overnight train ride - jai ma!
The party car! Lisa, Val et moi
Post Ayurveda treatment
Stairway to heaven

Heaven - Varkala


Robert and me photo by Sybel

Vrindavan garden Dhanudhara Swami, me photo by Fatima

Fatima, me, Sybel learning the harmonium photo by Lauren

Sri Rhada

Swamijii

Sybel

photo by Fati

Dhanudhara Swami photo by Michael

Radha-Kundha

Gitapriya

3 Gopis
Kirtan Varkala

Ayurveda shiro dhara oil

Burd

Rickshaw driver Vrindavan

Temple interior

Temple

Vrindavan

Sandipanimuni School Boy

Sandipani Muni School prayer


Gopali

Daniel
Mataji and baby

Aniella

Fati and Amanda

Raghunath

Jo and Kenny

Baba



Vrindavan caught meditating

Altar

Calf on Govradan Hill


Getting mendi

Chai
With help from the boys, Aniella recovers her glasses from the monkeys photo by Lisa B


Govradan Hill pilgrimage photo by Lisa B

Banke Bihari Lassis



Baba photo by Raghu