The Skywheel Project

Skywheel Project: Technologies of Transcendence in Artists Books

2012-01-13T14:37:00.000-08:00

College Book Arts Association Conference, January, 2012

On some level, artist’s books are invested in the idea of defining “what is a book?” As a physical object, we might say “the book” is both a container, and an agent for dissemination. But what does it contain? Ideas? In our age we would probably say, “Information.”

Today we are going to look at an older idea: the idea of books as receptacles for the power of words. In ancient times, words were considered to be very powerful things. Within the Judeo-Christian-Muslim tradition, for instance, God is said to have literally spoken the universe into existence. In other words, the tools used to create our world were words themselves. Maybe we have too many words now; they seem to have lost some of their potency.

Since we began the Skywheel project, we have been asked many times to give a definition for ‘blessing.’ “Just what is a blessing? How would you define that?” So far though, we have never met anyone who needed a definition for ‘curse.’ People seem pretty clear on that idea, so maybe words still retain some of their old power. Blessing or curse, each is an attempt to speak our desires into existence using the power of words.

Within this ancient idea of the power of words, and books as their receptacles, every book can be seen to take on a somewhat talismanic character. But some book forms are designed from the outset to function specifically as talismans.

In order to understand talismanic book forms, it is helpful to consider the definition of talisman. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a talisman as “an object believed to confer on its bearer magical powers or protection.” But how do these objects convey this sense of power? They do it by becoming a focal point for the user. A talisman symbolizes the ideal of the transformation the user would like to achieve, and works most effectively as a catalyst to action toward that goal.

Talismanic books are talismans that use the power of words as their focal point. As books, they are not opened and “read” in a conventional way; rather, they are interacted with in a symbolic manner to remind the user of the power of the text inside.

Traditionally, talismanic books are lent authenticity through their connection to a particular spiritual tradition or mythology. The following are some examples of traditional talismanic books from different cultures.

Curse Tablets
Greco-Roman Curse Tablets were used to entreat the gods to curse an offending person. These thin lead tablets were inscribed with very specific punishments for the offense. Curse tablets were commissioned by the offended party, written by a scribe and then cast into water, left at a shrine, or buried. Due to the longevity of the materials used, curse tablets have been found that are over 2,000 years old. While popularly referred to as curse tablets, not all of these talismans were used to exact punishment. Some were intended to attract love and others were buried with the dead to protect them on their journey to the underworld.

Omamori
Omamori are Japanese talismans found both in Shinto and Buddhism. Used for a variety of purposes, each Omamori contains a verse or prayer related to its purpose and the shrine from which it was produced, hand written and blessed by a monk. The outer case is also adorned with text and symbols. In both Omamori and curse tablets, the talisman is connected to a specific deity who has an affinity for fulfilling a particular request. Omamori can be carried on the person, or displayed in personal spaces, and are used for one year, then brought back to the shrine, or ritually burned.

Mezuzah
A Mezuzah is a traditional Jewish talisman, comprised of a parchment scroll containing passages from the Torah. The text is hand written by a qualified scribe who has undergone extensive training, and contained in a small ornate vial. Hung on the doorpost at the entrance to the house, and sometimes every room, Mezuzahs are to be gazed upon when entering and exiting, as a reminder to live a life worthy of the covenant with God.

Taweez
Taweez are used in some sects of Islam. Verses from the Koran are written and folded in a precise manner, specific to the purpose of the talisman, and carried in a small case. Most often taweez are used for protection, but they are also created to attract love or prosperity.

Teffillin
In Orthodox Jewish tradition, Torah verses are housed within tiny boxes that are strapped to the body during devotional practice. The devotee uses movement to interact with the Teffillin during this practice, augmenting the spiritual experience.

Prayer Wheel
The Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel is a cylinder containing thousands or millions of copies of one or more mantras, wound around a central axis. Practitioners believe that as the wheel is spun, the prayers inside radiate out and bless all sentient beings in the vicinity. The large number of blessings inside are released with each revolution of the wheel.

