Michael Garfield's Love Without End Tour Newsletter: Marc Gafni
Showing posts with label Marc Gafni. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marc Gafni. Show all posts

13 May 2013

Cyber-Transcendence, New Writing for SolPurpose, Mind Folds, & Festival Announcements

“The present is a freely given canvas.”
– Annie Dillard

New Video – "A Love That We Built"


Watch a song come together from scratch in this video...the latest in my Rainbows at Night series.

Recorded live while opening for Papadosio at The Granada Theater in Lawrence, KS.  I was lucky enough to play two shows with them, in Austin and Lawrence, two weeks ago...if you don't know who they are yet, look them up, because not only are they redeeming live electronic music, they throw one of the best small festivals of the summer, Rootwire.

In somewhat related news, if you haven't heard it already, please go grab yourself a free download of Yellow Leaves.  People are reporting all manner of numinous open-sky release experiences with it.  :)

My talk with scholar-practitioner Marc Gafni
Download here

Check out this great conversation I had with Marc Gafni, Kabbalah scholar and author of the new book Your Unique Self.  We discussed evolutionary spirituality in The Age of Google; the innate dignity of our unique selfhood and the importance of embracing the ego as part of the spiritual path; what the end of privacy and the encroachment of a universal surveillance society means to the spiritual practitioner; and, ultimately, how to live in a digital world with heart.

Direct listening link is here.  If you'd also like to subscribe to more talks from this series, click here.

"Don’t try to become a Buddha and don’t try to become a Christ.  No imitation is going to help.  Whatsoever you do, try to do it in a new way.  Try to bring some individuality into it, bring some authentic signature.  Even cleaning a floor, you can do it in your own way; even cooking food, you can do it in your own way."
– Osho

Custom Painted Hats & Mind Folds
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I still have a few of my latest Grassroots California Artist Signature flatbills in every size except 7 3/4 and 8.  If you'd like one for $50 (plus s/h), just give me the word – custom painting on the hat's intentional negative space is available on a pay-what-you-like basis.


My first hat collaboration with painter Alicia Rockafellow.  Very happy with how this came out...

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Alex Grey invented the "Mind Fold" to allow total darkness with your eyes open.  These are all commissioned and sold, but I have more blank Mind Folds ready for painting if you'd like to order one, starting at $75.

New Articles for SolPurpose

Every once in a while I get worked up and write something truly meaningful.  Luckily, I was just appointed the Editor-in-Chief of SolPurpose.com, an amazing website covering festivals and visionary culture, so now I have a good place to publish those inspired rants...

"'Transformational Festivals' Are A Symptom of Dissociation"
"It is my hope in this accelerating age that we all become more comfortable with the discomfort needed to merely keep pace – that we become master transformers, all of us, ever learning, ever discovering, never settled fully into who we think we are. Our idea of doing in the world must move from one of control to one of collaboration in something always-greater-than. It is ironic that we must realize how a-part we are in order to feel complete; but it seems to me here now that this is our only chance at the wholeness we build festivals to seek."


"Reviewing Lisa Wimberger's New Beliefs, New Brain"
"Imagine for a moment a world in which our soldiers and emergency first responders are taught to manage their stress so they don’t escalate violent situations or suffer from untreated lifelong trauma.  Imagine a world in which our politicians and judges learn to ground themselves and view their thoughts from a place of neutrality.  Imagine how much healthier this world would be..."

Read more at SolPurpose.  (And if you'd like to write for us, drop me a line with your pitch.)

"Seraphim" Merchandise
iPhone 4 Case | iPhone 5 Case | Samsung Galaxy S3 Case

You can read about "Seraphim" and its connections to electromagnetism and ancient religions here.

Festival Appearances This Summer

More to be announced!  For now here are the big islands rising from an ocean of summer fun...


Thanks for reading!  I love you.

11 April 2013

Triceratops T-Shirt, Salamander Painting, New Time-Lapse Videos, Dialogue w/ Marc Gafni

“Art tells the jokes that science insists on explaining.”

"Every creative act empowers every other creative act."
– Alex Grey

I set two intentions for my art last year:  make it available on clothing; and paint pictures of local Austin animals to raise awareness of conservation issues.  Both of those dreams just came true.

