HEALING CANCER JOURNEY THROUGH THE ARTS PRESENTATIONSPIRIT GARDEN – SCROLL DOWN for Exhibit Information and to See Pictures.(GO TO Portfolio Page for More Information on each Item. )WATCH ZOOM SESSION recorded at the Healing Cancer Through Art presentation at Wen Wu School in El Cerrito, California on April 30, 2022. Video Link In this exhibit you will see pieces describing my cancer healing journey. It has been an intense, difficult, life changing path and my Spirit Garden has been my sanctuary and source of refuge. The past 18 months going through active Cancer treatments, my life changed 360 degrees as I managed and survived all the traumatic side effects. For years I had a daily healing practice of yoga, qigong, swimming and teaching in my Spirit Garden. My garden is adorned with ceramic sculptures. Working in Ceramics has been my mode of expression, and became necessary therapy to counteract the neuropathy in my hands from chemo treatments. I thought I was living a healthy balanced life. Mostly vegetarian, health conscious of what I ate and didn’t eat, resolving health issues with supplements and monthly acupuncture. I avoided doctors, medicines and thrived on holistic, natural cures, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. I knew that if I ever got really sick, I would choose alternative treatments.During the pandemic, my husband discovered a lump in my breast. My Kaiser doctor confirmed it: I had breast cancer. I cried for weeks, I was in shock. I immediately investigated all the alternative treatments and facilities available in America from Mexico to Canada. I signed up for Hope4Cancer in Mexico. My surgeon and oncologist warned me my cancer was very aggressive, fast growing, no time for alternative solutions. Desperate I sought out a second opinion from a doctor who was open to alternative complementary approaches. His first name as Akshiv, which in Hebrew means I will listen. I did listen and regretfully changed my course of treatment to conventional medicine. I wanted to LIVE for my children and young grandchildren. My husband became my rock of salvation, supporting me on every level and beyond. Along with traditional medicine, I formed a Complementary Healing Team, headed by my most trusted acupuncturist, Dr Erlene Chiang, with guidance from the Pine Street Clinic. My team included verbal therapy, massage therapy, physical therapy, Energy Healing as well as nutritional guidance. Swimming daily in my heated pool, practicing and teaching Aqua Qigong, was my favorite therapy for relief from physical and emotional symptoms. My greatest salvation was and still is through meditation and daily healing practices in my Spirit Garden. I was born the year of the Water Dragon, who is strong, powerful, wise and transformative, transforming negativity energy into positive. My Spirit Garden is home to my 5 Element Dragon Fountain, where water flows freely balancing, cleansing and nourishing body mind and spirit. My Five Element Dragon Totem offers me balance and support.I wanted a Spirit Guide to watch over me. I created the largest sculpture I could fit in my kiln, 8 sections, total 6 feet long. This dragon is lit at night, protecting me every hour. Six months before discovering my cancer, my husband underwent quadruple heart surgery bypass. I am so grateful he survived in flying colors. A vegan diet was suggested, and in researching it, I found a Five Headed Dragon, which influenced my creation of the Five Headed Dragon Disease sculpture. It is a reminder of what happens when we are only in our head and not connected to our body. All the pieces in this exhibit describe aspects of my healing journey. My art and practice of healing arts are totally interconnected. The sculptures range from balanced dragon, to Five Headed dragon, mountain Sheep going on healing journey, Riding the Chemo Waves, Surviving the Fires of chemo and radiation, to Surviving and Thriving. Included are the 7 Goddesses surrounding my pool, with messages for healing and well-being. In daily practices I receive their strength while treading through warm waters. My daily practice of Wild Goose Qigong keeps lifting my spirit while strengthening body mind and immune system. Ceramic geese and birds adorn my garden, inviting other birds to visit. Continuing to teach Qigong and Aqua Qigong has been a God Sent. As I get stronger my students reap the benefits of the lessons I have learned on this healing journey. Daily yoga practice strengthens my body while calming my mind. Ceramic yoga poses reflect the love, support and stability I have received from my husband. Integrity, is my bronzed trophy for surviving and thriving through cancer treatments. I do have battle scars and side effects, but I am now cancer free. I am filled with gratitude for being alive and for all the love and support I have received from family, friends, students, colleagues, medical care and complementary treatments. Thank you for listening and hope you enjoy this exhibit of my healing journey. Watch Zoom Session recorded at the Healing Cancer Through Art presentation at Wen Wu School in El Cerrito, California on April 30, 2022. Video Link
This show has been cancelled due to CoVid-19 Dear friends, students and loved ones I am honored to show my piece “United by Love” at the Marinwood Community Center with very talented artists on March 21. Reception with wine tasting from 3-7pm. If you are available, I would love to see you there. (FYI there are more art shows I will be participating in this spring and summer, showing off my new dragons if you can’t make this one.) Chi blessings with gratitude Dove
Dear Friends, Students and love ones, I am participating in a Holiday Boutique, showing and selling my ceramic art work for holiday gifts. The other artists have jewelry, scarves, and other fun items all at reasonable prices. The dates are Nov 30 and Dec 1 and I will be there from 2-5pm both days. At a beautiful home in Terra Linda, 1106 Via Horqueta, off Las Pavadas in Terra Linda, San Rafael. Please mark your calendars, It will be fun, Hope to see you there. With gratitude Dove Here is a preview of some of the items:
