On July 11th I hosted an unveiling of my newest commissioned altar created for the garden of the Academy of Intuitive Medicine in Sausalito, CA.  The altar stands over4 feet tall and incorporates stained glass and mirrors in its design.

The opening of the ceremony was “Amazing Grace,” sung by 15 year old Zoe Moss.

I then spoke about the creation of the altar, my intentions in making it and, now, releasing it to go to its new home.

Noted harpist Cheryl Ann Fulton played a classical piece on her beautiful harp and   Marisa Power recited a poem.  Accompanied by the harp, I closed with a mask dance and unveiled the piece.

Three young “angels” then came in procession, bringing candles to illuminate the altar for the first time.

An enchanted time was had by all!

]]> http://ernestosanchez.net/211/feed/ http://ernestosanchez.net/141/ http://ernestosanchez.net/141/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:43:57 +0000 Ernesto http://ernestosanchez.net/?p=141 Early June.  After rafting on the Rogue River for a week  am back at the studio looking at the garden’s growth.  Why do artists get a reputation for being lazy?  It is a true illusion.  Artists enjoy beauty, and falling into the beauty of colors and fresh growth in the garden is a great pastime.  The mind drifts as the breeze stirs leaves and flower petals.  Sounds of people enjoying lunch in the next door restaurant, sounds of water flowing in the fountain, mix with the peaceful moments.  After days of fog in Pt Reyes the sun now is bright.  I know there is a lot of work to do.  I must work on my web site, must finalize the drawings for the new commissioned altar, cast some hearts, paint some moons, update my email list from the recent open studios yes, there is a lot to do.  But now, right now, being in the sunshine nourishes my being, feeds my soul, and just gives me a contented breath of life.  I will get to all the things needing to be done.  There is no fear of not being able to accomplish what needs doing.  It is just that I am transmuting these moments into a time of quiet reflection and if you were to drop in right now we could have the most stimulating visit. ]]> http://ernestosanchez.net/141/feed/ http://ernestosanchez.net/book-launch-with-michele-foutaine/ http://ernestosanchez.net/book-launch-with-michele-foutaine/#comments Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:48:33 +0000 Ernesto http://ernestosanchez.net/?p=104 Ernesto’s Studio is proud to host a Book Launch Party for Michele Foutaine’s new book “Body of Work” Saturday, March 21st, 1:30 PM.  This free public event will feature Michele reading segments from  “Body of Work “… a collection of short stories spanning 30 years of inner and outer explorations, of exotic places, spiritual spaces, and soul searing embraces.  It’s Eat, Pray Love, meets Water for Elephants.

Please come to Michele Foutaine’s special book launch party in beautiful Pt Reyes Station.  Refreshemnts will be served.

The heart has long been a symbol of love, compassion and gratitude in cultures throughout the world. It is also Ernesto’s signature piece — over the decades he’s cast thousands of handmade hearts that he uses in his art pieces and sells individually. His hearts have made their way around the world and can be found in homes on every continent.

“I shall take the heart… for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world.”
The Tinman in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The heart was once widely believed to be the seat of the human mind and is still used poetically to represent the human soul.

The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart.
Rumi

Ernesto’s hearts are individually handmade and handpainted by the artist. The golden rays surrounding each heart represent the energy our hearts send out into the world. They come in different colors and sizes and are handcast in paper pulp.

Ernesto’s hearts are perfect for gifts, for putting on your altar or hanging on your wall. If you want to purchase one or more hearts email Ernesto at ernestostudio@gmail.com

As we live these years, how often do we stop and think about the presence of the moon on our lives and on the earth? How often do we take stock of where we are in those 1,000 cycles?

To honor the inspirational force that the moon has on my life, I began an art project called The Journey of 1,000 Moons. The goal is simple: to make one thousand handmade moon faces. Each moon face is cast in gypsum, 3 inches in diameter, and hand painted.

On every journey there is a path, and along the path there are points of inspiration, illumination, and revelation. But you cannot discover these unless you take the journey.

For me, the process of making one thousand moons is a working meditation. Each moon reminds me that, while each of our individual lives is a brief flash of illumination – only 1000 moons — the energetic dance between the moon and the earth has endured for millions of years.

