Why the idea of reaching Zen can be harmfulWhy the idea of reaching Zen can be harmfulWhy the idea of reaching Zen can be harmfulWhy the idea of reaching Zen can be harmful
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  • Judy
June 30, 2023
June 30, 2023
Categories
  • Decolonizing Wellness
  • Social Justice

Why the idea of reaching Zen can be harmful

It ignores how marginalized folks live very different realities than those who are not. Privilege affords us the opportunity to remove ourselves from harmful experiences.
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December is here and many call for art deadlines a December is here and many call for art deadlines are coming up and as my Korean parents would say, pphali, pphali, pphali (yes, they would say it three times). In case you don't watch Korean tv, I'm saying hurry up!⁣

To see calls, visit the calendar page on my website at link in bio or visit the pages I've tagged. Know of any calls? Please send them my way. All calls must be accessible and inclusive.

@_fathomgallery_ due 12/10 (today!)
Open call for artists and designers working in a variety of mediums.

@kc4culture due 12/14
Call for artists to exhibit at Gallery 4Culture in Pioneer Square.

@webelongseattle x @thefishbowlseattle due 12/21
Call for art on the theme From the Margins for a group show at The Fishbowl.

@haveyoueatenseattle due 12/21
Call for AANHPI art for group exhibition in February at Nino Studio in Pioneer Square.

@base.camp.studios - 12/22
Call for art in all mediums on the Martyr theme for show opening in January.

@vibrantpaletteartscenter - 01/07
Call for Small Things theme for 2D & 3D artists with or without disabilities. This would be a donation.

@jayangelvalentine - 01/31
Seeking transgender visual artists for group exhibition in March at @slipgallery.

@girlspitart - 05/31
Call for art in all forms for Street Art Show theme at Hometeam Gallery. 

Image: List of calls with logos and dates. 

#callforartseattle #callforartsubmission #seattleartists #artforeveryone #artisforeveryone #accessibleart #seattleemergingartist
When Annya immigrated to a small, White suburban t When Annya immigrated to a small, White suburban town at 10 years old from Indonesia, she was the only brown kid around, including in her family because her siblings were mixed race (Indonesian and White). Not only did she feel visibly different, she saw examples around her, such as not having enough boxes to fill in her name Khaisa Ikhsannya Adzani or kids making fun of her food, that told her she didn't belong. 

When we experience this as kids, we learn to internalize these feelings into shame. Annya eventually changed her birthname to Annya to make it easier on everyone else and to fit in. It's been a long road to today, at 35, for Annya to learn to love who she is and where she comes from. 

Follow me to continue with Annya's and 9 other AANHPI women's name journeys and please share this project to give our stories the visibility they deserve. Visit my pinned post for a video explaining this project.

Participant: Annya Pintak
Videography: @webelongseattle

#mynamestory #aapistories #aapiheritage #nameorigin #immigrantstories #reclaiming #asianamericanvoices #aapivoices #aapiwomen #asianamericanwomen #aapiartists #namejourney #ethnicidentity #asianidentity #communityhealing #socialimpactstorytelling #asianamericanexperience #aapivisibility #indonesianamerican
The problem with the wellness world is that it is The problem with the wellness world is that it is exclusively focused on the individual without recognizing the impact systems of oppression have on BIPOC and other marginalized groups. Wellness is entirely the responsibility of the individual and the destination of the journey is the self, rather than the collective and the responsibility we have to each other. ⁣

If you are on a wellness journey, I encourage you to read these books by writers of color who don't have the privilege to ignore oppressive systems and understand the importance of personal growth AND collective liberation. It's not either or but a yes and.

The Body is Not an Apology by @sonyareneetaylor
"Radical self-love demands that we see ourselves and others in the fullness of our complexities and intersections and that we work to create space for those intersections."

Rest is Resistance by @thenapministry
"The idea of justice being unrealistic is deeply embedded in our psyche... Rest exists to repair this trauma, fear, and misinformation."

Joy is My Justice by @tanmeetsethimd
"Every system of oppression and suffering has stripped us of our full humanity and reclaiming that reclaims our power."

Real Self-Care by @poojalakshmin
"Faux self-care keeps us looking outward...Worse, it exonerates an oppressive social system that has betrayed women and minorities."

Have you read any of these? Do you have recommendations for books like these? Please share!

#collectiveliberation #realselfcare #bipocwellness #inclusivewellness
in a new country in a new household at the age of in a new country in a new household at the age of 12 left her feeling out of control.

One of the ways this experience manifested was in her name. People couldn't pronounce it and she didn't have the courage or language to correct people so she did what she could to take control and gave herself a nickname. 

This is just part of the complex story of Xin's name and her journey to eventually reclaim it.
 
Follow me to see more of Xin's story and visit the highlights to see more of hers and other's name stories. Also follow the stories of other AANHPI women, 9 in all from different backgrounds and experiences, who share the stories of their names. Visit the 📌 in my profile for a video about the project.

Please share and tag me!

Participant: @artxinxin_
Videography: @tatyanakurepina

#mynamestory #aapistories #aapiheritage #nameorigin #immigrantstories #reclaiming #asianamericanvoices #aapivoices #aapiwomen #asianamericanwomen #aapiartists #namejourney #ethnicidentity #asianidentity #communityhealing #socialimpactstorytelling #asianamericanexperience #aapivisibility
We all want to be "good" and some of us, especiall We all want to be "good" and some of us, especially women, have been trained to be good. Thinking about this in the context of self means shedding the persistent need to be nice and likeable so that we can reach our full potential. AND if we want to think more inclusively and about the collective, we can also recognize that the need to be good gets in the way of social justice work. ⁣

Being good doesn't leave room for making mistakes.
Being good doesn't leave room for learning and growth. 

Being good means we aren't as honest with ourselves as we can be by seeing the role that we ALL play in systems of oppression so that we can address them. It absolves us of responsibility and makes it someone's else problem. 

Growing up in America means we've all learned to internalize messages of White supremacy. It doesn't make us bad. It just makes us human and the more we get over the need to be good, the more impact we can make for a more just world. 

#whitesupremacyculture #systematicoppression #socialinequality #intersectionalitymatters #intersectionalfeminists #intersectionaljustice #socialjusticeadvocate #racialjustice
The final #mynamestory participant is Yaminee, or The final #mynamestory participant is Yaminee, or as some of you in the emerging artist world know as Yam. Along with Rya, Yaminee is a 2nd generation immigrant, born here to immigrant parents. ⁣

Her story, like those of many AANHPIs, ricochets between the near constant tension of her Indian cultural heritage and American-ness, which is exemplified in the way she uses her name.

Visit My Name Story webpage at the link in bio and subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date. 

Participant: @yammakesstuff 

Image: Brown-skinned woman's torso in black, off the shoulder sweater holding a picture of a preschool aged girl against a white wall in blue sparkly dress with nametag.

#mynamestory #aapistories #aapiheritage #nameorigin #immigrantstories #reclaiming #asianamericanvoices #aapivoices #aapiwomen #asianamericanwomen #aapiartists #namejourney #ethnicidentity #asianidentity #communityhealing #socialimpactstorytelling #asianamericanexperience #aapivisibility

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Art + Social Justice
Judy Lee, Portrait Artist & Storyteller

webelongseattle@gmail.com

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