This is the edit of the video which screened at the final event of Deborah Keller-Rihn’s Mandala Healing Arts Project, a five month long series of workshops and discussions of topics which exist in the intersection of art and wellness (emotional and physical). Several of the participants of these workshops (free and open to the public) took advantage of creating healing rituals which were also captured on video. The music added here is from Pseudo Buddha, a San Antonio music project comprised of some of the most accomplished artists in the region (here is a link to their full album, Motive). When this video screened at the Blue Star complex on Sunday, March 8th, it was accompanied by the live music of Rick Henderson and Alice Zimmermann, who performed in an adjacent room.

I was intrigued with helping whoever might want to fashion a healing ritual which could be made into a short film. Several participants took us up on the offer. Some were done very quickly and with little planning, others were more planned and contained a stronger narrative shape.

One of the staff with the DCCD (the arts funding arm of the city of San Antonio) suggested that Deborah not run her workshops every Saturday from October to March. The grant was substantial, not not really intended for such an involved project. Over 20 workshops. About a dozen facilitators from a wide range of disciplines. A gallery show one night. And a large celebration on another night, with chants, song, dance, film, art, mandala-making, and even cake. About a dozen mandalas created by the participants were printed large and mounted between plexiglass and set onto inflated inner tubes and fashioned in such a manner as to float on the river with light coming from beneath. Oh, right, and a finished 20 minute film. It’s incredible what some people in the town can do with very limited funds (and quite shocking how little some people and institutions can do with overly-generous funding). It’s hard work to pull off something this involved, but Deborah managed to maintain grace and good cheer. She always amazes me.

Sadly inclement weather forced a change of venue for the culminating event on Sunday . The original idea was to have the mandalas floating on the river adjacent to the offices of the San Antonio River Authority. There was a nice grassy area to relax on, as well as a paved circular overlook on which dancers and musicians might perform. The rain plan was implemented, and the event was moved to the second floor of Building B at the Blue Star Arts Complex where Deborah’s studio is located. I projected the film (with the assistance of Trey Cunningham) onto the outside wall of the facing building until the rain began again, and we moved the projection inside.

The event was beautiful, moving, and well-attended. It was an honor and a privilege to be involved in this project.

The Mandala Healing Arts Project was generously supported by the San Antonio Department for Culture and Creative Development.