By John Manson, Gallery Shop Coordinator
The theme of the Gallery Shop Reading list this quarter is Living in the Present Moment. Inspired by In the Present Moment (our recent publication in collaboration with Haema Sivanesan and Figure-1 Publishing), this list presents books that ask readers to slow down and be more mindful and aware of their surroundings. You can learn more about the In the Present Moment project in a previous article here. The other titles included below each reflect, echo, or connect to the themes that Sivanesan and her collaborators explore. We pair each reading list with an item from the shop. For this summer pairing, we are featuring a new Gallery Shop artisan: Buttata Ceramics by Michele Lafreniere. With modern, fresh, peaceful designs inspired by the Vancouver Island landscape and coastlines, Buttata Ceramics (pictured below) are the perfect addition to any décor. We currently have mugs, plates, vases, and tumblers, and are hoping to continue to add stock in the summer and fall.
1. In the Present Moment (Haema Sivanesan)
An engaging and sumptuously designed examination of the influence and impact of Buddhism on art in North America from the post-war period to the present.
2. The Life of the Buddha (Heather Sanche, illustrated by Tara di Gesu)
Connecting with In the Present Moment, this illustrated book for all ages engages readers about the classic tale of Siddhartha Gautama.
3. Learning & Teaching Together: Weaving Indigenous Ways of Knowing Into Education (Michele T. D. Tanaka)
A curriculum-based examination, suitable for learners or instructors in all fields, that discusses and proposes how Indigenous culture and system of knowledge can be incorporated and honoured in contemporary educational settings.
4. Kazuyuki Ohtsu (Bob Hicks)
A survey of the classic and serene works of celebrated 20th Century Japanese woodblock artist.
5. Gathering Moss (Robin Wall Kimmerer)
This beautifully written mix of science and personal reflection invites readers to explore and learn from the elegantly simple lives of mosses.
6. Living on the Land: Indigenous Women’s Understanding of Place (eds. Nathalie Kermoal & Isabel Altamirano-Jiménez)
A collaborative and meditative anthology on how patriarchy, gender, and colonialism have shaped the experiences of Indigenous women as both knowers and producers of knowledge
7. It was so quiet I could hear a pin drop (Andy Goodman)
With whimsically simple illustrations, this book explores where the acts of imagining and noticing meet.
8. Out of Concealment (Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson)
Haida artist, performer and activist Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson re-imagines the stories of the ancient feminine Supernatural Beings of Haida Gwaii.
9. A Day with Yayah (Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Julie Flett)
Join Nikki, Jamesie, and Lenny as they harvest wild crops with their grandmother Yayah and learn about their Nlaka’pamux language and culture from her.
10: Takao Tanabe (Ian M. Thom, Roald Nasgaard, Nancy Tousley & Jeffrey Spalding)
A gorgeous overview of the painting career (in both landscape and abstraction) by this beloved Canadian artist.
