Mother’s Day event honors Dalai Lama
Altered Spaces presents 21 Taras
Sun. May 13
1-8 p.m.
The Charlie White Gallery
The Space
(503) 274-7929
Web sites for more information:
www.dalailama.com
information about His Holiness the Dalai Lama
www.tibet.com
Office of Tibet, London
www.tibet.net
Official Web site of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile
www.savetibet.org
International Campaign for Tibet
www.tibet.org/sft
Students for a Free Tibet
www.tibeticlt.org
International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet
www.tibetinfo.net
Tibet Information Network
www.tibetfund.org
Tibet Fund – fundraising organization
The Dalai Lama is in town this week and Portland is dusting off its welcome mat. Everyone is invited to take part in the officially sanctioned events to support the Tibetan Studies and World Peace Center.
The Pathways To Peace Festival, May 13 through 15, will also be the catalyst for numerous cultural events in the Portland area including a gallery exhibit at the Charlie White Gallery. The exhibit has been partially on display since May 3. However, a special opening celebration is to take place in honor of the Dalai Lama’s appearance in Portland on Mother’s Day, this Sunday May 13.
The exhibit features the artwork of Portland artist and designer Rhonda Kennedy together with the photography of Karen Turmbo and paintings by Charlie White. These Portland women have a deep feeling for the divine and an appreciation of Eastern themes. This is particularly evident in Kennedy’s collection, “21 Taras.” The event runs from1 to 8 p.m.
The exhibit is a celebration of the Tibetan ideal of motherhood as represented by the Tibetan deity Tara, the great mother. Kennedy describes her saying that she was born “out of the tears of the Tibetan god Avolokitesvara, to ease sorrow, inspire hope and faith, and encourage kindness and compassion.”
Kennedy’s empathetic feeling for the goddess shows in her representations.Visitors to the gallery are invited to bring remembrances of motherhood to be included in a piece to be completed at the event and then sold to benefit Tibetan refugee women. Also guests are invited to make an offering and light a candle. Pianist Michael Allen Harrison and musician Larry Yes will perform at 6 p.m.
Kennedy was known in the 1980s as rock vocalist Roadahh X, a blues vocalist and also the producer of Women in Blues. In 1990 she began to follow the teachings of the Dalai Lama and to work to raise awareness of Tibetan situation.
“21 Taras” includes puns that play upon popular culture as well as reverence for the teachings of the Dalai Lama. The bright and colorful collection blends East and West in a unique and interesting way.
Since fleeing the Chinese government, the Dalai Lama has made the town of Dharamsala in India his second home. There he heads the Tibetan government in exile. Today more than 120,000 Tibetans are living in exile in different parts of the world.
Other events focusing on Tibetan culture and history will be held on campus during the Dalai Lama’s visit to the Northwest. These include “Tibet’s Stolen Child”, a film on the Panchen Lama. The film will be shown on May 13 at 7 p.m., at the Portland State University Campus Ministry Building. This event is hosted by the Center for the Study of Religion & the PSU Students for a Free Tibet (503) 552-8674.
