SACRED GEOMETRY
In 2019, three female shamans travelled from South Korean to my home in the Cascade Mountains. The head shaman, Kim Junghee, is a mansin, a master of one thousand spirits. She led a traditional Naerim Gut, a ceremony to initiate me as a shaman.
In 2019, three female shamans travelled from South Korean to my home in the Cascade Mountains. The head shaman, Kim Junghee, is a mansin, a master of one thousand spirits. She led a traditional Naerim Gut, a ceremony to initiate me as a shaman.
All photographs by Rich Levitt.
After initiation, I began to experience plants differently. Before, I could feel the energy fields of trees. This aura feels kind of like a pleasant, welcoming pressure as I walk towards them. After the Naerim Gut, I could see/feel energy fields around plants and flowers. In a sketchbook, I tried to visually represent what this radiant, emanating energy felt like.
After initiation, I began to experience plants differently. Before, I could feel the energy fields of trees. This aura feels kind of like a pleasant, welcoming pressure as I walk towards them. After the Naerim Gut, I could see/feel energy fields around plants and flowers. In a sketchbook, I tried to visually represent what this radiant, emanating energy felt like.
Yet, I wasn't satisfied with the representation. As I made drawings and paintings of the garden, at Botanica gardens in Wichita and in my garden at home, I asked myself repeatedly: "How do I represent the magical power of the garden? Of plants and flowers? How do I integrate my elemental shamanic being into physical artworks that can be shared with my audience? How do I construct a window where you can glimpse this world?"
In January, 2024, I was editing a chapter on the art audience as shamanic community, for a forthcoming anthology entitled Science, The Sacred, and the Arts, Cambridge Scholars, UK. Suddenly, many points of inspiration connected and took form. I began playing and experimenting with details of garden paintings and created the following images. The radiating design well presents the energy I experience in nature.
In January, 2024, I was editing a chapter on the art audience as shamanic community, for a forthcoming anthology entitled Science, The Sacred, and the Arts, Cambridge Scholars, UK. Suddenly, many points of inspiration connected and took form. I began playing and experimenting with details of garden paintings and created the following images. The radiating design well presents the energy I experience in nature.