Small prayer wheels are held in the hand, larger ones are set up permanently to activate sacred spaces, like shrines and temples. As technology has evolved, so has the practice, to include water, wind, or fire driven wheels. Recent innovations include videos, internet wheels, data on spinning hard drives and motor-driven prayer wheels.

The Skywheel Project

Since 2009, we have been working on a project inspired by Tibetan prayer wheels. The mission of the Skywheel Project is to build, exhibit, and launch a multicultural prayer wheel space satellite. The satellite will contain a collection of prayers, mantras, blessings and sacred text collectively created by people from around the world, and it will radiate blessings to all the Earth as it spins and orbits the planet for over 1,000 years.  

The Skywheel will be a light, compact cylindrical satellite with a highly reflective metallic exterior, designed to be visible at twilight with the naked eye or with a low powered telescope in areas of low light pollution. Inside, a vacuumized glass tube will contain spools wound with flexible metal scrolls. These scrolls will be engraved with thousands of copies of the sacred texts contributed to the project. The vaccuumized tube will envelop and protect this text, preventing its degradation and ensuring its continued function for the duration of its lifespan.

The Skywheel will be launched by rocket as a secondary payload, allowing it to travel  with another space mission to minimize its cost and environmental impact. It will disengage from the rocket at a lower altitude and itself become a spaceship, using small booster engines to increase its altitude to 1,000 kilometers above the Earth. It will then establish a sun synchronous orbit, allowing it to pass directly over every location on our planet in a regular cycle. Once on station, all use of electronics will be discontinued, and the Skywheel will perform its functions utilizing momentum and the Earth’s gravity. Like a traditional prayer wheel, the satellite will spin slowly clockwise as it revolves around the Earth, radiating blessings as it spins.

As a contemporary talismanic book, one is invited to believe in the manifesting of the Skywheel as a sacred object with the power to collectively bless the world. Like all talismans, the Skywheel’s power lies in its ability to serve as a focal point for positive transformation – in this case, highlighting a contemporary ideal of shared respect between cultures and beliefs, shared stewardship of the earth and a shared sense of responsibility to future generations.

While the satellite’s launch and orbit are an exciting outcome, and a powerful symbol of these ideals, every step of this conceptual work is a creative form of social activism. People’s involvement and participation are what create the project’s momentum and give it power. And the project, in turn, is a neutral ground for exploration and the exchange of ideas between people of diverse backgrounds and
beliefs.

Social Activism and Public Engagement

The Skywheel project as a whole engages the public in a number of ways. First, anyone can submit a blessing or prayer to the project through our website. The submissions do not need to be tied to a particular tradition, and the only criteria is that the text should not be political or a historical account. Rather, we want to include text that creates a sense of connection to something greater than one’s self, connection to one’s best self, or connection to a shared sense of responsibility and stewardship for the earth. So far, we have received entries representing over fifty spiritual traditions.

We are also inviting spiritual leaders to officially represent their traditions in the project. Our goal is to research and reach out to all the world’s spiritual cultures, with an emphasis on indigenous peoples, to invite their participation. Early on in the project, we attended the Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne, Australia, the largest gathering of spiritual leaders in the world. In one event at this weeklong conference, held by Aboriginal leaders, a local man asked a question, “It’s so great to hear about the wisdom of your tradition. I’ve lived here in Melbourne for over 60 years, why have I never heard this before? To which the leader replied, “No one ever asked us before.”

His response reminded us that many indigenous groups have, until recently, been persecuted for practicing their own spiritual traditions. Native Americans, for example, could not legally practice their religions in the eyes of American law until 1978. So just inviting native peoples to participate in an art project that honors all expressions of the sacred equally can be a meaningful symbol of respect.

