Explore Buddhist Art
A series of programs with Stephanie Johnston
September 23, 25, 26, 2026
Do you have an interest in exploring art through a Buddhist lens?
Are you curious about art and creativity from an Indo-Tibetan perspective? Trace the origins and trajectory of Buddhist imagery, its intended interactivity, and what awake looks like in its various guises, in any of these sessions and workshops.
Visiting teacher Stephanie Johnston, long-time Buddhist practitioner, student and teacher, museum docent, graphic designer, lover of art (NASCAD alumni), and author of Symbolizing the Awakened Heart: the Practice of Buddhist Visual Literacy, is offering this intereactive and well-illustrated series on Buddhist art.
Wednesday, Sept 23
Sacred Art and Architecture of Bhutan
an illustrated *online* presentation
Bhutan, sometimes called The Dragon Kingdom, sits high in the eastern Himalayan mountains. Lush with greenery, crystal clear rivers and waterfalls weave through its landscape, while wisps of fog and great towering clouds play and roll in the vast sky above—very much like dragons. Woven into this landscape are the Bhutanese people and their culture in a unique living tapestry of Vajrayana Buddhism.
At the mention of Buddhism perhaps a Buddha image of Shakyamuni Buddha or Siddhartha, appear to mind. Springing from deep insight based in experience and meditative reflection, he is said to have directly understood this mysterious experience of our world and its inhabitants, or he experienced enlightenment. This fundamentally awake and vivid, intrinsically wise, and in action, always compassionate state of being is what lies at the heart of Vajrayana Buddhism.
And, it’s what lies at the heart and art of Bhutan. Whether architecture, clothing, the national sport (archery), the great dance festivals, or its many temples filled with sculptures, ritual objects, and painted with murals, all of it expresses this living tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Art of Bhutan is an illustrated overview of Bhutan’s artistic highlights.
Join Stephanie for a presentation of fascinating visuals and cultural history.
It’s also a good primer for those curious about Vajrayana Buddhism and Buddhist art.
*ONLINE* - via Zoom
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Investment: $30
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Time: 2:30-4:45pm NDT with 15 min break (PDT 10am, MDT 11am, EDT 1pm, ADT 2pm, CEDT 7pm)
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Recording available until the end of the year
Saturday, Sept 26
Seeing is Receiving
Shifting Perspectives in Making and Viewing Buddhist Art
a one-day in-person workshop
see below for online possibilities
What gives Buddhist art power and consistency, while appearing in vast and varied forms throughout time and cultures?
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Explore the iconography of Buddhist art, from its relatively simple—but foreign to western civilization—Indic origins, through to its mind-blowing anthropomorphic array of beings who are definitely foreign, in form, to western civilization. While looking and investigating, learn:
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about the intention of Buddhist art
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who and what it relies on in order to work as intended
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about the various representations of awake and how to identify them
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what specific qualities and activities are symbolically encapsulated and why
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who the beings are that challenge, support, and or protect the state of being Buddha, of being awake, and what they look like
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This richly illustrated introduction to Buddhist art, and especially Indo-Tibetan Buddhist art, relies on plenty of time for questions, discussion, looking experiments, and investigations into underlying methods and material in order for each of us to form our own answer to the opening question: What gives Buddhist art power and consistency, while appearing in vast and varied forms throughout time and cultures?
Sunday, Sept 27
Fresh Encounters
Using Buddhist Art
as Support for Meditation
a one-day in-person workshop
see below for online possibilities
Can Buddhist imagery and
iconography have a transformative
impact on makers, viewers
and meditators?
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In this very interactive guided workshop we’ll use Buddhist art as a support, as it is intended, for meditation. We will:
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practice seeing with the eyes of awakening
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explore Buddhist asana (posture) and how it is adapted for differing circumstances
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investigate joining the elements with meditation from the nature around us and from within the body
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There will be plenty of time for discussion and personal instruction as we explore and find our experientially informed answer to the opening question: Can Buddhist imagery and iconography have a transformative impact on makers, viewers and meditators?
Details for In-Person Sessions
Location:
These weekend sessions will be held at my home near Clarke's Beach, Newfoundland (a one-hour drive from St. John’s; just under half an hour from Carbonear). The house is nestled in a spacious, quiet, peaceful setting by the ocean — a perfect place to relax, contemplate, and soak in the grounding energy of nature.
Each day can stand-alone; and, each day complements the other nicely.
In-person capacity per day: 8 participants. Investment: $110 per day (lunch, refreshments, recorded sessions included)
Recorded Zoom Sessions only. Investment: $60 per day (recordings available from September 28 until the end of 2026)
In-Person Schedule for both days:
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9:00am: arrive and settle in
9:30am-12pm: art session + break with refreshments
12pm-1:30pm: lunch (vegetarian lunch provided)
1:30pm-4:00pm: art session + break with refreshments
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If you are interested in registering for some or all of this Explore Buddhist Art series, or
if you have any questions, please contact Sara.