Dubbed “Consciousness & Creativity,” the event is set for Saturday, Nov. 5 at 6:30pm at O’Hanlon at 616 Throckmorton Avenue. The event features an intimate panel discussion led by longtime radio, TV and voice-over artist Celeste Perry along with calligrapher Kazuaki Takahashi, dancer and Tamalpa Institute co-founder Daria Halprin and educator and second-degree black belt in Aikido Janet Daijogo.
The event also features a “tasting menu of mindfully prepared dishes and desserts,” “contemplative flute music” from Bodhi Setchko and a raffle.
Here’s more info on the panelists:
CELESTE PERRY
A longtime radio, TV and voice-over artist, Perry and her husband Alan reside in Mill Valley where they raised their two sons, who now live in Brooklyn. Attention previously given to their boys is now lavished on their rescue dog, Veto. Celeste has been sitting zazen with Vimala Sangha at O’Hanlon Center since 2010. She spends a study week every summer at Tassajara and received the Lay Boddhisattvah precepts two years ago in a ceremony officiated by Ed Sattizahn. She is currently developing a podcast with the working title “Twisted Karma.” Of her meditation practice she says, “Zazen has helped me face my life in a way I never thought possible.”
KAZUAKI TANAHASHI
Born in Japan in 1933 and active in the United States since 1977, Takahashi is a renowned artist, calligrapher, writer, and peace activist. He lives in Berkeley. As a painter and calligrapher, he has been pioneering the genres of one-stroke painting, multi solo exhibitions of his brushwork worldwide and has taught numerous workshops, including at seven international calligraphy conferences. As a writer, editor, and translator, he has produced over forty books in English and Japanese. As an environmental activist, was the founding secretary of Plutonium Free Future. As a peace activist, he worked against the nuclear arms race and two Gulf Wars. He is currently the founding director of A World Without Armies. He is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. https://www.brushmind.net
JANET DAIJOGO
A second-degree black belt in Aikido and longtime kindergarten teacher at Marin Country Day School, Daijogo teaches Aikido principles of Centering, Grounding, Blending, Relaxation and Extension of Energy to her small pupils. As “Energy Time” for the youngest kids and “Mindfulness Training” for the older ones, the practice has spread to all nine grades at the school. The first greeting of Janet’s school day is “Center as You Enter.” At the end of the day it is “Breathe as you leave,” or just “Relax.” The overriding concept is that to relate to others and to situations skillfully, you must first be at peace with yourself.
DARIA HALPRIN
Over 40 years ago, Halprin developed an interest in the relationship between dance, the creative arts process, and psychology, working in dance and theater labs with artists and psychologists from around the world. She was a member of the Dancers’ Workshop Company, performing nationally and internationally on stage and in film. She is the co-founder and director of Tamalpa Institute, author of book The Expressive Body in Life, Art and Therapy, and a contributing author of Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy, and Dance, Somatics and Spiritualities. In addition to her work at Tamalpa Institute, Daria teaches at universities, growth centers and presents at conferences throughout the world. She has designed dance and art-based programs and consulted with community organizations.
The 411: The O’Hanlon Center for the Arts‘ “Consciousness & Creativity” event is set for Saturday, Nov. 5 at 6:30pm at O’Hanlon at 616 Throckmorton Avenue. Tickets are $75. MORE INFO & BUY TIX.