To help with this and other aspects of the project, including funding, we formed a non-profit organization in 2010. Through Space For Vision Projects, people can participate in internships, fundraisers and volunteer programs that help us co-create this project.

Technology

We’re also looking to current technologies to provide access and interaction with the project in as many ways as possible. Our facebook page helps people remain engaged and provides a digital sense of community. Our blog provides more detailed stories about our adventures and discoveries along the way.

As the project progresses, and the satellite goes on station, we will create an online satellite tracker to provide information on where and when the satellite will be passing overhead. And we are planning a phone app that can alert you when the satellite is overhead and send you a randomly generated blessing from the collection.

Creative Manifestations

While the culmination of this artwork will result in an artist book in space, there is quite a lot of additional artwork being produced as part of the Skywheel Project. We are in the process of creating an exhibition of work from the project, that will include artists books, journals, drawings, paintings and sculpture. The focal point of the exhibition will be a model of the Skywheel, co-produced with Microcosm Inc., the aerospace company we are partnering with to help design the satellite and plan the launch.

We have just completed an edition of 100 prints as a fundraiser to raise $10,000 for the building of the model, and have made them available for a one hundred dollar donation to the non-profit. We wanted to invite participation and interaction through the distribution of these prints, so each one is uniquely hand-colored and inscribed with one of the text selections from the satellite. We are finding that through this interaction, people are actually submitting new text to the project so that we will write it on their print!

As the project progresses and the actual satellite is built, it will replace the model as the focal point of the touring exhibition. Companion events include concerts and creative workshops. Earlier this year we collaborated with musicians to produce the first of these events, Song of the Sky, an evening of music that highlighted the thematic idea of the heavens.

We are very passionate about this project, and have a lot of fun along the way. That’s good, because we are in it for the long haul – when we first agreed to start it we projected that it would take 7 to 10 years to complete. It’s been three and we have a long way to go yet, but if other people continue to want this project to happen, we will get there step by step.

Conclusion

For us, the Skywheel is a trans-generational devotional project; rooted in the past, possible in the present, and acknowledging the future. It is rooted in a past of individuals, cultures, languages, myths, and symbols, each uniquely expressing their connection to the idea of sacredness. It is rooted in a time before people felt a need to distinguish between the sacred and the secular (which is a fairly recent construct). And it is rooted in a past when the sky was called the heavens, and considered the realm of the ancestors, home of the gods, and a place of infinite mystery.

The Skywheel is also dependent on this present moment in time for its very possibility. It’s the first time in history that it is possible to create a public art project in space, and to create this symbol of blessing the Earth in its entirety. It’s a world of endless possibilities of technology, but also a moment of global environmental and economic crisis, and a time when the sky is called space and looked upon as a commodity owned by corporations and governments.

And it’s a moment when people all over the world, especially artists, need to think out of the box, and come together in creative ways to address the problems we collectively face.

And happily, optimistically, and in spite of the challenges of the present moment, this is a project that looks with hope to the future. A thousand years into the future. And asks everyone who will listen the questions, “What do you hold sacred?” And “What blessing will you give?” Not just for today, but for generations to come. We believe this thinking of and acting in the interest of future generations is the key to our survival.

Our great passion with the Skywheel project is to create a work of art that is a symbol of our collective ownership of the sky as a shared sacred space, which in turn creates a metaphor for our collective stewardship of the Earth. As a talismanic book, a beacon in the sky, this is the message the Skywheel wants to broadcast.

14 Insights from H.H. the Dalai Lama, UC Irvine 5/4/11

2011-05-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke at UC Irvine today on how to face our current challenges -- those that occur on a family, community, national and planetary level. Here are a few of his simple, yet profound suggestions:

1) Look at reality objectively, without being bound by emotions.

2) Look at reality (or the reality of a problem) in a holistic manner.

3) Cultivate a calm mind. A calm mind is objective, self-confident, free of fear, and open to experience. With a calm mind we can use human intelligence properly.

