I have been concerned with the commodification of Asian practices, from Feng Shue wind chimes to the ubiquitous use of "Nameste" with hands folded when coming and going among hip affluent consumers. I fear that as they inevitably dismiss the surface aspects of the practices to the designation of yet another fad, people will also dismiss the deeper, more healthy aspects of the practice, much like the fitness craze of the 80's once labeled, allowed our culture to dismiss the integration of a healthy physical body into our lifestyles. Once one has bought all of the associated objects, we tire of the practice; it is time to move on to another lucrative market and the values along with the objects of that "phase" are sent to the thrift store. One sends off the legwarmers and no longer needs to maintain a healthy body; one sends away the chimes and the mediation cushions and no longer needs to think about loving-kindness. "Oh yeah," we say, "I did that."

I printed Green Meditation on vinyl, at a Kinkos banner poster sale. This object, whose process Kinkos assures me is suitable for everything from advertising to family photos, is guaranteed to last up to six months. As in much of the Moment work, this piece questions what we choose to consider as significant times that we want to remember, record.

The title plays upon the green of the golf course, where people drive and putt and exercise specific control for specific goals.  The piece itself demonstrates a walking meditation: the subject can wander in all directions with very little difference.  Individually, the focus shifts within images, the ground changes slightly, but for the most part a balanced pattern is formed that suggests the peace of meditations. However, though a walking meditation is supposed to provide peace, the manner in which the leg is cropped, and the way that the photos are arranged as a pinwheel, transform the peaceful intention into a frenzied activity.  Meditation becomes one more task of amusement, one more practice to be consumed, and to fade. The rainforest is in the center; a quiet tribute to another ephemeral component of our lives.