1. Denita Benyshek (January 20, 2024). That which is Emergent.
2. Denita Benyshek (January 20, 2024). The Radiant Lotus.
3. Denita Benyshek (January 20, 2024). The Mother. We are Born of The Earth.
4. Denita Benyshek (2024). Kuan Yin in The Garden.
5. Denita Benyshek (January 20, 2024). Portal to the Night Garden.
6. Denita Benyshek (January 20, 2024). The Wondrous Here Now.
7. Denita Benyshek (January 20, 2024). The Circle of Love.
8. Denita Benyshek (January 25, 2024), From the Center.
9. Denita Benyshek (January 25, 2024). From The Earth to The Sky.
10. Denita Benyshek (January 25, 2024). The Night Hawk.
11. Denita Benyshek (January 26, 2024). The Path Between Yesterday and Tomorrow.
12. Denita Benyshek (February 3, 2024). The Path Between Worlds.
13. Denita Benyshek (February 4, 2024), Welcome Child.
14. Denita Benyshek (February 4, 2024), When I Heard the Stars Sing.
15. Denita Benyshek (February 5, 2024), Visitant.
16. Denita Benyshek (February 5, 2024), Danae.
17. Denita Benyshek (February 5, 2024), The Walled Garden.
18. Denita Benyshek (February 6, 2024), I was of Two Minds like a Tree in which there are Two Blackbirds.
19. Denita Benyshek (February 7, 2024), Giordino Segreto (Secret Garden).
20. Denita Benyshek (February 20, 2024), In Persephone's Mirror.
21. Denita Benyshek (February 22, 2024), The Prophetess.
22. Denita Benyshek (February 22, 2024), Four Songs of the Star Farmers.
23. Denita Benyshek (February 22, 2024), Zeus in the Eye of the Storm, I.
24. Denita Benyshek (February 22, 2024), Maria Goeppert Gazing at Clouds (Fission).
25. Denita Benyshek (February 22, 2024), Entrance: Multiplicity.
27. Denita Benyshek (February 22, 2024), The Lake is The Gate, to The Sky.
28. Denita Benyshek (February 22, 2024). Yes or No? Stay or Go?
29. Denita Benyshek (February 26, 2024), In the Tradition of the Poet, Enheduanna.
30. Denita Benyshek (February 28, 2024), The Target for the Arrow of Time: Still and Unchanging Moons.
31. Denita Benyshek (March 1, 2024), Night Music.
32. Denita Benyshek (March 1, 2024). The Four Directions, Turning and Still.
33. Denita Benyshek (March 3, 2024), Commingled Imaginations.
34. Denita Benyshek (March 3, 2024), What Our Teachers Know.
35. Denita Benyshek (March 3, 2024), In the Center of the Map (L'Origine du Monde).
36. Denita Benyshek (March 3, 2024), Discovering the Center of the Universe.
37. Denita Benyshek (March 3, 2024).
In a Lake, in the
Sky, Sunset
when a God Appeared.
In a Lake, in the
Sky, Sunset
when a God Appeared.
38. Denita Benyshek (March 5, 2024), Venus above the Western Horizon.
39. Denita Benyshek (March 5, 2024), Poppies near our Waterfall.
Sold, private collection, Albuquerque, NM.
Sold, private collection, Albuquerque, NM.
40. Denita Benyshek (March 7, 2024), Living in the Realm of Potential.
41. Denita Benyshek (March 7, 2024), The Queen and her Attendants.
42. Denita Benyshek (March 7, 2024), Our Secret Oasis. Chalk pastel.
Private collection, Wichita, KS.
Private collection, Wichita, KS.
Denita Benyshek (March 7, 2024). At the Spring, Thou hast the Roses of Pieria (Sappho).
43. Denita Benyshek (March 15, 2024), Reverberations.
44. Denita Benyshek (March 16, 2024), Rain Willow I.
45. Denita Benyshek (March 16, 2024), Rain Willow II.
46. Denita Benyshek (March 16, 2024), In a Meadow, Watching Clouds.
47. Denita Benyshek (March 16, 2024), Rose Garden in the Mountains.
48. Denita Benyshek (March 16, 2024), Whispering and Listening.
Denita Benyshek. (March 17, 2024). Planetary Egg.
48. Denita Benyshek (March 17, 2024), Approaching a Region of the SpaceTime.
49. Denita Benyshek (March 17, 2024), Palindrome.
50. Denita Benyshek (March 17, 2024), Signal.
51. Denita Benyshek (March 18, 2024), I Lay Down Golden in Time, and Woke Up Vanishing.
The title is a line from Joni Mitchell's lyrics for "Sweet Bird."
The title is a line from Joni Mitchell's lyrics for "Sweet Bird."
52. Denita Benyshek (March 19, 2024), Convergence.
53. Denita Benyshek (March 19, 2024), For my Neighbors, Brenda and Ted.
54. Denita Benyshek (March 19, 2024), Night Fountains.
56. Denita Benyshek (March 18, 2024), Rain in the Forest.
Denita Benyshek (March 20, 2024). The Offering.
57. Denita Benyshek (March 25, 2024). The Eye of the Storm.
Oil pastel on black cotton rag paper, 22.25 x 26.75"
Oil pastel on black cotton rag paper, 22.25 x 26.75"
58. Denita Benyshek (March 19, 2024), A Delicate Mystery Revealed.
59. Denita Benyshek (March 11, 2024), Continental Divide (Arizona Quartet).
60. Denita Benyshek (March 12, 2024), Observing the Intersection of Light.
Denita Benyshek (April 13, 2024). The Idea of Peacocks.
Oil pastel on black cotton rag paper.
Oil pastel on black cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (May 3, 2024). Radiance Woven.
Denita Benyshek (May 3, 2024). From the Known to the Unknown.
Denita Benyshek (May 4, 2024). Gate into the Southwest.
Denita Benyshek (June 6, 2024). Pattern Recognition.
Denita Benyshek (June 28, 2024). The Little Flora.
Denita Benyshek (July 6, 2024). Charged.
Denita Benyshek (July 6, 2024). We are all Connected. (Holy Mother). Acrylic, ink, on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (July 6, 2024). The Absolute. Acrylic, ink, on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (July, 2024). In a Meadow, Watching Clouds.
