TOVA TARR, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Shadyside, Pittsburgh, she also has a B.A. degree in Art History.  She is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Jung Society.  In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Tarr has lectured and created events connecting psychoanalysis, art, and spirituality.  In 2002 she organized the event “Mandala–Healing the Environment” at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts which drew over 3,500 participants in one week.  She has lectured on psychoanalysis and art at Carnegie Mellon University, the Society for Contemporary Art, and at the Pittsburgh Jung Society on archetypal themes in the movies.  During the fall terms of 2004 and 2005 she taught at the Academy for Lifelong Learning at Carnegie Mellon University on Psychoanalysis and Buddhism–a Dialogue between Them. 

 

WILLIAM ROCK is both a citizen of Ireland and the U.S.  He has traveled extensively and currently resides in Pittsburgh.  His life long creative explorations are grounded with a vast knowledge and respect for many diverse cultures and traditions.  His art serves as a primary inspiration for the  Spirit Unfolding event. His Century Mountain Project  with the great Chinese poet Huang Xiang has been called , "a rare collaboration at a high level."

In addition , William Rock and his father created the labyrinth at the Kearns Spirituality Center at La Roche College.  William Rock also carved the center stone of the labyrinth.  The Kearns Labyrinth has been walked by thousands of people. 

Selected exhibitions of note: 

The Michael Berger Gallery with Huang Xiang

Carnegie Mellon University

Slippery Rock University with Huang Xiang

Europart Gallery

Point Park University
   

The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh - group show, Helaine Posner, curator, 1996
The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh - group show, Beryl Wright, curator, 1994
Los Angeles County Museum of Art - studio group showing of self-portraits, 1991

 

DEAN SLUYTER has taught natural approaches to meditation since 1970.  He leads the Dzogchen Center’s New Jersey practice group, is chief meditation instructor of Aikido School of New Jersey, teaches at the Pingri School and New York Open Center, and is a visiting Buddhist chaplain for the Liberation Prison project.  As the developer of the Literature of Enlightenment Program, he is a leading innovator in the use of meditative technique in education.  Dean is a film critic and the author of three books, the most recent being “Cinema Nirvana: Enlightenment Lessons from the Movies.”  Dean and his works have been featured on National Public Radio and in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly.

 

HUANG XIANG is one of the great poets of 20th century China and a master calligrapher.  He has been described as “a poet on fire, a human torch who burns as a lamp of freedom and enlightenment.”  Mr. Huang, born in 1941 was frequently imprisoned and tortured for his lyrical, free-spirited poetry and advocacy of human rights in China.  He and his wife Zhang Ling, also a writer, were forced to flee China and they now reside in New York City. Their story has been featured in the PBS documentary “A Well Founded Fear.”  Huang Xiang  has ten books published in several languages and countries.  His Century Mountain Project with American painter William Rock has been called "a collaboration at the highest level."

 

MIMI JONG has played erhu since age ten.  She was invited to perform with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony, and renowned Jazz musicians.   Jong also performed with Mary Miller Dance Company, and taught/performed at Huntingdon Council for the Arts “Folk College.”   She founded “Jasmine Dynasty” performing in numerous schools throughout the year.  Jasmine Dynasty was the featured study by Gateway to the Arts as their 2005/2006 Arts in Education program.

 

LIFE IN BALANCE: STEVE AND AMI SCIULLI are an American nationally touring and recording duo, committed to using sacred musical instruments, blended with current technology, to create a high-energy sonic environment.  The husband and wife team was formed in 1996.  Ami plays the chakra-tuned quartz crystal Singing Bowls and percussion, while Steve plays the enhanced Japanese shakuhachi, bansuri and concert flute.  Guest musicians have included Jim Donovan (Rusted Root), Jamie McMenamy, and Jeff Kowal.  Life In Balance has also performed with authors Deepak Chopra, Robert Thurman, Lee Carroll and Patricia Cote-Robles and musicians including Dharma Bums, Krishna Das and the Drepung Gomang Tibetan Monks.  The duo has composed theme and background music for Interantional Sculptural Society and dance groups, and written music for meditation and healing CDs/DvDs.

 

SARA AZARIUS is a yoga teacher and the founder of Yoga On Centre.  She is Western Pennsylvania’s only yoga teacher certified by the Iyengar Yoga National Association1 of the United States.  She served as the President of the Yoga Training Association of Pittsburgh and has taught over 40 of Pittsburgh’s yoga teachers in her teacher education program.

 

JOAN WAGMAN is the artistic director, choreographer and co-founder of Momentum.  Momentum fostered interdisciplinary collaboration by artists in all disciplines.  Joan Wagman has received fellowships and commissions from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Pittsburgh Dance Council.  She has shown her work, locally at the Byham, Eddy, Purnell and Carnegie Music Hall theaters, as well as at Rosebud Café and the Wood Street Gallery.  She has taught dance at the University of North Carolina, Youngstown State University, and presently at Chatham College.

 

ALLISON GREENE, received her training at Pittsburgh Ballet School, North Carolina School of The Arts, Chautauqua Summer Dance, and Cleveland School of Ballet.  She has danced in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Cleveland San Jose ballet, Ballet International of New Mexico, and Buffalo City Ballet.  She has performed in Pittsburgh with Tom Downing, H20, Gia Cacalano, Improvisational Dance, Pennsylvania Dance Theatre, and in the Southwest Ballet.  She is currently a member of The Pittsburgh modern company LABCO under the direction of Gwen Hunter Richie.  She has been a dance instructor in the Pittsburgh area for the past 10 years.  She also has five years experience working as a therapist with children with autism.  She is the creator/instructor of CLIMB - creative learning in moving bodies - which are movement classes for kids with special needs.  She studied the Stott Pilates method with Jessica Guercio of the Pilates Studio of Central Ohio in Columbus, OH.

 

LIANA DRAGOMAN, an artist and designer, teaches Media Studies at Chatham College.  Her creative work has been shown and screened internationally, at venues including the Viper International Festival of Film in Basel, Switzerland, The Phoenix Museum of Art, Echo Park Film Center in Los Angeles, and Philadelphia's Prince Music Theatre.  Her design projects have received several prestigious awards.  Liana earned an MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago after completing studies at Temple University's Film and Media Arts Department.

 

STEVE MENDELSON, gallery owner, collector, businessman, holy man, performer, world traveler, and artist, a jack-of-all-trades, Mendelson has used his spirituality, education and travels to propel himself as one of the leading gallery owners in Pittsburgh.