Plus, I'm participating in a dialogue next week on art, culture, and spirituality with acclaimed author and Kabbalah expert Dr. Marc Gafni – and I've been playing with my new GoPro camera and have some fun time-lapse videos for you.  Thanks for reading and have a magnificent weekend!

–––> Preorder Here! <–––

Dye-sublimation is the only way to get vivid, high-resolution printing on the entire surface of your apparel.  Ravenectar is a new label out of Montreal whose mission is to make visionary art available on t-shirts.  It's a match made in heaven – and their mockup for the shirt with "As Awesome As Three Unicorns," my painting from Sonic Bloom 2012, is the most popular concept so far.  If you're a dinosaur dork, this shirt is a no-brainer.  

Contribute to Ravenectar's kickstarter to preorder yours today for less than retail price!

Barton Springs Salamander
(Eurycea sosorum)

Painted live with pens on 24"x48" masonite panel at:
• 2013.01.23 - Cirque Blanc @ La Zona Rosa (Ill.Gates)
• 2013.02.01 - The Parish (KiloWatts, OTT & The All-Seeing Eye)
• 2013.02.09 - HeARTs Aware @ La Zona Rosa
(DJ PWR, Metranohm, Happy Happy James, Rena Jones, Jamie Janover, Govinda)
• 2013.03.02 - Head For The Hills @ Quiet Valley Ranch
(Holding Space, The Nadis Warriors, Kyle Hollingsworth Band)
• 2013.03.09 - Luminaria @ 300 E Houston, SA (San Antonio Dance Fringe)
• 2013.03.11 - The Parish Underground (The Nadis Warriors, Rena Jones, IndigoSun)
• 2013.03.12 - Big Bang Bar
(Profresher, Nico Luminous, Lafa Taylor, Future Simple Project)
• 2013.03.16 - MusicUs Showcase @ Whomp (DVS*, Rena Jones, Profresher)
• 2013.03.17 - High Times Awards @ Red Eyed Fly
(The Memorials, G-Eazy, Diemonds, Gypsyhawk, Interstellar Transmissions, The Effinays)

Austin's Barton Springs is home to a totally unique salamander that exists nowhere else in the world. I painted this to raise awareness of the valiant efforts by Save Our Springs Alliance to preserve the habitat of this beautiful creature, and to alert people to the importance of the Edwards Aquifer in general – which is also the source for clean water for millions of people, and is currently endangered by both deregulated development within city limits and secret fracking about 40 miles west of Austin.

Wherever you live, take care of it. Other creatures depend on you.  If you live nearby, you can support the Save Our Springs Alliance by donating here.

Click for a close-up view of each the entire process:

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Barton Springs Salamander Gear:
iPhone 5 Case | Laptop Skin
Postage Stamps | Greeting Cards
Belt Buckles | Doodle Mini-Speaker

New Time-Lapse Videos!

BusToShow SXSW 2013 Mural Time-Lapse

For SXSW in Austin this year, my live painter friends and I decided to go big and paint a mural on the side of a bus.  BusToShow let us borrow theirs – they use this decommissioned school bus to provide safe rides to and from concerts across the country while raising money to support the arts.  We set up in the side yard outside Whomp on South Lamar and The Boston Boys were gracious enough to join us with their tasty live music while we worked.  It was one super magical afternoon.

We didn't get to finish the mural, though – so stay tuned for part two!

Jurassic Park Tattoo Time-Lapse

It doesn't take a genius to realize I am one fierce dinosaur fanatic.  Here's to hoping the people at Universal Studios appreciate my new ink (courtesy of Lily at Austin's Golden Age Tattoo) enough to give me a free ticket to the 20th anniversary 3D re-release of Jurassic Park...!  Either way, my slain dragon now rides shotgun, forever.

Join me for a conversation with Dr. Marc Gafni
on Visionary Art, Transformational Culture,
and Unique Self Expression


This coming Tuesday, April 16th, I have the amazing opportunity to join Marc Gafni for a discussion on the transformational power of visionary art and the evolution of planetary consciousness.  Marc is the author of Your Unique Self, a groundbreaking book that examines the role of the ego in spiritual evolution and how to live as a whole, balanced person – embracing the whole spectrum of human experience.


If you're as curious as I am to explore how the Unique Self teaching applies to creativity, community, and identity in the electronic age, then join us on the call this Tuesday at 8 pm Central.  Details here.

That's all for now.  More great news to come – thanks again for your time and support.  You know where to reach me...