Gratitude

Thomas and I went for a walk after the busy day of receiving entries for the show yesterday. We've been buddies since the early nineties, continuously participating in Tibetan Buddhist studies and events here in Santa Barbara. I'm grateful for all for the times we set up chairs, and hung tankas and lit incense and carried tables and collected donations and created flyers and discussed priorities and laughed and cried and carried on. The Buddha Abides might never have happened if it weren't for this friendship.

This evening I was reading some of the letters I've received from the Tibetan children we've been supporting for the last eight years in Dharamsala, India. Their sweetness, sincerity, determination and pride in their culture comes through loud and clear every time. I am so glad that we can help them in our small way, with the donations which come from a percentage of the sales of the Buddha Abides art show.

This would not be possible without the generosity and creativity of Santa Barbara artists. So I want to say Thank You to all the artists who brought their work to the gallery yesterday. It is really you who are making the biggest difference here. Although we could not accept every piece, never-the-less, the very act of participating by submitting an entry provided a contribution toward out ability to help those in need.

This coming Saturday, April 5th, will be the eighth year for our little exhibition. It's always been a joyous party, so I hope you can come join in the festivities this year. The work is as usual whimsical, moving, intriguing and divine.

Let it be,

Lark

It's Showtime!

Well, I hope all the artists have their work ready!

Fliers announcing the show are all over town, postcards have been mailed, those on email lists have been informed, notices are in the papers, adverts are in magazines, and people are already wearing the T-shirts, which I might add are particularly gorgeous this year. (We are using the American Apparel company's T's: light weight, soft and they pay their workers a living wage. Colors: Magenta for the women, Navy for the guys, both with light gray logo. They'll be available at the gallery.)

Receiving of entries is this Saturday. Thomas, Christi and I look forward to viewing the always wonderful and surprising art. The following Saturday, April 5th is our Opening Reception where everyone can meet the artists. We are happy to report that Bob Sedavie, the wonderful Shakuhachi musician, is once again going to transport us with his haunting Japanese flute.

Thomas and I are also hoping to hang hundreds of Tibetan flags, as a way of sending our blessings and prayers for a cessation of violence and an opening of discussions between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leaders. (If you have any flags you would like to donate, please bring them this Saturday.)

So, 'til Saturday, keep creating!

Peace and Love,

Lark