4) We can properly address and overcome problems if we deal with them with a calm mind, a sense of responsibility, and moral values.

5) Moral values such as compassion and stewardship are not just for "religious-oriented" people. Moral values should be cultivated by all. If we teach our children these values, how to cultivate a calm mind, and especially warm-heartedness, then we will raise responsible leaders in the next generation.

6) Honor your body and its changing states. The body is not the same from year to year. Too much worry, frustrations, stress and anxiety creates sickness. We must pay attention to our health.

7) When recovering from illness, the calm mind is very important.

8) Self-centeredness creates stress and loneliness, which causes sickness in the body. Cultivate warm-heartedness and focus on serving others and you will experience connectedness, calm, and create health.

9) Believing in a Creator, God, or Higher Power connects you with something greater than yourself, which reduces self-centeredness.

10) We need leaders with, among other things, vision. When the mind is calm, visions come easily.

11) We must cultivate self-confidence and trust. Trust comes from speaking the honest truth.

12) In most cases, our experiences are the results of our own actions. Therefore we should examine our actions and their effect on our experience.

13) We should practice secularism in our approach to dealing with challenging community and global issues. Secularism is respecting the religious practice and views of all spiritual traditions, and also of non-believers. We should debate with others on important issues with respect for their background, beliefs and point of view.

14) Your enemy is your greatest teacher because he gives you the opportunity to practice compassion.

Special thanks to former student, Raquel Buckley, who provided the opportunity for me to attend this event.

Universal Symbols: The Sacred Circle

2011-02-24T14:26:00.001-08:00

Before I begin this intro to the symbolism of the circle, I'd like to give a warm welcome to our new interns, Rachel Denney, who is contacting spiritual and cultural representatives, and researching sacred text, and Linda Gradert who is researching sacred symbols, beginning with the five basic symbols. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!

Throughout history and across cultures, there are five symbols- five basic shapes that are found in sacred art. While their specifics may vary from one tradition to the next, their basic meanings remain primarily the same cross-culturally.

The first of these is the sacred circle. In life, it appears as the sun, moon, and planets. Our own earth, representing and controlling seasons, natural cycles, the passage of time. A full rainbow symbolizes completion, the end of a tempest.

In western religious iconography, a cruciform halo is always used only to depict or adorn Christ, while the circular halo signifies angels, saints and other holy figures. The cruciform cross is a combination between the circle and cross- another universal symbol we will cover in a later blog.
In Eastern traditions the circle takes the form of the Dharma Wheel, and is the primary shape of the mandala, created in sand as a meditation by Buddhist monks.

The circle, in the form of an Ouroboro, or serpent devouring its own tale, was also an important symbol in alchemy, the precurser to modern chemistry. As the ouroboro, the circle represents the unity of all things, and the cycle of creation and destruction and recreation, and specific to alchemy, of chemical change. One thing becomes another, things change states but never truly go away.

The circle in the form of a ring has had a variety of similar meanings down through the ages, often worn as talismans for success or good fortune (as in the ancient Egyptians and Romans) or to ward off disease (as in parts of Europe during the middle ages).
The ring represents union and eternity, making the exchanging of rings a popular symbolic gesture in marriage ceremonies.

Sources:
http://www.math.dartmouth.edu/~matc/math5.geometry/unit9/unit9.html
http://whatisthepyramid.com/2009/09/07/ouroboros-that-which-devours-itself/

Song of the Sky

2011-02-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who made last Saturday's Song of the Sky benefit concert a big success! Thanks to our talented performers, guests and the power of nature.

Indeed, as we were setting out the snacks and wine and adding the final touches, a single clap of thunder boomed as though voicing the sky's approval.

This concert was the first major arts event in conjunction with the Skywheel Project. Concerns for the weather driving prospective guests back inside their own homes quickly melted as headlights rounded the bend, and people began arriving, umbrellas in hand. Certainly we couldn't deny that this was perfect weather for a spring concert featuring songs about the sky.