I want to invite you to the wonderful 6th Annual Fall Art Show &Wine Tasting this Saturday October 27th, from 3:00-7:00pm, at the Marinwood Community Center, 775 Miller Rd., in San Rafael. I will be showing “Yoga Delight” A sequel to the “Me Too” Exhibit which is showing at Falkirk in San Rafael thru Thursday October 25 from 1:00-4:00. Hope to see you on Saturday. Chi blessings with gratitude Dove
Dear Friends You are invited to an exciting Interfaith Art Exhibit where I will be showing 3 pieces of collaborative work on Peace. I would enjoy seeing you at our Art Opening on December 3 from 1-4pm. Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Shalom, Salaam and Peace with gratitude Dove “Collaboration and Connection” is the fourth interfaith art exhibition hosted by the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California (ICCNC) and brings together artists from many faiths to express their commitment to interfaith understanding, coexistence, peace, and cultural dialogue. The impetus for this powerful exhibition is the desire to build bridges and create friendships through artistic collaboration. Thirty teams of artists have risen to the challenge of creating collaborative artwork with unique and stunning creations in a wide variety of mediums including painting, clay, fabric, metalwork, glass, found materials, photography, origami and much more. This art exhibition is sponsored by the Faith Trio, a 16 year alliance of the ICCNC with two other congregations in the Oakland area: Kehilla Community Synagogue and Montclair Presbyterian Church. Local non-profits, foundations, and community partners are also sponsors of the exhibition. The opening reception will take place at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, 1433 Madison Street, Oakland, on Sunday, December 3, 1 – 4 pm. Free event. Light refreshments, speakers, live music by the Qirvah ensemble, and the opportunity to view artwork and meet artists. The exhibition runs through February 24, 2018 and is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 – 4 pm. For more information, please contact Lea Delson at (510) 528-6725 or lea@lmi.net View the website of the interfaith art exhibitions here www.interfaithart.org
The work I am presenting reflects my deepest passions. Like the symbol of the tree it connects to body mind and spirit. I have been unleashing my creative energy through movement and art my whole life. It’s the essence of who I am as a person. As my hands dig deep and work the cold earth I become connected to my truest self and give birth to objects big and small leaving a piece of my soul in each one. Everything I make has meaning to me. My life reflects my art and my art reflects my life. Chakras are invisible wheels of energy within our physical body, I combined elements of the chakra’s by using Native American animals. 1st Root chakra, root energy, red, snake Represents connection to earth, strong earth support/ foundation 2nd Sacral chakra, sacral energy, orange, dolphin Water, vitality, pleasure, sense of self, abundance, receptivity 3rd Solar plexus chakra, yellow, hummingbirds Personal power, confidence, instincts, see vision fulfill dreams 4th Heart chakra , green, wolf Compassion, love, tenderness, helps open heart and be centered 5th Throat chakra, blue, bull Communication, expression, truth, honesty, freedom 6th 3rd Eye chakra, purple, owl. Intuition, psychic energy, mystical peace of mind 7th Crown chakra, light purple, egg. Spiritual, Enlightenment, Connection to the Devine, Universal Life Source. ~Dove Govrin~
Dear Friends It is a pleasure to invite you to a new Art Show at Falkirk in San Rafael. The Opening Reception is July 29 from 5:30 to 7:30. Below is the invitation and photos of the pieces I will be exhibiting. I hope you will be able to see this wonderful show. Show ends September 7. Have a Wonderful summer. Chi blessings with gratitude Dove
If you are looking for something fun and unusual to do this Saturday evening come join me in Berkeley for Artist Reception of Unleashed, where I will be exhibiting my ceramics. I think it will be a lot of fun and I would love for you to join me. Chi Blessings with gratitude, Dove Www.dragonartsstudio.com
The Dragons have arrived! Come visit my “Dragon” and “Chakra” sculptures at MSA gallery at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross thru February 21st. I will also be showing at two benefits, March 31 and April 25. Details to follow later. What I teach in qigong, I create in art. What I create in art, I practice in qigong Experience Dragon and Chakra Qigong with me at Kaiser, and check out my schedule of classes. www.dragonartsstudio.com Chi blessings with gratitude Dove
Dear Friends, Family and Students, The Dragon Arts Show and Wild Goose Qigong Demonstration was a complete success. Over thirty people came to participate in the Qigong warm ups and 15 students joined in the Wild Goose Qigong Set. The energy in the room was powerful as the students flew beautifully as one healthy flock, gliding and flowing together. We celebrated together in the art gallery, sharing a healthy dinner. Attached are some photos of the show and Demo. The Dragon Exhibit is open through December 19th M-F from 9-3pm. I would like to invite you to 2 other Art Shows where I am showing and selling my work. Holiday Arts and Crafts Sale, on December 1 and 2, at the Terra Linda Community Center. Below is the invitation. I am also participating in the Marin JCC Festival Of Lights, craft market on December 9th from 11:30 – 2:30pm. I hope to see you at one of these events. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving Chi Blessings with gratitude, Dove for more info www.dragonartsstudio.com dove@dragonartsstudio.com