Local artist offers “Sanctuary: At Home in the Body”
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 23, 2025
“Sanctuary, At Home in the Body,” a multi-disciplinary series of art, science and inquiry-based experiences exploring themes of thriving and well-being, will include multiple presentations on Vashon, Seattle and Tacoma from Aug. 1-10.
The sweeping slate of events is being produced by local artist, innovator and social justice activist Leah Okamoto Mann, known locally for her work in other arts and community endeavors in Lelavision and Mukai Farm & Garden.
The events are being presented under the banner of Kintsugi Somatic Art, an organization founded by Okamoto Mann that offers workshops, performances and artful communal experiences aimed at healing diverse communities.
“Kintsugi is a Japanese concept which means mend with gold,” said Okamoto Mann. “It is the art of repairing broken things, traditionally pottery or glass. It is also a metaphor for human resiliency and recovery.”
The “Sanctuary” series — a multi-year project conceived in collaboration with frontline experts — scientists, artists, therapists, activists, and pastors — is aimed at providing restorative practices and strategies for individuals, families and communities through multi-disciplinary art experiences informed by neuroscience, health science, psychology, and art therapy.
The project, funded in part through 4Culture, Wild Woods Foundation and the Gates Foundation employee matching program, has multiple partners on Vashon and beyond, including Women Hold The Key, Open Space For Arts and Community, Seattle’s Plymouth United Church of Christ, Wall of Wonderful, Jack Straw Cultural Center, the Vashon DOVE Project, Vashon Youth & Family Services, Orbit Youth, and the Andrew Young Center For Global Leadership at Morehouse College, in Atlanta, Georgia, where more events will be presents later in the year.
Last week, islanders had their first glimpse of one of the many offerings in “Sanctuary” at Strawberry Festival, when Okamoto Mann led a beautifully costumed “Heron Siege Peace Procession” in the festival parade — a procession that will also be a part of the upcoming Open Air Festival at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at Open Space for Arts & Community.
The procession is inspired by MagiMai, the 1,000-year-old Japanese White Heron dance performed for peace and health. The costumes were made in collaboration with artist Changal Uto.
Local events will also include an art exhibition and performances from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Open Space for Arts & Community, featuring visual and performing artists including Okamoto Mann, Dana Lupton, Anita Bondi, Chantal Uto, Salvej Amella Noa, Seattle and Tacoma youth photographers, and young artists from Open’s spaces Orbit youth program and Vashon Youth & Family Services.
A workshop with Anita Bondi, the founder and co-director of Wellspring Holistic Center, will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3. The workshop, presented in collaboration with Vashon DOVE Project, is aimed at helping participants create an inner sanctuary in their own bodies. Registration is required at vashondoveproject.org/events; with the workshop’s location provided after registration.
Another free community workshop, “Lay Your Burden Down,” will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at a location to be provided upon pre-registration at vashondoveproject.org/events. Facilitated by Carina A. del Rosario, the workshop will result in the communal creation of a textile artwork that that celebrates the release of hard memories and trauma.
Yet another community event will be Kitzoku Ishiki (Sense of Belonging) Obon, presented in collaboration with Vashon Cemetery, at 19631 Singer Road, on Vashon. The event, taking place from 12-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, will feature tours, food, and dancing at the cemetery, at 19631 Singer Road SW. To find out more, visit vashoncemetary.org/special-events.
All these events will be augmented by performances and workshops in Seattle and Tacoma, including a 10:30 a.m. workshop at Seattle’s Plymouth Church at 10:30 a.m.; Sunday, Aug. 10.
The workshop, “Embodying Restorative Justice: Kural, Gandi, MLK and the Art of Beloved Community, will be led by island author and poet Thom as Hitoshi Pruiskma and Dr. Sinead Younge.
To find out more about all that is offered at the event, visit the Facebook event page at tinyurl.com/3ventapn and kintsugisomaticart.com.
