Professional Development with Mountain View Schools

This past month I was invited to share perspectives and techniques in my style of art to 5 and under instructors from Mountain View Schools. During my site visit I was inspired with the layout of the school- numerous zones with different features- trees and grass and sand amidst the concrete jungle of Mountain View. I began visualizing my session.

Mandala III- Earthscape Group Artwork

Here is the result of a recent Playa Painting workshop done in Cape Cod.

Meditational Group Artwork

The Meditational Group Artwork is the more intentional, reverential, focused side of my group large-scale art-making. It is a walking meditation, an opportunity to simultaneously focus and release our thoughts, feelings, and desires as we create an artwork together.

Check the 'Upcoming Events' listing on the upper right side of my site to see the scheduled events.

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I had been wanting to create an offering that allowed others to create with me in an intentional, ceremonial way. One day I did an artwork, dedicating it to a friend whose son was ill. The next day I did another, this time I put it out on my Facebook page, inviting those interested to send their prayers for me to place in the artwork. There was a huge response, from people calling things into their lives to prayers for those experiencing turmoil. The whole thing felt good- the invitation to participate, the act of doing the artwork, sharing the final image. The experience inspired me to open it up for others to join me. Thus was born the Prayer Artwork. The gathering has evolved to focus on the meditational aspects of the- the part that allows the mind to let go. I still use it as an opportunity to project intentional thoughts and intentions.

This gathering is a meditation in motion as we create a mandala together. We start with body and heart opening activities followed by space for sharing our intentions (if any). Next I'll give a bit of instruction with technique and guidance in what we'll be doing and then we silently create an artwork together. 

I hope you can join us, its a magical experience to intentionally create- even more magical to be inside the design creating it!

Note: Physical condition notice- moderate physical capacity needed for raking as well as getting to the from the beach location.

Questions? Use the 'Contact' tab above. Thanks! :-)

Workshop and Group Art creation Oct 6, San Francisco

Workshop Scheduled: Oct 6th, 2013, 3:15pm Ocean Beach, San Francisco

Have you looked at my imagery and wondered what the designs are about- where they come from and what they mean? Curious about crop circles, sacred geometry, chaos and fractals and how those fit into my art? Or what they mean to you? Have a desire to doodle in the sand with one of my rakes and play with design potentials?

Perfect!

Mandala group art creation

This is a timelapse of the making of a henna-inspired mandala by a group of family members who commissioned me to direct the creation of a marriage proposal. Everything about this day was stellar. And the group worked amazingly well together as the video shows.

'Memorium'

Here is the last painting I created during my recent stint in the Bay Area. This one was done in memory of the passing of a close friend's mother. She loved the flowers and the beach.

This design connects the perfection of geometry with the earthly realm of organic form, symbolizing the connecting of spirit and matter that is a living being. The tide represents the passing of all things. A beautiful offering to his mother and to us.

Wedding Invitation- Group Art Outing

This lovely couple, Rik and Lou Ann, hired me to coordinate her family and friends in making an artwork that would be their wedding invitation. It was a gray SF summer day on the beach but that didn't diminish the fun. They even had a caterer bringing us munchies as we worked :-) The group was a delight to work with.

These group projects oriented around meaning-infused events such as proposals and weddings and 70th birthdays are really special to be a part of. I appreciate leading them, facilitating an experience with so many enduring facets.

Photography was done by my buddy Gene Kosoy who does very good event and wedding work.

Playa Painting- Flowers I

This one was done as a test run with a few friends who were with me on the beach. We each chose a flower to create and then went for it.

Playa Painting- Field of Flowers II

This design was done during a public invite day. Every person who came to help was given a flash card on which to design their flower. After checking it and giving pointers, they were set loose to be part of the field of flowers. This image is a stitched together version of the whole piece. I'm psyched with how it came out.

Here is a closeup:

 

Playa Painting- Swirlz

Inspired by Japanese cloud paintings. Winter is arriving and with it the amazing beach canvas returns in its full(er) glory. (You see, the winter ocean washes away the summer sand build up, which acts like a dam to the high tide. Less dam, more wet beach= larger canvas!)

Spiralz Film

This one was taken by a workshop participantof the design being created by the other attendees.

Playa Painting from Pete Jost on Vimeo.

Playa Painting- Group art creation

My second Playa Painting workshop was held on an unexpectedly beautiful day after almost a week of storms. There was a nice turnout for the talk and painting. This image is the design that resulted. Thank you's to all who participated! 

Playa Painting- Public Workshop

Another beautiful, cloudless day although there was a chill wind coming from the west. My 3rd workshop and it continues to refine. There was lots of positive, unsolicited feedback about how revelatory the content of my talk was. That's satisfying- the topics certainly have been revelatory for me in terms of how I perceive and interact with the world. Sign up for my mail list and be informed of future workshops and see for yourself what I mean!
Together we created this design which feels reminiscent to the weathered rock of the beach.

The interesting aspect to doing these designs with the public is the nature of what I am trying to accomplish. Take a group of random people with wildly varying capabilities and outlooks and artistic sensibilities (although all have in common an appreciation for my art- thanks!) and create a coherent design in which I am not micromanaging. My goal is that each person can operate independently yet still be integrated into the design as a whole. Its a challenge and each time out is an opportunity to try different approaches.

Here's a few items I have learned so far:
-Straight lines are hard to do!
-Everyone has a different idea of what a particular shape looks like and is made.
-Moving with the rake is a skill that I can easily take for granted (having spent hundred of hours pulling one)
-The process is more important than the result. While I always strive for an end image that can be useful for a print, its not something I get hung up about. It makes the random, human element of the process easier to take in stride when its not going quite like I would have done it myself
-What I thought I wanted is not always what is most interesting. An assortment of people can create variations far wider than I would have on my own.  I am developing an appreciation for what results from such 'imperfections'.
-wabi-sabi , baby.

Playa Painting Performance- 'This Constant Yearning'

The first painting performance and also first collaboration between Rana Stewart and myself was a success! I'm excited by the potential, which is limitless.
My thanks to the crew, who endured some gorgeous days at the beach in preparation :), and to the photographers without whom you'd have to read about it instead of seeing it- in the slideshow .

Cast: Rana Stewart, Kay Ceridwen Bachmann, Marcy Silver, Matthew Cavanna, Daphne Georghiou, and Andres Amador

Performance Director: Rana Stewart

Art Director: Andres Amador

View Slideshow