Articles by Bo Mackison

Before We Set Sail – A Visit to the Perez Art Museum Miami

We arrived at the ship’s berth at noon and we were set to sail for Cuba at 6 pm. The buffet was beckoning as were the lounge chairs and the sparkling pool, but we were docked within view of the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). We grabbed a plate of food, knowing there would be plenty of gastronomical experiences in the coming week, and grabbed a taxi to take advantage of an afternoon to see some art before we set sail.

PAMM is celebrating its 35th anniversary, though they have only been at this site since 2013. A minimalist building with great views — inside and out.

For Those in Peril on the Sea by Hew Locke

Once inside the art museum’s entrance, we were greeted by an impressive array of colorful vessels, all suspended from the high atrium’s ceiling.

“… the installation creates the impression of a massive exodus taking place throughout the architectural space above the viewer. It features a broad range of vessel types, from cigarette boats, catamarans, and cruise liners to ragged fishing skiffs and timeworn cargo ships

Part of the installation For Those in Peril on the Sea by Hew Locke

“In light of Miami’s history as the site for numerous waves of immigration—particularly from the Caribbean, and specifically by seaFor Those in Peril on the Sea will have a particular resonance for the Museum’s audiences.”

~ from PAMM website
Our Reflection in art by Anish Kapoor. Untitled, 2013.

This is only a tiny portion of the expansive installation in miniature by Liliana Porter. El hombre con el hacha y otras situaciones breves – Venecia 2017 (The man with the axe and other brief situations – Venice 2017)


The gallery with a view. It was a popular place for selfies and too-numerous-to-count photo ops for several young women. I eventually decided I didn’t have enough time nor patience to wait and so took a photo of the view plus Bob plus strangers. There were other things to see, but one of my first views of the Atlantic Ocean was still a highlight.

Kerry James Marshall b. 1955 Campfire Girls 1995

Marshall has long emphasized the importance of creating ordinary representations of black people at leisure, representations that are largely absent from the history of painting.

from PAMM exhibit

while the dew is still on the roses . . . presents the work of Kingston-born artist Ebony G. Patterson (b. 1981). The most significant presentation of the artist’s work to date, the project includes examples of the artist’s work produced over the last five years, embedded within a new installation environment that references a night garden.

~ from Perez Museum of Art Miami website
night garden begins here

This was my favorite exhibit – a large darkened room filled with the artist’s “drawings, tapestries, videos, sculptures and installations that involve surfaces layered with flowers, glitter, lace and beads…”

Teresa Margolles b. 1963 La gran America (America the Great), 2017

Handmade cobblestones made from dirt and clay collected from both sides of the Rio Grande, fired and set into a wall installation.

Window View at PAMM © 2019 Bo Mackison
Geometrics – a Found Walk-Through-Sculpture Staircase ©2019 Bo Mackison
A View of the Harbor with Cruise Ships in the Background ©2019 Bo Mackison

On Our Way

Getting the Message… Fly to Miami. Okay!
I love flying above Chicago!
And flying through puffy clouds is the prettiest…
Chicago to Miami (to Havana)
Descending into Miami – look at all that GREEN!

JOIN ME FOR THE SPRING SEASON OF THE WORKSHOP THAT EXPLORES – AND CELEBRATES – THE EXTRAORDINARY IN THE ORDINARY

This gently guided journey with Bo has infused my existing practices with renewed energy. Her exquisite leadership is informed by experience, training and soulful instinct. I consider her a modem mystic. ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

If the words contemplative and creative have a sweet juiciness for you and you’re interested in a different sort of online workshop, read on:

  • no schedule, but lots of serendipity.
  • no planned curriculum, but lots of surprises.
  • no expectations, but infinite possibilities.
  • no formal objectives, but an always-available way to engage and interact with your world through art, nature and the written word.

I combine my roles as curator of life experience, writer, artist, Certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach, and Certified Miksang Contemplative Photography instructor to offer you a meaningful and fulfilling online workshop with a well-established active community component.

CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES MANDALA © 2018 Bo Mackison

In community and individually, we explore these themes:

word * vision * place

WORD

This practice focuses on how to connect — to the world, community, and self — using words. We’ll play with words, explore words, and connect nature and place using words. We’ll write poetry – tile poetry, collaborative poetry, and poetry art using found words and pictures. You don’t need to consider yourself a writer to enjoy these practices, but anyone with an established writing practice will surely delight in them.

VISION

We’ll create mandalas, individually and collectively. I find this to be a lovely spring practice as we’ll focus on nature and growth and the many opportunities found in the outdoors. It’s a pocket-practice — the practice requires only a small container of basic supplies that can travel almost anywhere.

We’ll explore the practice of Miksang Contemplative Photography, focusing on the practices of 1) light and shadow and 2) interacting with your ordinary and personal world. We’ll also explore the spring’s qualities — its passions, moods, style, symbols — as part of the Miksang practice. (All types of cameras and skill levels are welcome.)

PLACE:

Throughout the warming days of spring, we’ll continue the weekly observational practice of backyard phenology – the study of nature’s calendar, an ever-present, in-the-present survey of the cycles of plants and animals in your natural world.

