Karyn Olivier’s exhibition, Everything That’s Alive Moves, is an exploration of the relationship of the static and the dynamic. Her six sculptures provide the opportunity for viewers to experience how the apparent stillness of our culturally erected monuments may create occasions for transformative self-reflection. This fluid relationship between stillness and movement will serve as the inspiration for our meditation during today’s session. In the stillness of seated meditation, we will follow the movement of the breath and the body; and, as we walk meditatively in the company of Olivier’s work, we may experience a deeper ground of stillness.

Sandi is a Philadelphia-based health educator, who has developed expertise in holistic approaches to stress reduction. For many years, she worked as a women’s health care advocate and educator, as well as an AIDS activist. Since 2007, she has facilitated workshops on stress reduction, mindfulness, and self-care for University of Pennsylvania students and staff. These workshops encourage participants to consciously experience the present moment with kindness and compassion for themselves and others. Sandi began practicing meditation in 1987, and has studied many mind/body practices, including mindfulness, yoga, qi gong, and reiki.

Mindfulness at the Museum is a series of drop-in guided meditation sessions facilitated by skilled holistic practitioners. Our exhibitions serve as the backdrop, as you learn how to become present in the “here and now.” Research shows mindfulness meditation can increase memory skills, foster compassion, and reduce stress. Each encounter is unique from the last, drawing synthesis between the mind and body, leaving participants equipped with knowledge on how to lead a balanced life.

Programming at ICA has been made possible in part by the Emily and Jerry Spiegel Fund to Support Contemporary Culture and Visual Arts and the Lise Spiegel Wilks and Jeffrey Wilks Family Foundation, and by Hilarie L. & Mitchell Morgan.