Janet Slom

When we think of mindfulness, we may think of a particular formal practice of meditation. And that’s certainly a part of what we do, helping to open awareness to what’s happening in the present moment. But what about the rest of our waking hours? How does the informal practice of mindfulness appear in your life? Though we may not be nonjudgmentally aware all the time, there may be certain activities which invite that open attentiveness, including art.

Janet Slom grew up in South Africa during Apartheid on a vast flower farm, and so, from the very beginning, she was surrounded by beauty as well as a keen awareness of humanity’s immense suffering and longing. Her father created Shambhala as a learning center for Eastern philosophy, inspired by the legendary Himalayan kingdom and Tibetan belief that a harmonious and meaningful life are possible through gentleness, courage, self-knowledge and freedom. Janet is a painter, an installation and performance artist. She creates powerful images that reverberate with the rhythms of nature and life, exploring the dance of opposing forces. Her solo and group exhibitions have taken place at venues including the United Nations (NYC), Lincoln Center (NYC), the Adelson Gallery (NYC), Kohn Pederson Fox Gallery (NYC), Everard Read Gallery (Cape Town, South Africa), and Frank Pages Gallery (Baden-Baden, Germany). Her paintings are in collections internationally, including the South Africa Parliament (Cape Town, South Africa). She studied at the University of Witwatersrand (South Africa), and earned her MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art (Boston, MA). Janet has taught extensively and is currently on the faculty of Lehigh University’s Iacocca Institute. She lives in Hollywood, FL and Weston, CT and maintains studios in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Bridgeport, CT.

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Music for This Episode Courtesy of Rodrigo Rodriguez

The music heard in this podcast is from Rodrigo Rodriguez. You can visit his website to hear more of his music, get the full discography, and view his upcoming tour dates.