All I hold is a single candle.

Peace Exchange

For the last five-plus years Ross Holzman has devoted himself to living a life in service of peace. In 2008, he started Create Peace Project because he could no longer sit back and watch as the powers that be continue to push war, infiltrate the media with violence, and promote fear! So he put his vision of "creating peace" into action. Over the past four years, he has personally worked with 12,000 youth and included more than 25,000 youth and adults in Create Peace Projects....with amazingly positive responses! A project that I am proud to have participated in with the Alluem Kids. 

In their efforts to spread the projects and practices that they at Create Peace Project are using, he and a couple colleagues wrote an arts-for-peace educational resource entitled Let's Create Peace. This is a 70 page booklet contains more than 30 activities and projects aimed at fostering self-awareness, strengthening connections, promoting peace, and creating uplifting meaningful art, as well as learning about the history of peace and violence locally and globally.  It will be used to train educators, promote simple peace practices in the classroom, share simple peace education to our youth and to complement the integration of Create Peace Project's arts-for-peace projects into schools around the globe.

This resource is ready for a second printing and once printed will be shared with teachers and educators far and wide, but in order to do so, they NEED YOUR SUPPORT! They currently have about a week remaining in an all-or-nothing fundraising campaign:   www.tinyurl.com/letscreatepeace (thus "pledges" are not debited unless the entire $3775 goal is reached). It will take you less than 10 minutes to create an account and make a pledge.  Think about the youth around the globe who will be positively affected by your generosity! Give if you can!!

Today, new life.

Yoga Service Conference - Omega Institute 

4 Seasons with Gossie and Gertie

Latest Baby Crate with Gossie and Gertie!

Yoga for Kids!

Possible future for this little guy....stay tuned!

Teen's Dream

My latest mural in a Teen's Hang-out Room!

Help a fellow artist!

It's crunch time for my dear friend and fellow artist, Nadine LaFond! Nadine is currently working on her debut solo album and needs our help. Please give what you can IF you can to keep Nadine's music alive. She is a true gem and a beautiful soul. Nadine has worked closely with us last month at our art workshop at Alluem Yoga (the studio where I teach kid's yoga). We are so grateful to Nadine for sharing her talents with us to help us reach our Off The Mat Into The World-Haiti GOAALLLLL!!!

A pledge of at least $40 dollars, which includes a special edition t-shirt co-designed by fellow artists, plus digital downloads of BOTH the 4 song acoustic EP and the full "Wisdom Child" album would go a long way in supporting this project. How cool is that? Even cooler to be part of a huge success story!! Please check out her Kickstarter Page and donate if you can!!!!

Don't want to donate online? Feel free to do it old school!

Click to enlarge.

Yoga and Art Collide!

THIS was a great day. Thank you, Nadine.

Auction Prep...

Getting my artwork ready for the Art of Yoga Auction on December 10th at Alluem Yoga!!

"Find delight in the little things" & "Fill your life with love." 2011 - mixed media

Artwork by: Karen Gilmour

Calling All Artists!!!

I'm proud to announce two great events coming up at Alluem Yoga in support of Off the Mat Into the World! Every year Off the Mat holds what is called a Global Seva Challenge to support a country in need. The focus for 2011 is Haiti. Gina, my dear friend and owner of Alluem Yoga, is participating in the Seva Challenge to raise $20,000 through collaborating with the local community. Upon reaching the fund raising goal, she will embark on the Bare Witness Tour, a journey to Haiti where she will spend two weeks working directly with the organizations the funds support. We are currently at $16,000 and have until December to raise the rest! We have hopes that the upcoming art events will bring us to our goal!
The first is The Art of Yoga with Gina and Nadine LaFond:
Let art and yoga collide!!! Join us at Alluem Yoga for an afternoon of art and yoga. Begin moving and stretching on your mat through gentle yoga poses with Gina to release, relax and open up your creative channels. Relax the mind and body so you can easily tap into your artistic self, free from judgement, accepting all that is. Be inspired by Nadine, the talented Haitian American visual artist, and allow her to guide you through the process of telling your own visual story. Bring a picture of an object, person or place that holds strong meaning to you. Transfer that image through your own expression onto canvas. (Bring your favorite medium, or borrow ours. We’ll provide the canvas.) No yoga experience needed. No art experience needed. All are welcome. $15 (register online!)

Create your art with us on December 3rd at 3pm - then let your work of art go (you will not keep your art) and join us on December 10th at 7pm for an Art Auction Gala Celebration of YOU alongside other accomplished artists at Alluem Yoga! Invite your friends and family to view your work and take part in this silent auction to help raise funds for OTM’s Global Seva Challenge. Enjoy each other’s company on Dec. 10th - selection of brews, fruit of the vine and hor’ dourves will be served for donation. Nadine will be performing LIVE in our studio!!! Learn more about Nadine's music: Click Here.

If you are interested in donating a piece of art to this event, please request a donor form. Email: alluemyoga@verizon.net You will be recognized at our event in our catalog with your name, bio, and website...and we'll love you forever!!!