Creat ive

KELLY LUSCOMBE BEAas seen in science to sage e-magazine (com)

SPACESAfter discovering what I thought was the most beautiful house in the world, I moved to Ojai in 2001, and since that time have been exploring my artwork and spiritual practices in depth, not to mention hosting art , yoga retreats, house concerts and more at my place. After a brush with death in 2004, I plunged deeper into spirituality, bringing me to India numerous times, where I visited sacred sites and studied with yoga masters.

CONSCIOUS

Inspir ingIt became obvious that I had to create my own “spiritual cocktail” that suited who I really am/was.

ART PRACTICE

I shifted my focus towards my art practice, where I found that creating art was my true meditation and the right spiritual practice for myself as well. In it, I re-d i s c o v e r e d a s e n s e o f

ecstasy , timelessness and peace. Returning to the studio felt to be the right thing, as did learning to play songs from both eastern and western traditions on the harmonium.

Part of this shift in focus brought me back in touch with my dear a r t i s t f r i e n d s , including Lydia Lunch. Lydia has always been a great inspiration for m e . I a d m i r e h e r

fierceness and the way t h a t s h e e x p r e s s e s ANYTHING she wants. I mean, really, how many fierce women do we have on the planet? She is a kind of Dark Mystic Creative Warrioress.

Mind you, my mother is a quintessential 50s era lady who wrote “The Art of the Table, A Guide to Table-settings and Table Manners,” and perhaps I needed

uncorking with something more strong than most. Last summer Lydia told me that anything and everything that is important to me is worth expressing.

She completely validated who I am and what I wanted to say which has been extremely enlightening for me. In this way, Lydia L u n c h i s a t y p e o f warrioress who helps one unlock what needs to be expressed.

quest

I n m y q u e s t f o r c r e a t i v i t y a n d illumination, I have hosted many artists and spiritual teachers at my home and private retreat site, Ananda Verandah.

I also am involved in an artist collective gallery in Ojai, Gallery 525 where I curate shows and share my own and other’s a r t w o r k s w i t h t h e community. Between these t w o s p a c e s , I a m consciously exploring art, music, bhakti yoga, and meditative practices.

Lydia Lunch is one of such people that I wish to learn from in a line-up that includes visual artists, classical Indian musicians, kirtan bands, singer-songwriters, yoga psychologists and yoga masters from India.

I met Lydia Lunch in San Francisco in 1998 and showed her artworks, along with Jane Handel’s, in a two-woman show at a gallery I owned and ran at the time. Lydia has always been a great inspiration for me. I admire her fierceness and the way that she expresses ANYTHING she wants. I mean, really, how many fierce women do we have on the planet?

Although her work is edgy and can be intense, I am always amazed that she does it and does it so well, going all the way in her process. Her journey from teenage No Wave rocker and artist to her current works has brought her to this point, and this p o i n t i n c l u d e s t r e m e n d o u s compassion. She wants to help women who are locked up inside through the healing power of art.

Bringing together a collective of

who seek to inspire others by

demystifying the practical application of a

variety of creative methods, we seek to

offer simple tools which can easily

be incorporated into expanding the

individual’s own unique form of

expression.

diverse women artists

POST-CATASTROPHE

COLLABORATIVE OJAI

So I decided to host Lydia Lunch's POST-CATASTROPHE COLLABORATIVE  OJAI, May 24-27 to see what will happen in a  group of women working with Lydia and other  artists as a support system, to bring out their  potential and most importantly, what needs to  be said. I think a lot of the women will  already have projects in hand that they wish  to expand upon with a group of collaborative woman.

Lydia and others will help them more powerfully share their concepts and art. Of course, some women will show up and wish to observe, journal and be inspired. This will be fine too. Or, some women I know are coming without an idea of what to do, but will jump in and collaborate with others, or will let their own creative “download” happen at the workshop and then run with it. Many of the women will want to bounce off ideas with others and create a sacred space to collaborate and dynamically grow their ideas to the full. There will be many surprises and spontaneous outcomes.

Stories, songs and dreams will be shared, elaborated and brought to light and with it, great fun, freedom and inspiration. Come to my creative and sacred space and see if it inspires you as it has inspired me. Kelly Luscombe Bea

Check out the workshop here. http://kellyluscombebea.comhttp://gallery525.com

POST-CATASTROPHE

COLLABORATIVE OJAI

JOIN US FOR AN PHENOMENAL WEEKEND WITH LYDIA LUNCH AND OTHER ARTISTS, EXPRESSING ONESELF THROUGH MULTI-MEDIA ART MODALITIES AND CREATIVE COLLABORATION.

Being an artist is not required. May 24 - 27 in Ojai.

Check out the workshop here. Limited Enrollment$300 includes lunch, plus accommodations ranging from $23.-$145 a night.

Creat iveSPACE designed by karen elkinssciencetosagedesign.com