Overview

"""His writing is fresh and accessible, and so tender. As soon as I started reading it, I immediately started thinking of friends I'd like to give it to."" -Judith L. Lief, editor of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of DharmaA mad riot of interconnections: art, Buddhism, mandala principle, spiritual pursuits, growing up goth in the 90s, the theories of Marshall McLuhan, and a mongoose-to name but a few. Meditation teacher, filmmaker, writer, and art savant Kevin Townley turns his unique gaze upon 26 artists and magnifies the power and meaning of the five Buddhist wisdom energies through explorations of their work. Rather than trying to ""explain"" these energies, he reveals them to you in familiar visual language while, of course, pushing the boundaries of what you might have thought you saw at first glance. Townley leads you to, invites you in, and sometimes springs upon you, the perennial wisdom in the worlds of artists from Artemisia to Hilma af Klint to Marilyn Minter. Beautifully written and hilariously disarming, Look, Look, Look, Look, Look Again vibrates with lucid insight into society, history, and establishment, while teaching you a lot about meditation and Buddhism along the way. In exploring the practice, life, and work of these 26 artists (all of whom are women) through the lens of the five wisdom energies, you come away with a deeper understanding of yourself, the world, and the true dharma that transcends culture and religion-and a profound gratitude for anyone really willing to look. ""Without a doubt, Townley is the Fran Lebowitz of Buddhist writing."" -John Hodgman, host of the Judge John Hodgman Podcast""Kevin Townley demystifies that daunting link between art and spirituality while leaving room for the divine. By weaving artists' histories with his own, he makes the reader feel comfortable drawing connections between heady concepts and personal experience. Through a unique blend of compassion and curiosity, Kevin Townley has given readers a more intimate, spiritually-minded Ways of Seeing."" -Tavi Gevinson, actor, writer, and founder of Rookie"

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9781736943908

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Reviews

Kevin Townley has written a delightful and quirky book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. His book is structured around two interlocking discussions. He gives readers a great introduction to the Buddhist five Buddha family teachings, and he brings the reader to an intuitive connection with those teachings by means of art and in particular through the work and life stories of 26 accomplished female artists. His writing is fresh and accessible, and so tender. As soon as I started reading it, I immediately started thinking of friends I'd like to give it to.-Judith L. Lief, Buddhist Teacher, editor of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma In this book, Kevin Townley pulls off the impossible. He finds, grabs, holds on, and interweaves with lightning speed dexterity the threads of Mandala, Mindfulness, and Marshall McLuhan into a brilliant magnum opus on art, the art world, and the meaning of life. Bonus, it's hilarious. Without a doubt, he is the Fran Lebowitz of Buddhist writing.-John Hodgman, host of the Judge John Hodgman Podcast Kevin Townley is a seasoned meditator who, in recognizing the emotion of each of the Five Wisdom Energies of the Buddha families, is able to see how these essential qualities are evident in specific works of great female artists ranging from Artemisia Gentileschi to Marilyn Minter. It is an inspired book that opens both the mind and the heart, filled with enough art history, poetry, and philosophy to delight the intellect, and enough laugh-out-loud lines to instigate sudden enlightenment. A true treasure map for Buddhist art lovers, or a fabulous introduction to both art and Buddhism for the curious. It is a delightful, impressive accomplishment.-Cintra Wilson, author of Fear and Clothing: Unbuckling American Fashion Everywhere we look, we see the harmful effects of human confusion on the world's ecologies. Townley explores the architecture of Buddhist mandala practice through the lens of 26 artists and unequivocally reveals that the solution to our deleterious confusion lies in unflinching intimacy with our own inner mandala. He helps us look, shows us what to see, and inspires our own creative potential through the obstacles, insights, and creative workarounds of his chosen artists. This book has much to teach us about the nature of mind and how it actually affects the physical world.-Carson Chan, MoMA/Museum of Modern Art

Author Information

Kevin Townley is a writer, filmmaker, actor, singer, and meditation instructor. He began formally studying Buddhism in 2010 and currently practices with the Sokuko-Ji Zen community under the guidance of Kyoun Sokuzan. He has taught Buddhism and meditation for over a decade. His film and television work includes appearances in My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Men in Black 3, The Detour, and Law & Order. With his band, Bambï, Townley adapted Judith Rossner'sLooking for Mr. Goodbar into the rock opera GOODBAR, performed at The Public Theater. He has written extensively for the Waterwell theater company and Rookie magazine. He has also led hundreds of art tours in museums across the country, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. This is his first book. For more information and to watch his short film Who Knows?, visit www.kevintownley.nyc.

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