PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE & MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2002 Artist’s film captures images of meditation By Carmine Abals Post Gactie Cuts dte iar ‘hat do you see when you meditate? ‘That personal question is ome that Carolyn Speranza is asking in a public way. Speranza, eross-disciptinary artist best known {or her publie art and digital works, is making a dig tl video fm hat states:n abstract ways the images people see when they meditate, Her process for mal the fm ineludes listening to people's = ations to traditional meditation and meditative ex. petiences, Since July, Speranza has gathered members of the public for oecasional “salons” at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Bach salon includes a discussion ‘about a type of meditation and a brief practice fit, pls audience feedback Speranza plans to incorporate people's thoughts and ideas into her film, “Sight of Stillness." Phe film is intended to bridge the fields of neuro science, art and spirituality by picking up where traditional representations of meditation leave of “Teould make a documentary on the effects of meditation on health or on the brain,” Speranza said, “But ‘Nova’ does that really well What maf: ter is the experience itself” fey woeks ag, 20 people attended salon hosted by Kevin Henry, a local meditation texcher Henry first reviewed the seven traditional “chaikras,” which, according to Vedic and East Asian cultures, are distnet places in the body ‘where energy is stored and released, Then he led the group in seven different chants designed to tap the énorgy in each chakra As the group focused hei altenton onthe crown of their head — the seventh chakra — they chanted “mmmmmm” and were then asked what came to mind when they did so Mickey and Joyce Arnowitz said they imagined rays of sunshine coming through their head and ‘wind blowing on a mountain. Philomena "Dea Said she remembered her grandmother humming ‘a3 she made bread in a collage in Ireland. i) Caner nes oat shh: tothe one she gets when eating spiey Ja Sracal sauce ~ a comment that sped mich laugh nthe grou “Put that in your * Henry joked to Speranza are OTF ‘There are many diferent schol of medkaton loosely defined as the act of beeping one's atlen- tion focused om the present moment by quieting in- ternal dialogue in the mind, To reflet the variety af trations in er fl, Speran is using avarety ‘of teachers to lead her salons. Kundalini yoga practitioner Kiolo Luckett led a salon in July’on kundalini breathing, and artist and educator Maritza Mosquera diseussed "deep lis ening” On Sept. 18, musicians David Pohl and Erie Mason and yoga teacher Ama Kumar dis. ‘cussed the relationship between music and the meditative mind During his chakra salon, Henry called medita- ‘ion “an immensely brave act.” "To sit down, and sit st, throws the doors open, and every emotion comes home,” he said. “think ‘at's why it's wot a popular thing.” sf Carolyn Speranza, wha is making the movie “Sight of Stilness," takes part in a meditation “salon at Pitisburgh Filmmakers in Oakland, MMEDITATION, [GE 0-4PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE && MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2002 ‘Anne ONeWPostGazete Julianne Faria stretches out during a meditation exercise at Pittsburgh Filmmakers in Oakland. Carolyn Sper- anza is doing a digital video project on meditation called “Sight of Stillness.” Artist captures images of meditation IMEDITATION FROM PAGE D-1 ‘No treatment worked un- lished arts organizations. Speran- at age 34, she met a local chiro- za’s Creative Heights partner is mmseranza hopes the salons wil practor who took the stress out of Pitiburgh Fim mediation les daunting to her nervous system through a se- “Sight of Stilness” salons will Beople and encourage the public tories of treatments. nis He also Suggest. take place through te fall lowed ‘a new way of living, ‘ed meditation. by a symposium at the Carnegie tin with each salon) Speranza now mediates day. Science Center anda sereening of tohavea She also practices kundalini yoga. the fulltength film early next nent year: Bape meta at transfor- Her “Sight of Stillness” project For more re j F Bee cena e said. “It’s a sonia by seen burgh pilcnalecs ars re matey abo the ” at jeinz Endowments’ or go to wwwsperanza.nel/stillness. ino tin ow reative Heights Residency pro. § —————___- Ls roar ‘gram, which the creation of Caroline Abels can be reached at woe te began im se- newart by funding joint projects be cabelspost-gazette.com or 412- vere eczema, allergies and hypo. tween individual srists and estab. 2082614“Aad they ae vey pero. nf whe rete ls [comport Moc ‘ecu ck aying mar pr esl getty Fars rae Tilnpeeion & dated i ees fee ft ee ore eal tl pi ody Dot cee wh igh bs oben eatin a, te enc of melon, Theor Specs hed isp of best ocd tears pfeil who wl peak shot therwotk in he eed esi pe Hace) Sel of Macnee Sa Bi Singh Rha ietecrg i eerie SE eyesore tho work at Be Urtcty of Pasta (Gtr Rearh nsins pds the eign ad opti on the oe of : we = HtVeneguive ad peste gay men, will Sis ht S ecific share her curent findings on new spiritual tie cep wh cance. ‘ANEW FILM ON MEDITATION EXPLORES. ibd sr Rilatee, ‘THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MIND AND BODY —®#fsniti s sample «yous sls (otferad by Seip Districe aedstaio Meter SHARMILA YERKATASUEEAE Schochotss Yop ida medi expe nc. Dot Bence, ho teaches medion and guided imagery courses at both the Cot Sens ed wth ath nur, ti yi an Cnt fy Cent Maine robles fr a long at she can emery. expen, and opportunites to weditie, UPMC and Highmark Blue Crom Bie ter cscs, winter depression, obesity, Furled bya $40,000 Creve Heights Shil,wl ed guided medation that is segs — the 39-year-old fimmakerapent Heine Endowment grant, Silex baw on her stds of alpha-nave brain snot of herein doors fica, on diem, Speranas fine atempe ae naratve fl level acivey induced bythe sound of fppbing cortone wo her body, baiely raking until om che was penarly known quart eal bowl Lacl ems ad Fring ways to eather condion by cing sa vido insallaion ats. Yoga practioner David Fl wl be pr- teraymprma, Nothing worked by age 17, Sperana has ben a rent anit at forming and thre wil bea screening of she weighed ver 70th, and herd thy Pinburgh Filmmaker since 2000, when Sin during th day awl ‘kin Borcher had spread from lated. se ine propose the project. Before then Thee day Sprann is hay he same a ar en eg eee le “Tien when es 2,1 inbewihi Melons STUDIO for Gate Inaty. Sey meng pci yop pom o pm eee ga ne ee alge re Ut dbeu any of tha fenctaaly lscltns for Flt Night =< the Not ed by wrth pred Bb idong tee A bye ag wei dt S's Ear re ald Deeg need ee Coe ieee ict ppt! pound 2 5 ‘So ight bulb switched on in her beat “When | was 24, | fell in love with a man. Fa ue fa ene Spee le a ton been the min and bay specie. © felt unconditionally loved. And | began losing weight. pin iccmdexaeay ccs | Geir Chaney Geren eetciee practices trast other. 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