A Project
A project: Hello all! Last month was intended to kick off a short story project that I envisioned completing as a sketchbook or zine-like handmade booklet. However, the month slipped away from me in many ways, and my goals became blurry. The art aspects had been at the forefront of my mind, but I soon […]
Year of the Snake
Year of the Snake: Hello everyone! Wow! How did another year pass by so quickly, and how did I let my newsletter fall by the wayside for so long? I’m not quite sure, but I hope to change that pattern with this message. Over the past year, I embarked on a journey with Ten Dragons—a […]
Awe
Awe: This last month, I set out to explore the experience of awe in my artwork. However, unsurprisingly, I found it very challenging to land on a direction. A few books ago, I stumbled upon the term “The Science of Awe,” which caught my interest—had “awe” been researched, made measurable, and could it purposefully be […]
Journeys on Foot
Journeys on Foot: In February, I delved into the theme of ‘Journeys of Foot,’ a subject that fascinated me partly because of my experiences with long walks, but also its connection to meditation practices grounded in the physical body. Before the artwork of Gateless Gate Studio, I found inspiration in the history of physical practices […]
The Map Is Not the Territory
The Map Is Not the Territory: Finding a place, truly knowing it, and holding onto that knowledge are challenges I found extremely elusive. They bring to mind the Zen koan of the Buddha Holding a Flower: Once, when the World-Honored One in ancient times was upon Vulture Peak, he held up a flower before the […]
Year of the Dragon
Year of the Dragon: Greetings, everyone, and Happy New Year! December inspired me to delve into a dragon theme to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Dragon. The rich legends and history surrounding these mythical creatures provided a fantastic point of inspiration for the artistic direction. However, this diversion into the realm of dragons briefly […]
Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage: During my hike through Washington’s North Cascades last summer, I was struck by the vibrant community of hikers I encountered on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). This diverse group of individuals from all walks of life was united by their shared passion for adventure and their desire to immerse themselves in nature. As I […]
The Dharma Bums
The Dharma Bums: “The journey is my home.” – Matsuo Bashō I have a memory that is now firmly rooted in the realm of mythology. But it’s the origin of so much of what I enjoy about my life today, and a little mythmaking feels okay. It’s a simple story: a brief encounter on a […]
Longing for a Long Trail
Longing for a Long Trail: In 1998, my journey began at the Mexican border, where I set out on a 2,650-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Five incredible months later, I had reached 180 miles south of the Canadian border. However, as late September approached, the weather in the northern Washington mountains turned wet […]