Once welcomed in and hustled out of the brisk evening air, our friends enjoyed conversation, hors d'oeuvres and glasses of wine, I was overjoyed to meet the faces of many people I'd known only by email, see others I hadn't seen in a while, and have so meny people from our different circles meeting under one roof, some of them for the first time. I also felt a rising sensation of nervousness and excitement for my own small roll singing backup for two of the songs.

This nervousness heightened as our guests filtered to their seats, rows of white chairs set up in what is normally the living room of the gorgeous wood beam house built by Kim's grandfather (the acoustics are absolutely incredible). But all of my excitement and jitters turned to a calm as the music began and I was reminded of how fortunate I am to be in such good company with these talented creative people.

Our Ensemble:

Carter Dewberry~ Cello, Vocals
Peter Sprague~ Guitar
Leland Means~ Bass
Kim Means~ Vocals
Jeanette McMahon~ Chimes
Steve Radosevich~ Vocals, Guitar
Rachel Hillberg (me)~ Vocals

The Set List Included:

Call to the Four Directions a Native American blessing sung by Kim Means
Miro by Carter Dewberry
Secret Code by Peter Sprague
Stormy Weather~ Arlen/Koehler
Blue Skies~ Irving Berlin
How High the Moon~ Hamilton/Lewis
Fly me to the Moon~ Bart Howard
The Heavens- Excerpt from Tehilim with Chimes by Jeanette McMahon with audience participation
Mundaka by Peter Sprague
Did you See?~ John Simon
Swing Low Sweet Chariot~ Wallis Willis
Satellite Rock~ Sammy Smith and the Rebelairs

Every once in a while throughout the concert, the rain would pick up and become another musical element, and we were literally hearing the Song of the Sky. It was truly magical.

Afterwards, while enjoying dessert and wonderful conversation, I was overwhelmed by an amazing sense of gratitude, and felt my spirits lifted by this experience. (And, forgive me if I am gushing...) I'm struck by what an incredible gift community really is, grateful to play a helping role in the support of this project, and thoroughly happy to be surrounded by wonderful people who made this event so special.

Islamic Prayer

2010-11-14T15:21:00.001-08:00

This is the first prayer I received back from a very gracious Imam Leader, named Sameh. I have always been interested in Islam as a religion because it has some very good ideas to follow. My name means Faith in Arabic, and I always wanted to get more information about the religion. When I got the following prayer in my inbox it made me realize that Islam is very much like any other religion out there. Please enjoy the following...
Iman Cassells Alleyne

Islamic Supplications

Written by Imam / Sameh Asal

Islamic Center of Raleigh

All praises and thanks are due to God, the Creator and Lord of all that exists, and peace and blessings be upon all His Messengers.

O God, You are the Creator of the heavens and earth and all that exists! You are the Lord of Majesty and Power and You have power over everything. Exalted and Glorified be You.

O God! You are peace and the ultimate peace comes from You alone; blessed are You, O Lord of Majesty and Honor. Guide us all to the Straight Path that pleases you and open our minds and eyes to the truth.

O God! Teach us what is beneficial for us, benefit us with what you have taught us and increase us in knowledge.

O Our Lord! You are the All-Merciful, Ever-Merciful shower us all with Your all-encompassing mercy and send us your blessings.

We ask you, our Lord, the Granter of security, to bless us and our families, friends, neighbors, communities and the whole worlds with everlasting peace and security.

O’ God! You are the Creator of heavens and earth and what is in them. You have created human beings male and female and made us nations and tribes so that we may know one another and live in harmony, and you told us that the best among us in Your Sight are the most pious.

"Maranatha" & The World Community for Christian Meditation

2010-07-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

Laurence Freeman is a Benedictine monk and the director of the World Community for Christian Meditation, and is strongly active in interfaith dialog and peace initiatives. He was also one of the inspired leaders and speakers at the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions (pictured here with His Holiness the Dalai Lama).

