http://annecooperstudio.com/rakusu%20project.html
A local Soto Zen priest deemed the project to be a totally inappropriate use of the Buddhist garment, the Rakusu. And he let me know in searing emails.
A post with the link to the YouTube video and my website was put up on a Soto Zen Buddhist list serve. Of course, anytime one uploads anything to such a public site as YouTube it's fair game. I had not realized that this was going out into cyber-land, I suppose to drum up support for his position.
And he did get support, but so did I. The generous outpouring of understanding, appreciation and sympathy for the project brought me and my cast to tears. I'm still in awe of all the generous comments that came my way. But aware of the negative out there as well.
We do hope to find other venues for the project, we've done two performances to date, one here in my studio (2014) and another in 2015 in Austin. (A Soto Zen Rakusu sewing class attended and enjoyed the Austin performance/installation.)
Controversy in art is never a bad thing, that I am led to believe. My art work has never been edgy. So this is new territory. I am too interested in beauty to make confrontational work. I have been deeply saddened that my project has been hurtful in any way. That was never my intent. But truly this project which I have worked on for 3 years has been the most important work of my long career.
You can read about it's genesis on my website. annecooperstudio.com
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| Anderson Field, my heart place |