I sell both individual moon faces and framed moon faces from “The Journey of 1000 Moons” series. ($40.00 for an individual moon, $80.00 for a framed moon. Pics will be up soon).

Contact me at Ernestostudio@gmail.com if you would like to purchase any moons.

I have been making masks since 1971. I’ve taught, performed, studied, and collaborated with mask makers in Europe, Latin America, Indonesia, Japan, Alaska, and the US mainland.

I have witnessed the raw power a mask dance can have on the collective unconscious of a community, as well as experienced the profound transformative energy the mask may have on the mask dancer.

In 1993 I lived and worked in Japan for a year on an artistic fellowship. For centuries, the Japanese have created and utilized masks in theater, in religious ceremonies, in celebrations. Although I had used masks extensively in my theater work to that point, my time in Japan added a deeply spiritual dimension to my mask making and mask dancing. These masks all have been made since my return from Japan.

THE SPIRIT OF THE MASK

I made many of these masks to be used in mask dances, i.e., where the dancer wears a mask to exemplify a certain archetype, emotion or state of mind. Cultures as diverse as ancient Greece and modern Indonesia have used masks in this way. For the mask dance to be alive, the mask must project a strong character so that when you look at the mask you feel its spirit. It also must have a strong emotional presence and contain the potential for emotional duality. For example, a sad mask must also allow the dancer, with a slight change of movement or demeanor, to be able to project happiness. If you look at these masks, you will see the range of emotional character each one possesses.

Unlike traditional masks that are bound to one story or tradition, I combine a number of cultural influences in my mask making. Some of these masks were made to represent a character, some to project a certain set of emotions.

All of my masks are made with either paper pulp or gyspum and are hand painted. The paper masks are for wearing, the gyspum ones are for your altar or to hang on the wall. Coming soon will be pictures of various masks you may purchase.

If your interested in purchasing a mask please email me at erneststudio@gmail.com

During this period I came to view our lives as made up of two forces. One is the human, emotional self, and the other is that of our spirit. While we are often caught in the highs and lows of daily life, our spirit is free of these influential emotions. Our spirit is always with us, seems to watch over us, cares for our well being, feeds our intuition. But it resonates on a high frequency and is not encumbered by emotions.

Please check back. Pictures of angels with pricing will be up soon.

Capture the Angel Within

Allow me to capture your inner beauty. You model, I sculpt. When completed, your body has been transmuted into angelic form, wings open, hovering or ascending.  I make a mold of the life sized sculpture, then cast the piece. When finished you have a beautiful and unique wall hanging that resonates with your presence and acts as a tangible reminder of your daily relationship to the spirit world.

The creative process consists of 2 to 4 modeling sessions. All work takes place in a safe, sacred space and manner.

Please contact me at erneststudio@gmail.com if you would like to capture

your angel within.

Throughout my travels I have seen these iconic structures take many forms, from the most primitive pile of rocks to the most elaborate golden altar inside a Buddhist temple. What is true for all of these, however, is that their presence and power comes from the active engagement and belief of the people who build and use them.

In this, our rock and roll culture of the 21st century, many of us have rejected organized religion. An unintended consequence of this disaffection is that we have lost the opportunity to experience the power and effect that ritual, reverence and mystery can have on our daily lives.

Working outside of the parameters of organized religion, my goal is to create works that still resonate with the reverent presence of spirit. In building these spirit houses, I am hoping to provide a fresh vehicle for people’s spiritual expression and discovery.

Our perceptions define our reality. Spirit houses provide a focus and a repository for our spiritual attention and energy. Engaging with a spirit house every day — bringing flowers, burning incense — can open our eyes to mysterious possibilities and new potentials. The more our hearts are touched and our deep feelings stirred in the presence of these works, the more the work is fed by our energy. This give and take of inspiration creates a state in which both the viewer and the object are constantly transformed. This is true magic and true mystery.

Please email me if you would like to commission me to make an altar for you.

Coming soon are  images of various altars and spirit house’s I have made for ceremonies, communities, and individuals.