Buddha Shakyamuni, Central Tibet, c. 11th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of the 1996 Collectors Committee

Ring in a Mindful New Year through Meditation and Art

January 3, 2017

Happy 2017! Recover from the holidays and welcome 2017 through meditation. 

LACMA educator Alicia Vogl Saenz is a Shambhala Buddhist and is authorized to teach meditation. Some of her gallery teaching at LACMA focuses on meditation and mindfulness, and these sessions are some of the most popular offerings at the museum.  

In the video below, Alicia guides the viewer in mindful meditation in the Pavilion for Japanese Art. The exhibition on view was Japanese Painting: From the Zen Mind, which closed on December 18. Learn more about Daruma, one of the originators of Zen, view the beautiful paintings and scrolls, and join in on Alicia’s meditation practice.

Visit the Pavilion for Japanese Art next time you’re at the museum to view the latest exhibition, Japanese Art at LACMA: Celebrating 10 Years of the Japanese Art Acquisitions Group, which opened on December 24. This exhibition features highlights of acquisition efforts by the group.

Interested in more art-based meditation? On January 7, Alicia is leading a contemplative viewing experience followed by meditation in John McLaughlin Paintings: Total Abstraction for LACMA Local members. Join this new kind of membership, which gives you access to fun, art-inspired events twice a month, to receive an invitation to this event. 

Alicia will be offering meditation gallery talks throughout 2017. The next one is in March; sign up to learn more about upcoming programs.