GeneChing
02-14-2008, 10:55 AM
Heres a thread - artists who draw inspiration from martial arts - let's see if it goes anywhere.
Visionary Artist (http://www.visionmagazine.com/archives/0802/artist.html)
Michele Benzamin-Miki
BirthMichele Benzamin-Miki’s art is deeply informed and inspired by over two decades of martial arts training (Aikido and Iaido sword), social activism, and meditation teaching. In addition to reaching out to people of color and indigenous peoples as a Buddhist teacher, Michele also works with at-risk youth in local reservations and the inner city juvenile justice system. Woven throughout her work are elements borne from her mixed Japanese, North African, and European-American heritage, as well as her identity as a woman of color. She is originally from Los Angeles and currently resides in Warner Springs, California, where she is co-founder of Manzanita Village Buddhist Retreat Center.
“I find that Buddhism has helped me to not ‘die with the muse’,” says Benzamin-Miki. “You know, muses are not human. So when artists align with them,…[they] will take you to places where you don’t sleep, you don’t eat— there’s no balance in living. I’ve seen artists who do that. My Buddhist practice helps to balance out the discipline and rawness of art. I’d have been a candle that burned out really quickly otherwise.”
“I feel that art is about revolution,” Benzamin-Miki continues. “Tolstoy once said that art inspires non-violence. Art can inspire the passage of, and means to, non-violence. It alone can do that. This is so important to know, because if you go out and participate in a march, or make a strong political statement regarding injustice, you can be possibly locked up. With art, however, you can get away with more to inspire non-violence. You can really push the envelope with the images you put out. For me, my art is like getting to express in a transcendent language which circumvents belief systems…Art can bring people to a deeper place of spirituality, of activism, of anything.”
You can view more of Michele Benzamin-Miki’s art as well as sign up for her current art show and teleseminar email list at www.artmbm.net. Visit www.manzanitavillage.org for information on the retreat center and upcoming classes.
Visionary Artist (http://www.visionmagazine.com/archives/0802/artist.html)
Michele Benzamin-Miki
BirthMichele Benzamin-Miki’s art is deeply informed and inspired by over two decades of martial arts training (Aikido and Iaido sword), social activism, and meditation teaching. In addition to reaching out to people of color and indigenous peoples as a Buddhist teacher, Michele also works with at-risk youth in local reservations and the inner city juvenile justice system. Woven throughout her work are elements borne from her mixed Japanese, North African, and European-American heritage, as well as her identity as a woman of color. She is originally from Los Angeles and currently resides in Warner Springs, California, where she is co-founder of Manzanita Village Buddhist Retreat Center.
“I find that Buddhism has helped me to not ‘die with the muse’,” says Benzamin-Miki. “You know, muses are not human. So when artists align with them,…[they] will take you to places where you don’t sleep, you don’t eat— there’s no balance in living. I’ve seen artists who do that. My Buddhist practice helps to balance out the discipline and rawness of art. I’d have been a candle that burned out really quickly otherwise.”
“I feel that art is about revolution,” Benzamin-Miki continues. “Tolstoy once said that art inspires non-violence. Art can inspire the passage of, and means to, non-violence. It alone can do that. This is so important to know, because if you go out and participate in a march, or make a strong political statement regarding injustice, you can be possibly locked up. With art, however, you can get away with more to inspire non-violence. You can really push the envelope with the images you put out. For me, my art is like getting to express in a transcendent language which circumvents belief systems…Art can bring people to a deeper place of spirituality, of activism, of anything.”
You can view more of Michele Benzamin-Miki’s art as well as sign up for her current art show and teleseminar email list at www.artmbm.net. Visit www.manzanitavillage.org for information on the retreat center and upcoming classes.