Acrylic, ink, watercolor, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Acrylic, ink, watercolor, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Denita Benyshek (July 6, 2024). The Engine. Ink, acrylic, on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (July, 2024). Danae.
Acrylic, ink, watercolor, on cotton rag paper.
Acrylic, ink, watercolor, on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (July 6, 2024). This Sparkling World. Acrylic, ink, on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (July 17, 2024). When a Door Appears, Walk Through.
Ink, acrylic, watercolor, on cotton rag paper.
Ink, acrylic, watercolor, on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (July, 2024). Night Fountain.
Acrylic, ink, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Acrylic, ink, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Denita Benyshek (July 30, 2024). We Are All Connected.
Acrylic and ink on cotton rag paper.
Acrylic and ink on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (July 30, 2024). When I Heard the Stars Sing.
Chalk pastel, acrylic, ink on cotton rag paper.
Chalk pastel, acrylic, ink on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (August 14, 2024). All through the Night, All through the Night,
She Stood in the Rain, Holding a Chalice.
Ink, watercolor, pastel, on cotton rag paper.
Sold, private collection, Little Elm (Dallas), TX.
She Stood in the Rain, Holding a Chalice.
Ink, watercolor, pastel, on cotton rag paper.
Sold, private collection, Little Elm (Dallas), TX.
Denita Benyshek (August 13, 2024). Her Majesty Arriving in the Night.
Ink, acrylic, watercolor, on cotton rag paper.
Ink, acrylic, watercolor, on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (August 15, 2024). Living in the Green World.
Ink, oil pastel, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Ink, oil pastel, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Denita Benyshek (August 21, 2024). A Glimpse of the Great Chain of Being.
Ink, acrylic, on cotton rag paper.
Ink, acrylic, on cotton rag paper.
Denita Benyshek (August 22, 2024). In the Sweep of Time.
Ink, chalk pastel, pencil, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Ink, chalk pastel, pencil, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Denita Benyshek (September 2, 2024). Gratitude.
Private collection, Wichita, KS.
Private collection, Wichita, KS.
Denita Benyshek (September 5, 2024). A Tree Sending Me Love.
Acrylic, ink, on cotton rag paper.
Sold, private collection, Austin, TX.
Acrylic, ink, on cotton rag paper.
Sold, private collection, Austin, TX.
Denita Benyshek (September 16, 2024). In the Garden, Stars.
Acrylic, ink, watercolor, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Private collection, Berkeley, CA.
Acrylic, ink, watercolor, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Private collection, Berkeley, CA.
Denita Benyshek (September 18, 2024). Oasis.
Ink, chalk pastel, on cotton rag paper.
Private collection, Wichita, KS.
Ink, chalk pastel, on cotton rag paper.
Private collection, Wichita, KS.
Denita Benyshek (September 18, 2024). A Star in the Heart of the Forest.
Ink, acrylic, chalk pastel pencil, on cotton rag paper. 18" x 12".
Private collection, Wichita, KS.
Ink, acrylic, chalk pastel pencil, on cotton rag paper. 18" x 12".
Private collection, Wichita, KS.
Denita Benyshek (September 19, 2024). The Maker of Flowers.
Denita Benyshek (September 20, 2024). Prow of the Ship.
Ink, acrylic, chalk pastel on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Ink, acrylic, chalk pastel on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Denita Benyshek (September 26, 2024). Land of the Faie.
Ink, chalk pastel, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Ink, chalk pastel, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
Denita Benyshek, work in process. The Twins (Remembering their Mother).
On hold for collector. Mercer Island, WA.
On hold for collector. Mercer Island, WA.
Denita Benyshek, work in process. Choosing a Direction.
Acrylic, ink, watercolor, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
On hold for collector, Mercer Island, WA.
Acrylic, ink, watercolor, on cotton rag paper. 12" x 18".
On hold for collector, Mercer Island, WA.
Denita Benyshek, work in process. I Look at the Earth and See Heaven.
Denita Benyshek, work in process. You See How Simple It All Is.
Denita Benyshek, work in process. What is Amazing?
Denita Benyshek, work in process. The Offering.
Denita Benyshek, work in process.