Latest news with #SacredSpaces
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Good vibrations and Asma Menon's series Sacred Spaces
'I know this sounds bizarre, but I feel Arunachala is not static; it moves. There is a strange vibe about it where I'm concerned,' says Asma Menon. The artist, whose solo show, Sacred Spaces in a Path of Awakening is underway in Bengaluru, talks about this series that took shape over the past two years. The transition from cosmopolitan city dweller to seeker of solace in the countryside, did not happen overnight but has been an adventure of sorts as well as the inspiration for her work. Asma says when she re-located to Tiruvannamalai on a whim, building her home-studio on a parcel of land that was more of an afterthought than an investment, the joy of discovering her surroundings fed her creativity. 'I would hop on my scooter and set off on one of my 'Get Lost' trips coming across small temples, finding out about hero stones (memorial stones) and a megalith dating back to 1,500BCE, and enjoying the beauty of a sunset,' says Asma, adding that these road trips gave her an introduction to many quaint rites and rituals practised in those areas. 'I live in a little forest area where only five houses have been built. It is full of trees, birds, and the occasional snake that decides to come out. It's a magical place.' Small wonder then, that Sacred Spaces is an attempt to capture the ethereal Asma sees in her everyday. Using acrylics for the most part, as well as oil pastels and watercolour pencils, her works depict rural scenes in vivid hues and geometric patterns. There are woods and water lilies, temple grottoes and swathes of sky and earth, but almost always, one can see Arunachala. 'This place is one of the oldest districts of Tamil Nadu endowed with a lot of vibrations and power that gradually seeps into you. Epiphany happens in a town like this and you open yourself to it without question.' She recalls how during one of her trips she came across a pit full of terracotta dogs; no one seems to know how they got there or what purpose they serve. 'When it rains, a few of them get worn out, but there are still around 10 to 12 dogs in that space of 400square feet. Further away there is a place filled with little terracotta cows where people come to offer prayers when their cows are pregnant. It is amazing what one can see here.' Prequel to a dream Before she headed out to 'Tiru' as she affectionately calls her place of residence, Asma was city born and bred, spending her childhood years in Bengaluru. 'I began art classes when I was in the third grade or fourth grade, first with Ram Murthy and then with Balan Nambiar who admitted me into his adult classes,' says Asma, adding that she debuted at one of Balan's shows. After completing her degree in Visual Communications, Asma went on to successfully work at advertising agencies and the production department of a newspaper in Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad. Art seemingly faded into the background until she had the chance to illustrate two children's books. 'It was sheer luck that I got the job, and I enjoyed going back to drawing,' she says, adding that as more projects came her way, she decided to quit corporate life and embrace art full time. 'I became involved in printmaking and painting at home. I also started children's art workshops and eventually got back into the circuit,' she says, adding that the runaway success of her first solo show in 1994, convinced her she was on the right track. Today, in her spartan space at Tiruvannamalai, Asma says she is still journeying into sacred territory. 'I find myself awakening to a whole new landscape that affects me. It rumbles in my soul. It took years before I could render anything on paper or canvas, because it took me that long to fathom the enormity of it all. Sometimes when you are at the crossroads and are unsure of what direction to take, you just take the plunge.' Sacred Spaces in a Path of Awakeningby Asma Menon is on display at MKF Museum of Art till July 31, 2025. Entry free, Mondays closed.
CBS News
27-02-2025
- General
- CBS News
"Sacred Spaces" exhibit at Annapolis museum honors legacies of prominent Black Marylanders
Preserving history through art is the theme of "Sacred Spaces," a new exhibit at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis. The art show, which opened in mid-February, celebrates and honors historic landmarks and prominent Marylanders whose legacy should never be forgotten. "Sacred Spaces is really an exhibit delving into the importance of cultural spaces that are particularly important to African Americans," said Martina Dodd, the curator of collections and exhibitions at the museum. "We have to be in charge of the narrative that empowers us." Dodd said these spaces and prominent figures can get lost, and the goal of the three-floor art show is to remember their legacies. Jabari Jefferson is a Washington, D.C.-based visual artist who uses recycled material, clothing and even soil in his more than 15 works included in the show. His work not only shows the history of the museum but also the lives of Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. "I was quite shocked of how many awesome people, historical legends, were born and came through this land," Jefferson said. "It truly was being influenced by a wow factor of history I never learned…We have to talk about these people. We have to make it about Maryland." The art show is housed in a sacred space itself. The museum is located at the site of the former Mt. Moriah A.M.E. Church, which was founded by freed Black slaves in the late 1800s. The house of worship was almost destroyed 100 years later, but after a preservation act, it was saved and turned into the state's official Museum of African American History and Culture. It reopened in the 1980s. "We think it's important that we are in this space that has so much history and legacy because