“Do not forget life, artist. A picture is not a collection of portrayed objects nor is it a certain effect of light and shade nor is it a sourvenir of a place nor a sentimental reminder, nor is it a show of colour nor a magnificence of form, nor yet is it anything seeable or sayable. It is a glimpse of God interpreted by the soul. It is life to some degree expressed.”
(author unknown)
As artists we have the unique ability to help people notice things in new ways. Our visions may be representational or abstract, emotional or intellectual, but they are all about self-expression and communication with the viewer. If you are an artist who would like to express the pain and joy you find in the world around you through your art this project offers you the opportunity to join others in that pursuit. Your vision may be as small as one piece of art work or as large as a series of pieces. You may only be interested in sharing your work with family and friends or you may be inspired to set up group shows and develop media opportunities. However large or small your vision, we are here to support and empower one another to make a positive difference in the world.
This project comes out of the Socially Engaged Buddhist Training program (SEBT) offered by Upaya in 2021. The SEBT is based in Zen Buddhist wisdom and practice. The term, bearing witness, derives from the 3 tenets of Zen Peacemakers International; not knowing, baring witness and compassionate action https://zenpeacemakers.org/the-three-tenets/ which supports deep, open awareness. Through not knowing we let go of preconceived notions, viewpoints and attachment to how we think things should be. Through bearing witness we see the joy and suffering around us openly and in a heartfelt, fresh way. Compassionate action naturally arises out of this deep seeing. The Bearing Witness Project offers artists the opportunity to enter into a heart felt concern to create healing in the world, express that concern visually, and the ability to support non-profits that support their concern with boots on the ground.
Zen Peacemakers writes:
The practice of bearing witness is to see all of the aspects of a situation including your attachments and judgments. When you bear witness you open to the uniqueness of whatever is arising and meet it just as it is. When combined with not-knowing, bearing witness can strengthen your capacity for spaciousness, thus enabling you to be present to the very things that make you feel as if you have lost your center. It can strengthen your capacity to listen to other points of view, thus allowing a more nuanced picture of a situation to emerge.
Bearing witness can allow you to eventually come to terms with the most difficult life circumstances. The practice is always available to you regardless of the time, place, situation, or people involved. There is nothing that you cannot bear witness to, from dusting the lint off your sweater to living in a pit for two years. In bearing witness, you are actively engaged and embodied, even struggling, with whatever is arising. Sometimes spiritual practices can have a neutralizing effect, flattening feelings rather than stimulating them. To hold to the center is not about becoming a spiritual zombie; it is about living the fullness of your own humanity. You are alive, so be fully alive.
from Zen Peacemakers International website