On/With Paper
untitled (2023) by Janneurys Colon
untitled (2023) by Denisse Cortorreal
“With the guided meditation I was reminded of the pieces of myself that are no longer upheld to my mothers standard. My hair, my choice of clothing, the jewelry I wear, there are a lot of things that I no longer hold to the version of "femininity" that my mother has had since my childhood. Yet still, more than ten years later, I find myself sitting in my college dorm thinking of the words she once used to tell me- and how I still inadvertently follow them. It is a process of breaking free to become more comfortable in my own skin, wearing things the way I want to, and healing one's inner child- the one that didn't have the freedom to wear what they wanted because mother was always too scared of her being "masculine."“
Warmth in the Calm (2023) by Anamaria Jovel
“I decided on watercolor as my artform because there was so much fluidity to my meditation experience. I was calm and weightless, then suddenly very heavy and aware. I was cool then suddenly felt warmth among each part of my body the meditation called attention to.”
untitled (2023) by Yanitza Ordonez
Phosphenes (2023) by AJ Volkov
“Inspired by the colors and patterns I saw while my eyes were closed, as well as some feelings of existence”
untitled (2023) by Jason Quizhpi
Can a Paper Rose Smell as Sweet (2023) by Adonai Fletcher-Jones
“For this work specifically, I wanted to evoke the out-of-place, and alone feeling I have sometimes through something physically out of place; I found a parking lot staircase that looked as dirty and grounded as I needed it to make my paper rose, gave it a bottom paper with red scribbles to evoke unease with a little blue to depict sadness. Thank You for this opportunity and the ability to give shape to a feeling I've always had but never had the ability to give voice to.”
-
constantly at a crossroads between point a & point b
the chaos of uncertainty places a heavy weight on my shoulders
it feels as though i’m walking through a desert
a no man’s land
my legs have become weak
and my posture grows more slouched with each painstaking step
the path ahead looks just as bleak as it did 1000 steps ago
there’s been no change in scenery
i’m tired
i want to give up
but just then there’s a voice
“be still child”
the universe is sending me an epiphany
i always thought this uncertainty was part of the journey
but i stopped in my tracks, finally giving my tired legs a break
maybe i must find peace in the unknown
maybe this strange place between point a & point b
is not a pitstop
but the final destination
i’ve been so distracted by my desire to get there
to reach the end and find my answer
so caught up in my own stubborn persistence
that i didn’t hear the voice that was there all along
softly saying the words
“be present”
on text goes here
Take your time (2023) by Giovanni Luke
“I wrote this poem directly after doing some self reflection after this week’s much appreciated meditation.”
untitled (2023) by Raven Garcia
Change? (2023) by Maver Mendez Garabito
“Butterflies are a reflection of constantly change. While meditating, I had many thoughts about my current life and different situations, and how everything around is constantly changing. This is the reason I represent these emotions with a butterfly, which represents the good and not too good sides of our lives.”
Time Paper Collage (2023) by Romial Calice
“This art is me 6 years ago, words for words , letters for letters”
Soft & Wilted (2023) by Cory Sierra
planting the seed (2023) by Kenny Amesquita
Body Scan no. 1 (2023) by Taylor Maheia
“This body scan was amazing. I always surprise myself with how quiet my mind gets during yoga and meditation. I assume that I'll have 50 thoughts per second, but in reality I think my body knows best and decides to go into a more tranquil mode. I made an abstract drawing of how my body felt throughout the scan, with lines and color to signify those sensations.”
untitled (2023) by Denivia Rivera
“Prompt 5” (2023) by Blue Price
“by attempting to ground myself in my body, i realized just how fragment i felt in said body”
-
It has a hold on my very being
A sensation, a struggle
One that leaves me bleeding
A breath in
A breath out
And its weight suffocates my heart
Blooms violent petals of red
Pain that threatens to tear me apart
Shades of crimson
Color my tension
It flows through my aches
Cooling and healing fluidly
Freedom growing as it awakes
A breath in
A breath out
And I can breathe easier now
Peace filling me full of blue
Calmness that I accept and allow
Shades of sapphire
Aid my release
“This poem reflects what I visualized during my meditation and my thoughts on that visualization.”