culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

syllabus

What lesson do you want to teach?

autumn moon

enjoys illuminating

and harvesting

just because

we have mapped out

and set the schedule

for topics and categories

that make up our lessons

we need to find out

why our teachings hold value

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

sunshine and rainbows

What was the last thing you’ve learned from social media?

pitter patter

rainfall gathers under

the red maple

instead of mindlessly scrolling

and seeing social media as a place

that sucks our energy

increases envy and drives depression

we can intentionally

search and discover content

that teaches and nourishes

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

easel

Who supports you?

blotches of green

dried flowers glued

on wooden frames

regardless if we are

painting on the canvas

or displaying a portrait

we all need something

or someone to support

the weight, foundation

and vision of our work

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

stomping grounds

Where are your favorite places?

crisp fall morning

a stroke of yellow

crosses the larches

the funny thing

about returning

to familiar venues

we get a chance to relive

and remember what may

or might not have happened

at that time and place

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

sitting down

How do you support others?

hot chocolate

the steam trails

into the window

and connecting with others

who are also sitting

and lying down

during conversations

meets people where

they are at and builds

support and compassion

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

the backburner

What have you had to put on the side?

smoked poke

pieces of tuna pop

out of the rice

it may feel like

all of our attention

goes into what’s happening

and cooking right in front of us

but we shouldn’t forget

or devalue what’s marinating

in the fridge or countertop

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

wow factor

Does magic make your work or work makes your magic?

harvester ants

enter the colony

with green treasure

it’s not about

fancy things, diamond rings

or the magic that makes the work

when we decide

to open our mind

is the day we will say

the work makes the magic

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

buckle up

What are your requirements?

blackened circles

the mountain bike starts

down the trail

is not a suggestion

for us to take lightly

or consider as optional

it is a requirement

that locks us in

to prepare us for

the road ahead

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

the best teacher

What can experience teach you?

pack of guanaco

run away from

the waters edge

is the experience

of going through different

trials and tribulations

as every year

we try to accomplish things

we will more often than not

encounter new challenges

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

significance and truth

What past events do you talk about the most?

telephone directory

fingers walk across

yellow paper

are two words

that hold weight

when we determine

what parts of our history

is worth sharing today

versus what can be left

to share for another day

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

duality

What does duality mean to you?

garden hose

a trail of water

a trail of ants

even though we can say

something is described as

hot or cold

this doesn’t really mean

there is contrast

rather we are simply describing

it’s temperature

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

hamster wheel

How do you find new perspectives doing the same thing?

traffic circle

yielding and going

yielding and going

whether we like it or not

we constantly live

day in and out often

doing the same things

over and over again

until we realize something

needs to change

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

life vest

How do you stay present in troubling times?

wind chimes ring

approaching from the east

large grey clouds

knowing what to do

in situations that require us

to prioritize certain things

and actions over others

is a lesson in preparation

but more significantly

being mindful and present

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

it makes sense

What do you do when life happens?

sweeping leaves

outside the temple

more leaves fall

we become stressed

when there are variables

that are outside our control

and it can feel like

we are simply at the mercy

of the daily rivers flowing

with events and emotions

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culture, creativity, community Tomosumi culture, creativity, community Tomosumi

three forms

How do you handle transitions under pressure?

water ripples

the blue jay leaves

the morning bath

as a solid, water is ice

as a liquid, water is fluid

as a gas, water is vapor

simply by adjusting

the temperature

we can witness

these transformations

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

interview

What is your favorite question to ask?

clipboard hinge

grasping onto the edge

of ripped paper

when it’s all

said and done

we only have

a certain amount

of time to ask

our role models

truly meaningful questions

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culture, creativity, community Tomosumi culture, creativity, community Tomosumi

steep

How do you take your tea?

green lakebed

the matcha covers

my fingertips

leaving tea bags

inside our cups

rather than taking them out

as what some instructions

may list or recommend

doesn’t account for

our personal preferences

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culture, creativity, community Tomosumi culture, creativity, community Tomosumi

sandcastles

What can temporary art teach you?

after the monsoon

a patch of green

rises above puddles

even if it’s temporary

and will wash away

when high tide arrives

we can still marvel

at the fact that

these small models

are made of sand

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community, creativity, culture Tomosumi community, creativity, culture Tomosumi

the spine

What do you look for in a book cover?

a golden ring

etched into the side

of the book cover

not only holds

our books together

it’s job also calls

for us to critically design

an appealing book cover

to be readily accessible

for everyone to see

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

residents

What impact are you leaving behind?

natural beginnings

a mud wall lies between

the beavers and otters

may come and go

but the impact they make

within their towns, cities,

and communities

will continue to live on

and be appreciated

well after they leave

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