We recently emailed him about the Skywheel Project, and received an enthusiastic reply from his assistant Timothy Casey, and a prayer by Fr. John Main, who had been Laurence Freeman's spiritual teacher, and had established the first Christian Meditation Center in London. This prayer will be included in the Skywheel Satellite and will one day orbit the planet!

The prayer reads:

"Heavenly Father, open our hearts to the silent presence of the spirit of your Son. Lead us into that mysterious silence where your love is revealed to all who call. Maranatha*...Come, Lord Jesus."

* Maranatha is an Aramaic phrase that means "Our Lord, come!" "Our Lord has come" or "Come, O Lord" and is believed to have been used as a greeting between early Christians. (wikipedia)

Also, according to wikipedia: " 'Maranatha' is the prayer word recommended by the World Community for Christian Meditation, the community of followers of the teaching of John Main OSB's teachings on the practice of Christian meditation. The prayer is one where one places everything aside: instead of talking to God, one is just being with God, allowing God’s presence to fill one's heart, thus transforming one's inner being."

For more information on the World Community for Christian Meditation, visit their website here:

http://www.wccm.org

photo credit: http://sixthformstjames.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/dom-laurence-freeman-osb/

Rabbi David Rosen Joins the Skywheel Project

2010-06-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Skywheel Project is very honored to have the participation of Rabbi David Rosen as a representative of the Jewish faith. The Rabbi was on the International Advisory Committee at the 2009 Parliament of World's Religions, and is the International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee and president of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.

He has contributed Psalm 19 in both the Hebrew and English translations, saying, "The book of Psalms is the oldest and most extensive feature of traditional Jewish prayer. This particular psalm expresses a fundamental Jewish teaching that the Divine is encountered in the cosmos around us (and within us) and in ethical values/conduct."

Psalm 19 verse 2 asserts, "the Heavens recount the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork," (you can read the full text from Psalm 19 in English and Hebrew on our facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-skywheel-project/sacred-text-submission-psalm-19/406293334029)

He included a truly inspiring quote by philosopher Emmanual Kant, believing that he may have had this particular Psalm in mind when he said, "There are two things that fill my soul with holy reverence and ever-growing wonder- the spectacle of the starry sky that virtually annihilates us as physical beings, and the moral law that raises us to infinite dignity as intelligent agents."

(top right picture cred: Artist unknown)

A New Definition of Ritual

2010-04-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Ritual is an often misunderstood word that carries strong emotional connotations for most people. And, as the artwork we make as United Catalysts often intersects with the realm of ritual, I have contemplated the meaning of ritual for years.

Here is the Merriam Webster Dictionary definition of the term:

Ritual: noun

1 : the established form for a ceremony; specifically : the order of words prescribed for a religious ceremony

 2 a : ritual observance; specifically : a system of rites b : a ceremonial act or action c : an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner

People can easily relate to the last definition, which is essentially a synonym for a self-imposed habit (i.e. the morning coffee). But the other descriptions, which speak of ceremonies, observances, and rites, are more vague. To many, these definitions conjure up images of forced childhood church-goings or frighteningly bizarre acts of violence or sex.

The ceremonial definition of ritual is missing two important parts. First, it does not address the function of a ritual, which is transformation. Second, it gives no description of the mechanisms of ritual, which are symbolism, myth and metaphor.

From elaborate and public traditional wedding ceremonies, to private ceremonies for healing or purification, all rituals are designed to transform the participants. This transformation may be a social one, as in a change in status within a community (graduations, weddings, or rites of passage), or a purely personal one, aimed at the spiritual or psychological growth of an individual. Either way, transformation is the ultimate goal, and the specific type of transformation desire helps dictate the form and content of the ritual itself.