HOMETOWN MANDALA © 2019 Bo Mackison

Bo Mackison is an insightful, talented and inspirational art, photography and writing creativity coach and teacher. Bo’s wide range of artistic knowledge along with her life experiences makes her the artist and writer’s trusted advisor. I highly recommend Bo as a mentor, teacher, trainer and speaker. ~Jeanette Richardson Herring, Author and Artist

MY SPRING OFFER:

YOU WILL RECEIVE REGULAR — AND RANDOM — PROMPTS AND EXPLORATIONS.

Together we’ll explore themes and creative practices that inspire and encourage, elicit wonder and awe, uplift your spirit and feed your soul.

This is a practice that:

  • gently weaves itself throughout your day
  • illuminates the extraordinary in the ordinary, celebrates the uncommon in the common
  • offers ways of interacting with place that highlight the wonder of and connection with nature, no matter where you live, work and play.

We begin March 20th, 2019 as the days lengthen and we’ll journey together until June 20th, 2019.

New participants are welcome to join CCJ for the Spring Season. The first weeks of our practice will include introductions to the practices of collaborative poetry writing, creating a mandala practice, Miksang contemplative photography, and the study of phenology.

If you searching for a place of sanctuary, a place to recharge so you can show up bright and energized for the demands of living in today’s world, this might be the workshop community you seek.

Whether you have a fully equipped art room or a box of simple supplies you store in a closet, you’ll find new ways to create. Hints on how to see or create in new ways will offer you unlimited possibilities for exploration and are easily incorporated into your everyday routine.

Come along and explore the creative and contemplative life with spaciousness and spontaneity.

YES YOU CAN MANDALA © 2018 Bo Mackison

WHEN:

The SPRING journey is 14 weeks long. March 20 through June 20, 2019.

HOW:

Private community on Facebook. All content is shared on a private Facebook group page and can show up anytime. Surprise and serendipity! You are encouraged to share your discoveries and experiences in the private group however and whenever you choose.

This guided and easily accessible process allows you to engage in the practice in whatever way is best for you.

A handsome PDF booklet featuring content from the 14 week session is provided at the end of the season as a helpful ongoing resource.

THE COST:

I offer you my knowledge, my skills, my presence and my enthusiasm. The cost for this winter journey and an active sharing community remains at the all-inclusive price of $99.00.

TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE:

Registration is now open.

