Contemplative Arts Festival of Saskatoon
407 Cumberland Ave. South S7H 2L3 Saskatoon, SK, Canada

How ironic to have our Contemplative Arts Festival postponed by an event that requires the whole world to just stop, and stay home, where (for some) there’s more than enough time to start art projects, and contemplate life and the state of the world! The ten of us who had begun organizing the second annual CAFS for May 7 10 were so disappointed when we had to stop and go home. The pandemic really broke the momentum that had been rolling along nicely after all, the 2019 ...Continue reading

Hello! We're back with another #ContemplativeArtsAtHome message. This is our Contemplative Arts Festival committee’s "pandemic project. Every so often we’ll be sharing a reflection about a contemplative arts practice that you might like to try at home. Our fourth offering is from committee member Nobuko Iwai, who, like many these days, has taken to learning more about baking. Nobuko writes: In the midst of COVID-19, I am a reluctant baker. I didn’t really bake before, but ...now I’ve found that I’ve used about 5 kg of flour. And most recently, I’ve made pretzels. I didn’t know you had to boil pretzels before you bake them. And I’ve learned much from the process. The recipe I used comes from Alton Brown. But what I’ve learned, aside from the magic of yeast and using fairly usual ingredients is the following: Baking requires time and patience (Even if you think nothing is happening, something is happening); It requires the use of muscles, of effort, of strength and practice; It calls for stretching dough beyond what it might want to stretch into. (Making a 24 rope of dough is not an easy thing to do.) The pretzel is formed by creating a u with the dough, then folding over the arms to make the pretzel shape, the shape of arms folded in prayer, waiting for the heat to transform them. As I work with the dough, in these domestic arts, I contemplate. I’m wondering, as we live our lives, what kind of transformation are we preparing ourselves for?

Hello friends! We're back with another #ContemplativeArtsAtHome message. This is our Contemplative Arts Festival committee’s "pandemic project. Every so often we’ll be sharing a reflection about a contemplative arts practice that you might like to try at home. Our third offering is from committee member Marnie Deighton, who writes poetry and other reflections as a spiritual practice. Marnie shares: Though I like the creative process of writing poetry, I usually need an insp...iration, a focus, a goal to get me started. It is contemplative once I start, as the rest of the world falls away. I choose a space that is comfortable and perhaps breathe or meditate for a few minutes to begin. The muse that urged me in the past couple of weeks was the poem by Christine Valters Paintner (self-described poet, hermit and mystic), which spread over the Internet during this pandemic. It is based on the Beatitudes from the Christian Bible (part of Jesus’ sermon on the Mount) from the book of Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 1-12. Look it up using your own Bible or search the Internet for a version you like. Here is the New International version https://bit.ly/3d16Fnq Christine Valters Paintner's "Praise Song for the Pandemic" is quite a beautiful piece of poetry, regardless of your faith or spiritual leanings. Listen and watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCYoikGaI6U In her book The Artists Rule, Valters Paintner directs the reader in the process of arriving at a heart-centered place, reading the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-10) then writing their own version. https://abbeyofthearts.com//the-artists-rule-nurturing-yo/ Let’s try that. I invite you to find a spot with writing paper and pen, perhaps light a candle, focus your breath, listen to the YouTube video again or read the Gospel reading a second or third time. Write down the starting words: Blessed are the. Then just write as many things, people, situations, gifts that you can think of randomly that you would include in your idea of who or what is blessed. There are no wrong answers. Now decide which lines are keepers. It can have any number of verses/lines. During this pandemic some of you might focus on family, on heroes, on neighbours, on our own coping mechanisms, or on the nature that is blossoming and singing around us. Example: When looking inwards: "Blessed is the breath within, expanding, falling in and out, for it will sustain me." Or looking outwards: "Blessed are the children that play outside, for they bring joy to the neighbourhood." The second part of the phrase for they. is optional. Humor is always allowed! "Blessed are the sons that call their mothers, for they will inherit the house." Also look at the last lines of scripture which conclude the reading and add a concluding statement if you wish. The product is not as important as the process. Share, or not, or send it out to the universe in prayer.

Welcome back to #ContemplativeArtsAtHome - our CAFS Committee’s "pandemic project. Every so often we’ll be sharing a contemplative art that might bring you some solace during these difficult days. Our second offering is from committee member Dawn Weber, who considers Gardening to be a Contemplative Art. Here’s what Dawn has to say: Can gardening be a contemplative art? I think it can be. Once Christmas and New Year’s Day are over, gardeners look over their yards and start d...reaming. Even though the snow is still on the ground, the seed catalogues come out. Gardeners pour over them wondering if they can try growing a new vegetable or flower. We read all kinds of reference books or different types of books on how to garden such as container gardening, square foot gardening, companion gardening, etc. They start planning where everything will grow in their garden. Personally, I find this dreaming very contemplative. I keep telling myself the days are getting longer. It keeps me grounded and looking for the signs of spring. Most of us can hardly wait till we can put our first seeds in the flats or other seedling mediums. The end of February cannot come soon enough. We start our seedings. This year, for the first time, I planted for the annuals such as pansies, petunias and snap dragons. I planted the regulars such tomatoes and peppers and various herbs. I put them in a tray and under a plastic top and waited and waited for the first plants to sprout. First came the tomatoes, followed by the peppers and then the herbs some of which I have had to reseed. The flowers took a little longer to sprout. Now comes the fun and contemplative part. My hands touching the potting soil letting it run through my fingers (I do not like using gloves). Once the second leaves come on the plants, I start transplanting the plants. Transplanting can run over a few days. Not only that, I started my second seeding of squash and onions. And so it goes on. Seeding and transplanting. Near the end of April, if all goes well, most gardeners start prepping their beds with the addition of compost, manure and soil. The dig and mix and hopefully, on Mothers’ Day weekend they can put in potatoes, lettuce and radish. Then the fun begins. Planting, weeding, eating and preserving. Watching the plants grow while listening to the birds sing is so relaxing. This is why I think gardening is a contemplative art.

Welcome to #ContemplativeArtsAtHome - our CAFS Committee’s "pandemic project. Every so often we’ll be sharing a contemplative art that might bring you some solace during these difficult days. Our first offering is from committee member Jo Barber, who finds Zentangle to be a helpful way to reflect and relax. In Jo's words: At last year’s Contemplative Arts Festival of Saskatoon, I experienced Zentangle for the first time. I come from a long line of doodlers. As a child I re...call my mom and grandmothers doodling while on the phone. Repetitive lines and shapes created in soothing motions. I continued the practice of doodling to relieve my own stresses. Zentangle is similar as it allows for repetitive motion within a framework. It can be as simple or as complex as the person needs or wants. You do not need to be a trained artist to do Zentangle. The easiest way to begin is with a square paper. Place 4 dots in a square and join the dots with pen or marker. The lines can be straight or curved. Once a frame is created make a sectioning line across the main space. This can be diagonal, curved or bounced like a V. Fill the spaces with repetitive shapes, lines or patterns. This is the part where I let myself go and enjoy the relaxing process. I never know what will unfold but my inner spirit tends to shine. When the spaces are filled the next step is to add shading with a pencil. Some people wish to colour the spaces. Sign and date your Zentangle. Reflect on your Zentangle. I find each time I look at it I appreciate the process and creation. There are a variety of Zentangle sites on the internet with "how to" videos and other strategies and techniques. Here are three I enjoyed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXaLQzyjA2U https://www.psychologytoday.com//calm-down-and-get-your-ze https://zentangle.com/pages/how-did-zentangle-begin I hope you enjoy creating and relaxing with Zentangle.