To accomplish this transformation, rituals employ the powerful mechanisms of symbolism, metaphor, and myth. In any ritual, participants go through a series of prescribed physical actions that are designed to serve as metaphors for internal actions. For example, in a marriage ritual, the bride and groom often pour sand into one container, drink wine from the same cup, or light one central candle from two individual ones. All of these actions serve as metaphors for merging two lives and destinies into one. Many objects within rituals are symbolic; in this case the cup, candle or container of sand all symbolize the new union. These symbols are often dictated or informed by mythology, which refers to the set of spiritual or moral stories within a culture.

Every culture on Earth has a their own combination of mythology, symbolism, and goals for transformation, so every culture’s rituals are uniquely different. Going further, every individual also has a unique perspective within their culture, and many of us create our own personal rituals, within or outside of our traditions.

The dictionary’s failure to describe the function and form of ritual in its definition is indicative of our society’s failure to understand and convey the value of ritual as a transformative tool. Many of Western society’s rituals are centuries old, and sometimes fail to move participants toward the transformations which they intend. In spite of this disconnect, they can still be powerfully moving.

My new definition of ritual is this: any set of physical symbolic actions that serve as a tool for internal transformation.

Demystifying ritual has enabled me to further appreciate the rituals of my upbringing, and encouraged me to continue to find my own personal rituals. In my work with Steve, this knowledge has strengthened our projects, which use metaphoric action to create new, contemporary rituals, and has ultimately led us to where we are now in the Skywheel Project.

This project, like a ritual, uses symbolism, metaphor, myth and physical action to evoke transformation. We hope the metaphor of a prayer wheel, containing the most sacred words from all spiritual traditions, orbiting the planet as a symbol of honor for all which is considered holy, will help encourage the transformation of our planet to one which is filled with respect, cooperation, and better understanding for all cultures and their beliefs.

Photo: Our first dialog with ritual, 9 years ago: The Purification Project

To learn more about this project, and other United Catalyst artwork, please visit: http://www.unitedcatalysts.net/

James Turrell -- Skyspace

2010-04-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

The Skywheel Project is certainly an epic work of art-in-progress. For all of us devoted to its completion, it’s a mountain we climb as pilgrims, step by step. As we go along this long trail, we remember and are inspired by other artists and visionaries who are also making monumental works.

The work and dedication of James Turrell has been inspiring Steve and I for years, long before the Skywheel Project. His “skyspaces” are chambers of holy interaction between the Earth and the Sky. His minimalist manipulations of light and space create powerful spiritual sanctuaries where the elemental and the infinite can be expressed and contemplated – all without words or metaphor.

In contrast, within the Skywheel satellite, we seek to house a collective body of text that describes our planet’s attempts to put humanity’s contemplation of the sacred in writing. But, like Turrell, we hope to expose these beautiful verses, prayers, and devotions as metaphor, symbols of all the spiritual perspectives on Earth, all pointing to the same thing -- a direct experience of that which is greater than ourselves: the divine, which is always beyond words.

Turrell’s life work is a series of skyspaces contained in the Roden Crater, near Flagstaff, Arizona. He has been designing, carving and shaping this space for the last 35 years, creating one of the largest works of art in history. And he’ll get there, one step at a time.

So will we.

Read more about James Terrell’s work here:

http://www.arttimesjournal.com/art/reviews/Oct'06%20James%20Turrell/James%20Turrell%20Oct%20'06.htm

2010-02-27T16:13:00.000-08:00

"Focus on the Positive Path Forward, Not the Negative Path of the Past"

This year's Parliament theme was "Hearing Each Other, Healing the Earth," with a strong focus on indigenous peoples. These are cultures whose voices have gone unheard of for so much of Western history, but remain closer than most of us to the Earth, while many of our "civilized" cultures have become far removed from the natural world.