Register here through PayPal.

~~~~~BO MACKISON is an artist, poet, photographer, certified Kaisen-Muse creativity coach, Nalanda Miksang Photography Instructor, hands-on workshop presenter, and a woman who has spent her entire adult life surviving and thriving with the help of the creative practices she now shares with others. She is the founder of Contemplative Creatives Journey, an Online Seasonal Workshop. Bo has been offering creative and contemplative programs for women since 2014. She’s been told her workshops have changed people’s lives for the better. She believes this to be true.

Traveling to Cuba – The Beginning

Why We Planned a Trip to a Warmer Clime ©2019 Bo Mackison

February 20. There were lots of reasons to travel to Cuba this winter. The weather in Wisconsin was a big factor.

Traveling with Tom Bihn © 2019 Bo Mackison

I packed two suitcases to within a few ounces of our allowable limits. Since we were flying from Chicago O’Hare to embarkation destination of Miami, I packed our handy overnight bag with two changes of clothes, our necessaries, shoes (so we could leave our boots behind), a book for each of us, and a few art supplies.

There are traditions. Whenever we fly from Chicago, we make time for a stop at one of our favorite pizza places.

Weather? Check!

A quick check of the weather in Cuba vs. the weather in Wisconsin confirms what we expected. The weather will be about 70˚ wartmer in Cuba than back home.

Books 2018 – July through December

July 2018

56. The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth by Christopher L. Heuertz

Interesting read, but quite dense.

I most appreciated the sections of Enneagram types and solitude, silence, and stillness.

57. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

58. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

59. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

60. Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins

61. A Silence Opens: Poems by Amy Clampitt

Not my favorite book of poetry. Some good lines, but I never really connected to any entire poem.
Too dense without enough punch once I’d forged through the lines. 3/5

62. What I Thought I Knew: A Memoir by Alice Eve Cohen

63. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

64. When She Named Fire: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry by American Women by Andrea Hollander

One of my favorite poetry anthologies, the sort of book which is easy to dip in and out of, easy to turn a few pages and find a poem, perfect for reading and musing.

*65. The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton

66. Spirit Maps: Follow the Exquisite Geometry of Art and Nature Back to Your Center by Joanna Arettam 4/5

67. Looking and Seeing: An Introduction to Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography by John McQuade

68. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrick Backman

Re read this book. Loved the characters and the storyline. 5/5

*69. Writing Away by Lavonia Spaulding 4/5

A Review of My Books about Mandalas (critiques to follow in a later post):

70. The Mandala Workbook: A Creative Guide for Self-Exploration, Balance, and Well-Being by Susanne F. Fincher 5/5

71. Natural Mandalas: 30 New Meditations to Help You Find Peace and Awareness in the Beauty of Nature by Lisa Tenzin-Dolma 3/5

72. The Art of Mandala Meditation: Mandala Designs to Heal Your Mind, Body and Spirit by Michal Beaucaire 3/5

73. Zen Mandalas by Suzanne McNeill 4/5

74. Mandala: Luminous Symbols for Healing by Judith Cornell 5/5

75. Creating Mandalas by Susanne F. Fincher 4/5

76. Mandala for the Inspired Artist: Working with Paint, Paper, and Texture to Create Expressive Mandala Art by Louise Gale 3/5

77. The Mandala Book: Patterns of the Universe by Lori Bailey Cunningham 3.5/5

August 2018

78. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

79. The Writing Life by Annie Dillard 4/4

80. Above Tree Line: A Memoir by Mary P. Montayne

Began reading this on a trusted recommendation, but I could not get into the story. When I started skipping whole pages and skimming to find something interesting, I stopped. 2/5

81. Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Great book. I loved the quirkiness of the main character. 5/5

*82. The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer

A favorite from my books of 2018. 5/5

*83. The Cloud Collector’s Handbook by Gavin Pretor-Pinney

*84. Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton

A classic. Must read for anyone interested in exploring a quieter life. 4.5/5

September 2018

*85. The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell

*86. Hygge: The Complete Book of Hygge To Discover The Danish Way To Live Happily by Sarah Jenson

Basic. Read as part preparation for Denmark experience. 3/5

*87. The Fruitful Darkness: A Journey Through Buddhist Practice and Tribal Wisdom by Joan Halifax

*88. Stop Look Breathe Create by Wendy Ann Greenhalgh

*89. The Cloudspotter’s Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds & The Cloud Collector’s Handbook by Anton Parshin

*90. The Wave Watcher’s Companion: From Ocean Waves to Light Waves via Shock Waves, Stadium Waves, and All the Rest of Life’s Undulations by Anton Parshin

So technical, dense. Not a page turner. 3/5

*91. When Wanderers Cease to Roam by Vivian Swift

Watercolors and little vignette’s from a Long Islander used-to-be-world-traveler who stays home for a year and documents what she notices. 4/5

92. nejma by Nayyirah Waheed

*93. The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meil Wiking

*94. Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process by Joe Fassler

October 2018

*95. Local Color: Seeing Place Through Watercolor by Mimi Robinson

96. Poets on Place by W.T. Pfefferle 4.5/5

97. The Overstory by Richard Powers 5/5

98. Eggshells by Caitriona Lally 2/5

99. The Greenhouse by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

“I’m in the middle of the woods, literally surrounded by trees on every side, and I haven’t the faintest idea of where I am. Can a person who has been brought up in the heart of a thick dark forest, where one has to beat a path through multiple layers of trees just to take a letter to the post office, have any conception of what it’s like to spend one’s entire childhood waiting for a single tree to grow?” 4.5/5

November 2018

100. The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals—and Other Forgotten Skills by Tristan Gooley

The US edition of ‘The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues & Signs’ first published in the UK. It has been updated with US references but unevenly. 3/5

101. Monument by Natasha Trethewey

A selection of the Rumpus Poetry Book Club.

102. Fludde: Poems by Peter Mishler

A selection of the Rumpus Poetry Book Club.I think it’s me. I’m not up to the task of sorting through Mishler’s poetry. Not enough breadcrumbs to follow. 2.5/5

103. Carnival Evening: New and Selected Poems, 1968-1998 by Linda Pastan

I love this book of poetry. Many of Pastan’s subjects are of the ordinary, everyday variety. And well done. 5/5

104. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton 4.5/5

105. Feeding the Dragon by Sharon Washington

Short Audible edition. Memoir of a daughter whose father worked in a New York City Public Library and an apartment on the top floor of a library was part of the deal. 4/5

December 2018

106. Emma by Jane Austin 3.5/5

107. Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman

Lovely. Poetry and illustrations are delightful; an informative blurb accompanying each poem gives a factual summary – snowflakes, beavers, trees, and more. I purchased this as a gift for my 4-year-old grandson. Now I might need to buy a second copy to ensure he gets his gift. 5/5

108. Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davis

Such a sweet book for beginning readers or read-to kids. Nature introduction at its finest. 5/5

109. Flashlight by Lizi Boyd

Highest recommendation. No words, but so much to invite conversations. My 5 year old and 4 year old grandkids both loved it and we “read” it repeatedly. 5/5

110. Pinocchio: An Origin Story by Alessandro Sanna

Wordless book. Stunning watercolor illustrations. 5/5

111. The Whisper by Pamela Zagarenski 5/5

112. Family Trust by Kathy Wang 4/5

113. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Oh. Wow. All the feels. The power of poetry. Transformative. Highly recommended. 5/5

114. The Light of Amsterdam by David Park

I liked this book. I liked it a lot until the ending. Was that ending really a part of the whole? It felt like an afterthought, a disconnected scene, and left me disoriented. That said, the character development and interactions in the first 95% of the book was well done, and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. I chose to read this book because of its Amsterdam setting, having recently visited there for the first time. I do enjoy being able to recognize landmarks and places of interest in a setting; the ability to give a setting a minds-eye view is satisfying. 3.5/5