The Boston Museum of Fine Arts opened its exhibit, Seeking Shambhala early past Monday morning. The exhibition features a set of newly-conserved 17th century thangka paintings of the Rigden (or Kalki) Kings of Shambhala and is on display from March 6 through September 30.  Shastri Diana Evans of the Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston gave meditation instruction at the opening with over forty people, primarily museum staff and members of the media. The assembled sat on cushions on the floor of the exhibit hall and engaged in what Museum Director Malcolm Rogers called, “the first ever meditation session in the museum.”

Twenty-two of the thirty-two Rigden Kings are displayed, including the first, Dawa Sangpo or “Suchandra,” who received the Kalachakra teachings from the Buddha. Also on view are works by Japanese graphic artist Tadanori Yokoo, including his SHAMBALA series of prints produced in 1974, and work by the contemporary Tibetan artist Gonkar Gyatso, whose collage titled The Shambala in Modern Times was shown at the 53rd Venice Biennial. Mr. Gyatso spoke at the opening as well.

It is an incredible auspicious connection for the Shambhala Center of Boston, which is just a few minutes down the road from the MFA.  The center is working with the museum on another collaborative effort which will feature curator Jacki Elgar, the museum’s Head of Asian Conservation and Head of International Projects (Asia) at the Shambhala Center. We also plan to gather and take group trips to the museum to see the exhibition. There are a number of members of the Shambhala community who are also members of the museum.

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche had the opportunity to have a private showing of the thangkas, which reside at the museum, in 2005 when he was in Boston to run the marathon. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche also viewed these thangkas in 1974 and felt that they were truly remarkable. President Richard Reoch plans to visit Boston this summer to see the exhibition.

Click here for more information about the exhibition, including a visual tour. You can also check out the Press Release and Fun Facts!

Also, see the coverage from the Boston Globe here!

An exhibition in two parts

by Ilona Anderson

April 28th – May 30th, 2009

Kingston Gallery
450 Harrison Ave. #43
Boston, MA 02118

First Fridays reception: May 1, 5 – 7:30 pm
Gallery Talk by the Artist and Opening Reception: Saturday, May 2, 3 – 6 pm

Ilona Anderson exhibits two bodies of work that explore, in different ways, our relationship with the taste of honey on the razors edge.

“Please come celebrate with me at the opening of my show at Kingston Gallery. Essentially I am hanging two different bodies of work. It should be really beautiful. I have been working on it really hard.
The opening is May 1 (First Friday. real cool)
I will give an artists talk on the Saturday May 2nd at 3:30.(same day as the Dalai Lama’s visit)
Looking forward to seeing you there.
The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 12-5, if you can’t make the opening or artists talk.

In the Main gallery:

All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream
—-Edgar Allen Poe

A series of drawings with pearlescent ink on black paper exploring mythology and the notion of our created identities, who we think we are, or want to be.

In the Center gallery:

Some Very Important Things – an installation using embroidery, a bed frame, paint cans, shoes and Astroturf.

Anderson states: “As an artist, I am drawn to interconnecting spaces, the multiple planes where our inner and outer worlds meet.”

Embroidery on cotton fabric with silk thread.

Ilona Anderson is an Assistant Professor of Foundation & Fine Arts at the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University. She a long-time practitioner in the Shambhala lineage, and is originally from South Africa.

http://www.kingstongallery.com/upcoming_exhibition.html

You are all invited to artist and sangha member Linda Leslie Brown’s opening of her exhibit Phenomen.illogial at the Kingston Gallery in Boston.

“Kingston Gallery is pleased to announce Linda Leslie Brown’s April exhibition Phenomen.illogical.
The installation will feature an array of 2 and 3-dimensional works in multiple media, including prismatic crystals, aluminum Christmas tree parts, motors and video.”

Kingston Gallery
450 Harrison Ave. #43
Boston, MA 02118

April 2-25, 2009

Reception: First Friday April 3, 5-7:30pm
Artist’s Talk: Saturday April 18, 4pm

Hope to see you there!