Many sessions were held by indigenous spiritual leaders, whose cultures and peoples have been sorely mistreated by others, and in some cases, have had their traditions almost eradicated. Many of these peoples had restrictions imposed on them, making practicing their religions illegal. Indigenous leaders had a great deal to speak about at the Parliament, and at times emotions were high. After one session held by Aboriginal Elders, audience members were coming up front to shake hands and I heard more than one European-descent Australian say,"I'm sorry." Those are powerful transformative words.

Consistently, the aborigional elders talked of the present and future, and making things better now and for their grandchildren. They offered this advise not just as their own philosophy for moving forward after being wronged, but as advise to be taken by everyone, especially in regard to the care of the Earth, our home.

Deepening wisdom is a result of listening to nature.

2010-02-26T12:24:00.000-08:00

-- HH Vishwagura Mahamand Eleshwar Paramhans

During the Parliament of the World's religions, I attended the "Convocation of Hindu Spiritual Leaders", where about thirty yogis, gurus, saints and mystics from multiple regions of the world converged to speak about bringing wisdom, peace, and harmony to ourselves and our planet. His Holiness Vishwagura Paramhans spoke of the process of gaining wisdom as directly related to the process of listening -- to nature, which is all around us and in us. The process of listening, in this sense, means not just hearing words, but paying close attention to the actions, sights, sounds, processes, cycles and experiences that are happening close to us, and being open to the wisdom contained within.

Listening to nature also requires listening to the needs and perspectives of others, and trying to work into our own actions, respect for their existence, not just acting with preference to our own needs. If we do this, we live our lives in balance with the flow of the energy of the world around us, and we don't waste energy fighting against it.

Wisdom from the Parliament

2010-02-13T16:55:00.001-08:00

With so many perspectives on the human condition, and the condition of the world, the Parliament of the World's Religions was overwhelming, and took several months to even begin to process.

As a way of beginning this process, and gaining a deeper understanding of the wisdom gathered at the Parliament, we have begun to craft a Parliament Book, combining illuminated quotes with skywheel-esque designs. These gems of wisdom come from notes that we all took while attending the various spiritual observances, and lectures at POWR. Some of the quotes come directly from the speakers, others are distillations or common themes that were brought up numerous times by leaders of many different faith groups.

The photo included in this post is one of about thirty in the works. In the future, we will include more of this illuminated wisdom, with the addition of a few notes about the background of the quotes and related speakers to give a sense of context. Enjoy!

Skywheel 2009, a Retrospective

2010-02-05T17:05:00.000-08:00

It's been almost a year since United Catalysts began to work on the Skywheel Project. The year of 2009 was all about planning and brainstorming, meeting with rocket scientists, and people of various faiths and cultures including attending the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne, Australia.

In short, it has been an exciting year.

As a studio assistant, it's been amazing for me to watch the artists, Kim Garrison and Steve Radosevich steadily bring a seemingly inconceivable project to life. It was wonderful to see how warmly the Skywheel project was received by all of the religious leaders, scholars and people from all over the world that we met at the Parliament. I feel it has truly struck a chord in all of us, and already, even in it's nascent state, has become a focal point to bring together people of all beliefs and walks of life while honoring the beauty of our individuality.

And what lies in store for the Skywheel Project in 2010, you may wonder?

This year, Kim and Steve will focus their creative energies on the artistic facets of the Skywheel Project, including a series of Skywheel related prints and designs for the satellite itself. And while they return to the studio to make wonderful skywheel art, I will working with religious and spiritual leaders to create a panel of advisors for the project and keeping all of you, the friends of the Skywheel Project, updated on our adventure, as it unfolds.

A Warm Welcome

2010-01-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the official blog for The Skywheel Project. Here, artists Kim Garrison, Steve Radosevich and I (the bloggy studio assistant), will be sharing with you our adventures with this incredibly exciting project. We'd like to invite you to be a part of our community and join us on this journey

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the project, you can find detailed info at www.skywheel.org.

You can also join us on Facebook by following this link.