Saturday July 27, 2024 | 2-3pm
Location: In front of RU House at Colonels Row, Building #404B on Governors Island (map)
Ferry information | Video directions to RU House
Please join us on July 27 for an outdoor demonstration of the Taoist Tai Chi® arts on the green field in front of the RU House at 404B Colonels Row on Governors Island.
This event is organized by 2024 RU artist Ai Sugiura on behalf of Sabbatical Company—an artist collective of four women Japanese artists—which focuses on building community and engaging in physical activity to support a healthier, more sustainable lifelong journey as artists.
In this demonstration, participants from the New York City branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA will demonstrate the Taoist Tai Chi® arts. Known by some as moving meditation, the Taoist Tai Chi® arts embody the teachings of the late Master Moy Lin Shin and the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism to cultivate strength, flexibility, and stillness. Even beginners can follow along by observing others and moving gently in sync with the group, which fosters a sense of community. Through this one-hour experiential workshop, join Ai Sugiura and the masters of Taoist Tai Chi Society to share a relaxing time moving slowly amidst the nature of Governors Island. This event is open to all, no prior experience necessary.
About
Ai Sugiura is a multidisciplinary artist who focuses on the trivial objects of everyday life and rethinks their meaning and function. Sugiura’s artistic practice is driven by her interest in material and space, inside/outside, memory, and the transition between the ordinary and extraordinary. She observes the process of change in objects and people, and their relationship with each other in everyday life. Sugiura’s work often takes the form of sculpture and installation, and in recent years she has been incorporating photography into her three-dimensional production. Since 2015, Sugiura has been part of the artist collective Sabbatical Company.
Sabbatical Company, also known as Sabakan, is an artist collective founded in 2015. The term “Sabbatical” refers to a creative holiday for developing own expertise, while “Company” signifies friends sharing experiences. Sabakan’s four members create sabbatical moments anytime, emphasizing the value of unstructured, meaningful collaboration. They believe that the most creative activities happen before predefined meanings and goals as become words. Now, approaching their decade milestone, They are in the middle of an exercise to unwind their bodies and letters in preparation for verbalizing the views we have seen.
The Taoist Tai Chi Society was Founded by Master Moy more than 50 years ago in Toronto, Canada, the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taosim today has associate organizations in more than 20 countries. Their aims and objectives are to alleviate suffering, to make the Taoism arts available to all, to promote the concept of health through the practice of the Taoist arts, to promote culture exchange, and to help others. Quietly practicing the Taoist Tai Chi® arts together is a form of reverential meditation that can lead to profound transformation and harmony with the Tao. Participants at any age and with any experience can begin to feel the benefits immediately.
This program is organized by Ai Sugiura, Sabbatical Company and the New York City branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA.
RU is grateful for the partnership with Governors Island Arts.
