The Flower Mandalas blog has a dual purpose:
- To explore the use of art as a means to healing and transformation.
- To ask for your help in completing The Flower Mandalas Project.
Purpose #1: My intent is to use my own Flower Mandalas and related ideas and thoughts as a springboard for a broader exploration of the topic of art, healing, and transformation. I invite you to contribute your own experiences with art, healing, and transformation to the Art, Healing, and Transformation group on Beliefnet.com. I hope that a lively discussion will ensue there. I will moderate this group and, with your permission, post a selection of your contributions on the Flower Mandalas blog. You may also contact me directly at phototransformations@davidbookbinder.com.
Purpose #2: I’d like to ask for your responses to the Flower Mandala images posted here, either briefly as comments to the blog posts or in detail on the Behance Network Fifty-Two Flower Mandalas page. My plan is to create a book of 52 Flower Mandala images, each one paired with an inspirational quotation and original essay which in some way complement the image. My hope is for each image-and-quote-and-essay triad to resonate with a fundamental aspect of human experience.
Thanks for listening and sharing.
- David
David J. Bookbinder, LMHC
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posted May 18, 2009 at 10:30 am
Me
and I do love what you do.
Om shanti
Alison
posted May 22, 2009 at 10:20 am
David,
I too find much of my inspiration in nature even though my work is in textiles. My kids are amused by my constant looking at the world as “art” since I am constantly pointing out the shapes of the clouds, the colors of the trees, the shadows on the mountains or the colors of the flowers as we drive or walk around.
We have the NC Aboretum near us and we go there often for hiking trails, gardens, art exhibits and their bonsai collection. My oldest son and I have gone through that exhibit may times as he too would like to tend to bonsai. He has tried a few but they are very hard to keep alive!
I have always been drawn to the shape of trees. I too have photographed them as sculptural pieces. Your work is as always lovely and I appreciate you sharing them with us.
Arise, go forth and CREATE! (My new favorite saying)
Peace and Blessings, MelissaB
posted May 22, 2009 at 11:06 am
Thanks for your comments. This brief exposure to the bonsai collection at the U.S. Arboretum (I had to move quickly, as they were closing) has gotten me interested in these trees, specifically, and I’d like to see what the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, nearest me, has to offer. But I have also been interested in the forms of trees (and clouds, and grasses, and so on) for a very long time. My initial intro to looking at nature on the pixel level was through the flower mandalas, but now it seems to be generalizing. Examining these images at 200% in Photoshop feels very meditative.
posted June 14, 2010 at 8:24 am
If only I had a dime for every time I came here.. Superb writing.
posted August 11, 2010 at 3:37 am
I agree that keeping close to nature will give you true relaxation and piece of mind. Bonsai trees are one of the timeless decorations from nature that we can use in our homes, either indoors or outdoors. You can check my site: http://www.beginnerbonsaiguide.com/bonsai-types/. It will impart a lot of things that you should know when growing bonsai trees.