Submitted by the San Juan Islands Museum of Art
In conjunction with the Shades of Compassion Exhibition currently on display at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, a symposium, The Art of Compassion: Giving, Receiving, and Lessons Learned, will be held at the museum in Friday Harbor, WA, on Saturday, April 27 at 3 p.m., The event will include a 60-70 minute conversation followed by 20-30 minutes of Q&A.
The Compassion Symposium brings together distinguished professionals in photography, medicine, mental health, and religion, to explore the role compassion has played in their effort to help others. Panelists will also discuss their perspectives about the physical and emotional benefits of compassion to the giver, along with the personal risks associated with holding onto the pain of others. They will share stories from their personal and/or professional lives about times when their good intentions misfired, lessons learned, and what strategies they have adopted in their effort to be more effective.
The Shades of Compassion exhibition photographs were curated to foster sustained engagement in exploration and acts of compassion – leveraging the power of positive constructive emotions, to promote caring, concern, a personal connection, and a desire to help. They intentionally focus on the concept of compassion, not suffering.
About the Symposium Panel Members
Jon Kolkin with HH the Dalai Lama
Jon Kolkin, MD, Panel Moderator
Dr. Kolkin is a Renaissance man: clinician (30 plus years), global medical volunteer (20 plus years), integrative medicine health coach, and internationally recognized, award-winning author, photographer and musician. He has had four audiences with the Dalai Lama and serves as president of the Shades of Compassion Foundation.
Phil Borges
Photographer, Author, Filmmaker. Phil Borges has documented indigenous and tribal cultures for over 25 years and regularly presents at universities, teaches workshops, and has spoken at multiple TED events. His latest documentary, CRAZYWISE reveals a paradigm shift that’s changing the way Western culture defines and treats “mental illness”.
Peg LeBlanc, LMFT
“I have enjoyed a long and productive professional life as a systemically trained Marriage and Family Therapist. As a lifelong student of the dharma, my work as a psychotherapist has blended Western knowledge about mental, social, and spiritual well-being with cherished Eastern psychological perspectives. I am always interested in how people go about becoming happier and suffering less.
Rev. Dr. Greg Lund
Greg Lund was called to Friday Harbor as pastor of the Presbyterian Church in 2018, having served congregations in Oregon and Georgia. He enjoys building trust and friendships across racial and denomination differences. Hobbies include pottery, reading and bread baking (but not at the same time). He and his wife Kirsti are parents of two sons, and grandparents of three.
Meg Partridge
Meg Partridge is the Director of the Imogen Cunningham Trust, a family-run organization established in 1975 by Imogen, Cunningham, Meg’s grandmother. Meg also manages her father’s photographic archive, the Rondal Partridge Archive.
During Meg’s teenage years, she worked as an assistant for Imogen. Meg’s passion for photography evolved into film – she went on to direct and produce the Academy Award-nominated short documentary, “Portrait of Imogen.”
Meg also directed and produced a film on her godmother titled, “Dorothea Lange: A Visual Life”, and a film on her father, “Outta My Light: Photographer Rondal Partridge”.
Location: 540 Spring Street, Friday Harbor, Washington 98250.
Spring Show Sponsors:
Shades of Compassion Sponsor: Anonymous.
Spring Show In-Kind Sponsors: Browne’s Home Center, Printonyx, and Harbor Rental
About San Juan Islands Museum of Art: At the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, we celebrate artists, creativity, community and generosity through exhibits, education, and events. Located on beautiful San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest, SJIMA connects islanders and visitors from around the world through powerful and timely museum exhibits and programming. Learn more: SJIMA.org.