it speaks to the importance of preservation," Dodd explained. The show's centerpiece is an 18-foot tapestry that hangs over the former altar of the church. Jefferson said he worked with neighbors who brought in their own materials to repurpose in the piece, which depicts a library scene with a Sankofa bird at the center. It's the only bird that can fly forward while looking back. "Through the installation we were able to include the public, include the people of Annapolis, include the people of Maryland, to actually walk with me step by step in my process in how I go through collecting these recycled materials, breaking them down and turning them into a work of art," Jefferson said. Jefferson and the museum hosted several workshops to allow members of the public a chance to participate. Jefferson said all of the recycled materials in the show are from Maryland. The tapestry also features an augmented reality video created by Raunjiba Creative in Baltimore to preserve the history of the church. When art lovers arrive, they will see a QR code on the wall. After scanning it, an app is downloaded on their phone. Through the app, visitors can "scan" the tapestry, and an animated video will pop up, explaining the history of the building, its origin as a church and how it became a museum. "The history of the museum, like so many other components of African American history, went through these trials and tribulations of burying it…in other words, erasing what it had been and what it had stood for when it was erected," said Scott Tucker, creative director of Raunjiba Creative. "This not only gave us an opportunity to show that, but also the success." The museum and Sacred Spaces seemingly run parallel to each other, both celebrating and honoring the people and places that laid the foundation. "African American history is Maryland, and American history," Dodd said. "The more that we can connect with others, the more we can learn about ourselves, the more we can learn about our state, and then we can also really think about how we can build as a community." Sacred Spaces is open through December 2025. The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum also has programs and other events as part of the exhibition.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brave Healer Productions Releases the Third Volume in Its Sacred Spaces Series
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brave Healer Productions is proud to announce the release of Sacred Spaces Volume Three: Subtle Shifts for Mind, Body, and Home Transformation, with a foreword by Jamie Edwards, creator of the travel-themed website I am Lost and Found. As Edwards points out, "Sacred Spaces answers questions we didn't even know to ask. Like, what does it mean to grow ageless, not old? How can we intentionally shift our attention outward to spark wonder and awe? How does the power of our communities create spaces where we can thrive?" She adds, "Each author has poured their soul into recounting the places, whether physical or spiritual, that bring them peace, joy, and tranquility. Places that stir their curiosity and give them strength. Readers will be surprised to discover that a sacred space can take so many forms. Others will find resonance in these diverse expressions." As in prior volumes, the book's lead author is Colleen Avis, an integrative life coach, mindfulness mentor and yoga guide. Some chapters deal with solving any problem with one subtle shift, overcoming rejection to find self-love, unlocking limitless potential, quieting one's inner critic and the journal entry technique that makes decisions easy. Avis handpicked the book's contributors: Lorri Ansari, Jake Bushman, Sheila M. Cordaro, Carrie Dahle, Mimi Daraa, Heidi Ellenberger, Cathy P. Fenwick, Amy Foster, Laura Di Franco, Becky Morrison Gleed, Tina Green, Greg Hamilton, Amadeus Heimann, Christy Little Jones, Sheri Lyons, DeeDee Mehren, Dr. Charleen M. Michel, DeeAnna Merz Nagel, Tanya Saunders, Colleen Stoltz, Jessica Thurston-Fenescey, Angela Marina Barbieri Usas, D'Alene White, and Sherry Wuu. Praise for Sacred Spaces, Volume Three "This book changes how you look at life and the spaces you occupy, which in turn, will change the way life looks at you. This is a must-have on any bookshelf!" —Derick Grant, former professional athlete turned author, keynote speaker, and life coach "This book is an essential companion for anyone ready to rewrite their narrative and evolve into their personal power. Sacred Spaces 3 takes readers on an intimate journey through challenges that range from negative self-talk to battling societal expectations. Through raw storytelling and actionable practices found within each chapter, Sacred Spaces is chock-full of subtle shifts that lead to profound personal breakthroughs." — Brett Eaton, speaker, author, and high-performance coach About Colleen Avis Colleen Avis is an award-winning author, certified Chopra Life Coach, and Ayurveda and mindfulness mentor. She has spent the last decade guiding clients to create spaces they love to live in. Her book series include Sacred Spaces, How to Be Brave and Mindset Mastery. She constantly seeks health and wellness advancement and is studying for her IIN Health Coach and SOMA Breathe holistic health coach certifications. She has been profiled in Wellness & Wisdom Magazine, Modern Luxury DC, and Arlington Magazine. To learn more, visit About Brave Healer Productions Brave Healer Productions specializes in book publishing and business strategy for healers. It has published over 90 Amazon best-selling books, among them the series The Ultimate Guide to Self-Healing and The Wellness Universe Guide to Complete Self-Care. Find a list of services offered by Brave Healing Productions at Contact: Laura Di Franco, (703) 915-3653; 390485@ colleenavis@ Instagram: @colleen_avis_bewell View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Brave Healer Productions Sign in to access your portfolio
