Calm Ease Smile Breathe: How Creativity Unfolds, HMB Library Friday

Pescadero artist Logan Payne will share her creative journey through mindfulness meditation during a talk Friday, June 5 at 7 pm at the Half Moon Bay Public Library, 620 Correas Street, Half Moon Bay. The event is free and open to the public.

The talk celebrates the release of Calm Ease Smile Breathe, a unique fold-out altar and meditation set conceived by Payne to complement the teachings of renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Released this month by Parallax Press, Calm Ease Smile Breathe uses Payne’s artistic vision and original illustrations in a portable format to encourage mindfulness practice anywhere, any time, by anyone.

Included is a CD a recording of Thich Nhat Hanh guiding the meditation and a companion booklet explaining mindfulness practice and containing information about Thich Nhat Hanh and Logan Payne. 

The concept for a fold-out, travel altar stemmed from Logan Payne’s own mindfulness meditation practice. The background art is from her "Patina Series" of oils on paper, overlaid with brush and ink illustrations connecting, the words of Thich Nhat Hanh’s guided meditation with elements of stone, water, plants, fire and space.

Logan Payne was born in California and grew up traveling overseas, coming into contact with the culture, art, and religion of the Near, Middle, and Far East. She studied painting in Greece, print-making in Italy, and lived in Manhattan, working at a gallery for emerging artists. Returning to California, she settled on a coastal farm to pursue painting, graphic design, and illustration.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar, and human rights activist. He is the author of more than one hundred books, including Being Peace, The Energy of Prayer and Present Moment, Wonderful Moment. 

Books can be purchased at the event or can be ordered directly from www.parallax.org; discounts are available for orders placed this month, and for multiple book orders.

Bookstores can order Calm Ease Smile Breathe through Publishers Group West at 1 (800) 788-3123 or [email protected].