Tomorrow, 13 May at 5pm, I’ll be in conversation with Melanie Krebs at the Humboldt Forum — wrapping up four weeks of research in the Central Asian collection. We’ll talk about multilayered identities, hybrid objects, traces of desire in the archive, a trickster rug, and yurts that don’t like to be touched. And maybe some hopes for the future. Come if you’re in Berlin. 🪷 Mechanical Arena in the Foyer of Humboldt Forum
📸 Lucy Parakhina @sometimesnotalways
I am a CoMuse fellow in April-May, doing some research at the Central Asian collection of the Ethnologisches Museum in Berlin.
Next week on 13 May at 5pm, Melanie (my hosting curator) and I will have a little convo about some queer approaches towards working with the collection at the Foyer im Humboldt Forum.
“I’m interested in objects that are hard to identify, that don’t fit established categories, that take up space without clear value. These objects become a way of thinking about queer lives – how we live with estrangement from ‘original’ or ‘traditional’ identity. I remember someone saying queers are difficult commodities to navigate.” — Ju Bavyka
Saturday’s workshop was beautiful.
We spent time with the stories, memories, and secrets people left in the Transition Room’s soft wall pockets. We tagged themes, imagined stories behind drawings, recorded voices, and played with how these fragments might become a book!
Thank you to everyone who came and everyone who left their words behind. @fairfieldcitymuseumgallery
I’m getting ready for my Varuna Fellowship residency. From next Monday, I will be in the Blue Mountains for two weeks. I have also completely forgotten how to post anything here.
New event! I'm now going to be offering ~ Meditation Workshops ~ once a month. These are dharma deep dives into a specific topic. This will be alternating in-person and online on the first Sunday of the month.
First up - The Elephant Path of Calm Abiding, on Sunday 8 March, via Zoom. Each workshop will be run once in-person at the Buddhist Library and then once online.
This is the first online event of this new series. The Elephant Path is a method of meditation practice to progress through the stages of calm abiding, culminating in effortlessly stable attention, bliss, and equanimity. You’ll learn how calm abiding fits into the meditative path, how to make the practice enjoyable and smooth, and techniques for overcoming sleepiness, distraction, restlessness, and dullness.
Sweet Potato Sangha (a gift from Ju, unfortunately can't find the info of the artist)
Sit For A Bit is tonight! Come join at Frontyard, 6pm.
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I'll go out on a limb and say that *sangha is the most important dimension of meditation practice*. Having friends that meditate is a better predictor of whether you'll stick with the practice and deepen practice than any other measure.
Why is having meditation friends so helpful? Sangha is the convergence of social acceptance with interest and meaningfulness -- and meditation, practised deeply, cannot help but touch on the deepest and most meaningful aspects of our lives.
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Full article on website. Link in bio for Sit For A Bit.
Burnout is a brutal experience. It’s something I’ve had to deal with a number of times and in different ways: professionally, in activist work, through caring roles and secondary traumatic stress, and as someone who is neurodivergent. I know the pain of this experience and have also felt the relief of coming out of it with clarity and motivation.
I’m leading a meditation retreat in September focused on burnout, where we will use the practice of meditation as a way to create space and care. We will explore meditation practices that move us towards regulating the nervous system, stabilising attention and allowing the body and mind to calm, and then connecting with the Four Immeasurables of Equanimity, Love, Compassion, and Joy.
The practice of meditation creates space to be able to let go, release, and gain insight that relieves suffering. You will return to the world refreshed in body and mind.
Tending the Fire - Silent Meditation Retreat
3-nights, 11-14 September / Vejjasala, Southern Highlands
link in bio
Very excited to have Ju @ju_bavyka , Tuffy @tuffguts , and Rohan @rohan.equanimous.fly helping to make this retreat happen.
#meditation #silent #retreat
Times are tough, but that gives even more reason to say thank you.
2024
I had a very wonky and experimental start to the last year—I even considered a career in bookkeeping, but it wasn’t meant to be just yet. I experienced three summers, visited places so beautiful they brought me to tears, swam naked in lakes, and presented at conferences, festivals, and community events.
I enjoyed a wonderful residency in Berlin and taught texts I deeply love and value to the best students ever at Humboldt University. One of my texts was published in German. I also started working with a new team whose hard work and care inspire me and make me feel valued.
Towards the end of the year, I was awarded a fellowship that gave me a sense of direction for the year ahead.
I was able to support my family and friends through challenging times and was lucky to reconnect with dear friends living far away. I meditated, cooked for meditation groups, and discovered a part of myself that brings me so much joy. Throughout the year, I’ve felt immense trust, love, and acceptance from the people in my life.
I will embrace everything that life has to offer.
Heute um 19:30 lese ich im LCB – auch Gedichte zum ersten Mal, eine kleine Berliner Premiere für mein selbstpubliziertes Chapbook.
Today at 7:30 pm, I’ll be reading at LCB - including poems, a Berlin premiere for my self-published chapbook.
In the wonderful company of Sema Aslan and Pia Prezelj.
@lcb.berlin #themomentyourealisewhatyoudonthavetobe #canwecallthishome
Last-minute opportunity to come on retreat!
We've had a last-minute cancellation so we currently have one spot available in a kuti for the retreat starting this Thursday. The retreat goes until Sunday (5-8 September) and takes place at Vejjasala, in the Southern Highlands 2 hours from Sydney.
A kuti is a simple, single-person dwelling a short distance from the main house and close to the bush (the cute little hut in the poster image). Kuti spots are always the first to sell out and it is a great experience, so I wanted to pass this on in case someone doesn't have plans and can join us to spend a few days on this beautiful land eating delicious food and meditating : )
Link in bio, or get in touch if you have questions.
We have two events happening this the Saturday 20th, for the final weekend of our April show.
1.30 - 2.30pm: Artist talk from Benita Laylim and Viola Nazario.
3-4pm: Ju Bavyka’s second performance for Rest Your Identity, followed by a conversation with Ira Ferris.
@bennibluu@lazymarmalade@ju_bavyka@artemisprojects@violanazario
In April at Tiles, in beautiful company with works by Mariam Slewo, Benita Laylim&Viola Nazario with a collection of works reflecting on generosity and labour.
Thursday, April 4, 7pm
Saturday, April 20, 3pm
I will offer a new version of ‘Rest Your Identity’, a performative practice that leans on meditation. You are invited to identify parts of your identity that require a little rest, revision, and kind reintegration on better terms.
This practice was first presented in November 2023 at @utp___ as part of the residency Season of Care.
