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Art & Zazen at Art Bias: A Meditative Encounter with “Hope Unleashed”
Art & Zazen at Art Bias: A Meditative Encounter with “Hope Unleashed”
In a world that often feels rushed and overloaded, moments of stillness are rare — and precious. On Sunday, August 3, 2025, you’re invited to embrace a unique opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect through a deeply moving fusion of visual art and meditation at Art & Zazen at Art Bias.
This special event offers more than just a chance to see an art installation — it invites you into a contemplative space of beauty and mindfulness, where artistic expression meets spiritual practice. Join us to view “Hope Unleashed,” an origami installation by Yucali, and share in the quiet power of Zazen meditation with Rev. Zenki Nishimura.
About this Event
Experience “Hope Unleashed”, a meditative origami installation by artist Yucali, part of her ongoing series Where Do One Thousand Cranes Go. Located in her working studio at Art Bias, this installation is not only visually stunning but carries deep emotional resonance.
Rooted in the traditional Japanese symbolism of the crane, which stands for peace, healing, and hope, Yucali’s work explores the gentle resilience and enduring optimism woven into each delicate fold. “Hope Unleashed” is a poetic response to uncertainty — a visual embodiment of fragile strength and collective healing.
The event includes a special artist talk with Yucali, who will share the inspiration behind the series, her process, and how she uses origami as a tool for meditative reflection and social commentary. Her insights add a personal and powerful context to the work, deepening the viewer’s connection to both the art and its message.
Zazen Meditation: A Practice of Presence
Following the artist talk, attendees are invited to participate in a guided Zazen (seated meditation) session led by Rev. Zenki Nishimura, a respected teacher from the Soto Zen Buddhism International Center in San Francisco.
Zazen, a core practice of Soto Zen Buddhism, emphasizes sitting in quiet awareness — observing thoughts, breath, and being without judgment. In a world of constant distraction, Zazen offers a return to presence and an experience of grounded peace.
Whether you’re new to meditation or an experienced practitioner, this session is an opportunity to deepen your mindfulness in an atmosphere enriched by visual beauty and contemplative energy. The fusion of Zazen and art allows us to move inward while still engaging outward — connecting the internal landscape of mind and spirit with the external world of form and color.
Reflect Through Art and Meditation
Reflect on themes of quiet resilience and unfolding hope through art and meditation. “Hope Unleashed” and the Zazen session are intentionally woven together, each enhancing the other. The origami cranes represent wishes for peace and healing, while the meditation helps us ground those intentions within ourselves.
This shared experience encourages a collective moment of introspection. It’s a gentle reminder that hope is not passive — it is something we build, fold by fold, moment by moment, breath by breath.
Take a Mindful Pause
This event invites you to take a mindful pause from the everyday and immerse yourself in a space of peace and creativity. Amid the gentle stillness of Studio 208 and the rhythmic breathing of a group in meditation, there’s room to exhale — to notice your body, your breath, and the subtle joy of simply being.
You don’t need any prior experience in origami or Zen practice to participate. Just come with an open heart and a curious mind.
Event Details
- Date: Sunday, August 3, 2025
- Time: 3:00 – 3:45 PM
- Location: Studio 208, 2nd floor
Art Bias, 1700 Industrial Road, San Carlos, CA
Admission is free, though registration is encouraged to help organizers create a peaceful and intentional experience for all attendees.
This event is part of First Sunday Open Studios at Art Bias, where the public is welcome to explore the studios of resident artists, connect with creatives, and enjoy a vibrant atmosphere of artistic exploration.
Parking is available both at Art Bias and on surrounding streets, making it easy to drop in and stay awhile.
Why You Should Attend
In times of uncertainty, art and mindfulness serve as vital pathways to healing and clarity. At Art & Zazen at Art Bias, these paths intersect, offering a rare and meaningful experience that nourishes both soul and senses.
You’ll leave not only having seen a beautiful, handcrafted origami installation, but also having felt it — through the lens of meditation and the quiet conversation between heart and art. These cranes carry more than tradition; they carry hope. And through Zazen, you’ll learn how to release and receive that hope within yourself.
So join us. View “Hope Unleashed,” the origami installation by Yucali, and allow yourself the grace of stillness, reflection, and connection. Let this be a Sunday of slowing down, looking inward, and opening up to what’s possible — for yourself, for others, and for the world.
Art & Zazen at Art Bias is more than an event — it’s an experience. One filled with intention, grace, and a shared breath of possibility. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of something truly special.
Reserve your spot today, and we’ll see you at Studio 208.
For more events at Art Bias, see their Calendar
See other interesting events in San Carlos. You may also check the main calendar for the dates of these, or to save them on your personal calendar.
About San Carlos Life
Mark Martinho and Vivienne Kelvin are the hosts of San Carlos Life and have been residents of San Carlos for years. While running San Carlos Life together with an awesome team, Mark and Viv are also in the business of real estate. They are the co-owners of Vabrato, a luxury real estate brokerage serving the City of Good Living and the whole of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
With over 30 years of combined experience in the business and 95% of their clients coming in from referrals, Mark and Viv take great pride and joy in exceeding your expectations.
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