Support for Traditional Tibetan
Artists
Many highly skilled and greatly talented artists from Tibet
find that when they come to the West their artistic work cannot
find its market, and they are judged to be qualified only for
low-paying service jobs. Jewel Heart has undertaken to find commissions
for distinguished Tibetan artists who are in the United States
and working in traditional forms, so that they may practice their
craft, earn a reasonable income and have a dignified life. For
example, Jewel Heart has been able to supply distinguished thangka
painter Rigzin Dorje with bookings for a full year.
Tours of Sacred
Music and Sacred Dance
Since 1989 Jewel Heart Centers across
the country have provided logistical support for performance tours
of monks from monasteries such as Drepung Loseling, Ganden Shartse,
Changtse, Dokhang, and Tihor. All services have been provided
without fee, and 100% of ticket proceeds above costs have been
given to the touring troupes. Additional gifts have been given
to the performers by Gelek Rimpoche and by Jewel Heart.
Views of Tibet
Jewel Heart has sponsored the exhibition
and sale of photographs of Tibet and Tibetans, by photographers
living in Tibet, such as Wangjiu Duoji, the President of the Tibet
Photographer's Association, and an international Gold Medal winner.
Thangka Painting Workshops
For several years Jewel Heart has presented
thangka painting workshops in the United States by Marian van
der Horst, member of the Jewel Heart the Netherlands sangha. Marian
gives regular weekly thangka painting classes in the Netherlands,
and teaches thangka students in other European countries.
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Jewel Heart Store in Ann Arbor
The Jewel Heart Store provides the surrounding
community with resources and materials pertinent to Tibetan Culture,
History, and Tibetan Buddhism. In addition to offering books,
ritual items, handmade carpets, crafts, and other goods for sale,
the Jewel Heart Store contains a comfortable reading library and
exhibition space, where those who are interested may learn more
about spiritual practice, Tibet, and its language and endangered
culture.
Visit the Jewel Heart online
store
Tibet Art Fairs
In 1994 and 1995, Jewel Heart sponsored
a Tibetan Art & Cultural Fair in Ann Arbor. The Fairs introduced
many thousands of people to the culture and history of Tibet through
performances, demonstrations of traditional arts techniques, exhibition
of photography and artifacts, and a lively marketplace featuring
items from Tibetan artisans.
Jewel Heart Concerts and Workshops
Until his death in 1997, Allen
Ginsberg offered frequent poetry workshops and benefits for
Jewel Heart, and joined with performers such as Philip
Glass, Natalie
Merchant, Patti
Smith, and others in the much loved annual Jewel Heart Concerts.
Now renamed the Allen Ginsberg Memorial Concert and Poetry Contest,
these concerts are held each fall in Allen's honor. Recent concerts
have included special guest artists such as Ashley
MacIsaac, Patti
Smith, Philip
Glass, Paula
Cole, Foday
Musa Suso, and Ziggy
Marley.
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