Artwork is currently showing at Gallery 229 in San Francisco and at the breathingSPACE in Oakland.
The Original is not for sale, however, you can get a piece.
In March of 2003, I asked over three hundred people the question:
"What do you Cherish? What do you hold most dear? What inspires you? What do you wish to cultivate in yourself and the world?"
I opened the first email as a novelty. As I read it, I could feel my heart swell. The depth, honesty and openness of the responses moved me deeply. I hadn't conceived that as a part of the process, that because I was to read each one, I was putting myself in a position which demanded the deepest part of me to listen.
It became a ritual for me to open the emails with full attention. Unfailingly, I was elevated out of my day-to-day life with each response I read. I tried selecting fitting quotations but soon thought it wiser to select text at random-- I then printed the text and affixed it with plastic to the canvas. You tell me. You read every single reponse in whole (It's all included below) and you tell me which you would pick.
The Cherish Tree is based on and was inspired by Van Gogh's "Almond Blossom."
I am grateful to each participant, In alphabetical order, I'd like to the thank the people who opened their hearts and contributed to the Cherish Tree:
Amy Gordon, Andrew Shikiar, Andy Markham, Anna Leavitt, Arnold Cho, Barbara LaRocca, Boyd Nielsen, Bridget Smith, Bruce Graham, Chris Gordon, Chris Unno, Colin Carpenter, Dean Wolf, Debbie Adler, Derek Cabrera, Drew Kelly, Emily Grieves, Erica Spooner, Grant Ligon, Greg Bloom, Harris Masket, Heather Sullivan, Holman Chin, Jack Flanagan, Jennifer Bachman, John Linenfelser, Jonathon Birnie, Kay Hill, Kimberly Pagan, Kurt Schmitt, Lan Pham, Linda Centkowski, Lissa Wentner, Lon Smith, Marc Gautier, Marilyn McKinley, Mary Swanson, Michelle Rhee, Millard Mott, Shannon Danilovich, Shauna Shapiro, Suzanne Wolf, Terin Smith, Will Harries, Wolfgang
The Original Cherish Tree Canvas is now on display at the Emeryville Celebration for the Arts.
And in the order in which it was received, the text:
my friends and this incredible city - What do I cherish? My friends and all the people who I love and have supported me, making connections with new people that make them my friend for life. Being happy most of all. Traveling. Traveling traveling. I always tell people that I traveled to africa to find the place most different from myself. And what I find time and time again as I return is only more of myself in that life. There is timelessness that traveling gives me that makes life seem so sweet and nostalgic that it can move me to cry just by thinking of it. I cherish my ability to dance, to prance, to romance, to wear the pants, to watch the ants, to take a stance, to take a chance on something, to sing, to fling, to bling, to see everything, to live life on a wing and a smile, to style, to rile and to hang out for a while, to eat, to drink, to sit back and think about lying in the sun, or just having fun, and taking a run, to puff, to bluff, to say that's enough, and talk about things like being free, and the sea and a tree and you and me, my love and my friends, to not know where it ends ... to live life where I want, when I want and How I want- the freedom that life has given me inspires me like nothing else. Bringing the light of god to the world, tantric connection, kombucha, holding a space for another to heal, lying in the void and moaning. cherish: intuitive trust ~ unshakable integrity ~ loving wavelengths ~ golden caress dear to my heart: full disclosure ~ open expression love for life reminder: caressing touch and expressive tears of joy/pain shared with a lover and friend or with your loving best self ~ early morning sunlight glowing on the face of a sleeping lover ~ our essence never dies and only evolves ~ that we are multi-dimensional realities of our own making ~ fear of death is but an unfounded yet profound byproduct created and exacerbated by the eilte ruling class who know the truth and choose not to free the laborers by hoarding and not sharing key emancipatory information to the benefit of broad prosperity nourish within your world: expressive courage, reciprocal inspiration, revolutionary creativity, forever-now truth-now, rhythm harmonics, free-flowin sweet vibrations deep desires and passions: to emancipate earth tribes from the man's thick matrix of falsehood and propaganda ~ to accelerate full throttle cleansing and restoration of free flow of all information streaming off the spectrum across the galaxy ~ to emancipate the biosphere of destructive toxic paradigms ~ to discover, engage, inspire and accelerate the swirling of sweet luscious healing energies with every spectrum god/goddess in my dimensional realm of influence ~ to receive and reciprocate unconditional love as the navigational means to evolve by breaking down conflict and fear with love and freedom inspirational: kisses, sweet voices, angels, thumpin' beats, poly-rhythms, drummin', free-form abstract dancin', wide hips, strong lower backs, bubble butts in ambitious motion, luscious lips, breathing clear and deep fresh air ~ orgasms ~ witnessing masses of spirits exponentially wake and make waves to steer their minds to renegotiate accepted truths and their bodies to face the encroaching evildoers on the streets - witnessing romatics of life sustain their friendliest lover communication still finding the sweet sensual wavelengths and expressing themselves openly in public with magical,healing and inspirational affection ~ oozing the fresh juice of abundant love ~ streamin' it off the spectrum and through each other... i forgot to include: ...hand-holding with ex-lovers/spouses, cuddling with new acquaintances... (don't happen often, but when it do ~ BAM!) With so many distractions in our daily lives, more and more I'm coming to cherish the time w/ with friends and family and in particular with my wife. We are currently expecting our first child, a girl, at the end of May and so far it has been the most amazing experience. I continuously marvel at this living creature that grows inside of my wife's womb and wonder at the miracle which is life. I grow excited with the sense that this person will see the world with a clean view and will hopefully know all the splendor and possibility that there is. Whenever I am distracted by work or the overall pressures of every day life, I stop to think of my unborn daughter and the idea that the world can be viewed as new and exciting. A world in which we should seek out what is good and what is important. Often at night before I go to sleep, I thank God for the many blessings, which he has given to me. I thank him for my health, for happiness, for a loving family and for good friends. This is what I cherish. This is what I hold dear. I cherish non-duality, a woman's milky curves, the moment of human transformation-when what was known for sure is cathartically brought into question. I feel a love for life when people (myself included) do what is innately "right" for no other reason than because it is who they want to be-not for law or society, duty or guilt, or because someone is watching. I cherish my blue heeler, especially the swatch of smooth fur that tightly wraps her jaw line. I cherish a little metal box made by my grandfather and gifted to me by my father. I am passionate about ideas, especially about the patterns that connect ideas. People, I think, are merely bags of ideas, ideals, and ideologies it seems. I am passionate about finding ways to make connections between the ecology of human ideas. I am inspired by paradox reconciled. I am inspired by the efficient nature of nature itself-the abject refusal to waste. I want to know what you cherish. (I'll bet you do.) I cherish being connected to myself. Without any bullshit between me and my soul. Alive in unrestricted spontaneous creativity. What do you hold dear? I hold dear the freedom of my perfectly functioning body. It lets me do whatever I want. I hold dear all moments of full self-_expression, through dance, music, words, nature, connection with another. I hold dear seeing clearly. What reminds you of your love for life? Feeling my belly on the belly of my lover. Running down a mountain, jumping off rocks and stumps. Swimming in mountain lakes and rivers. Sitting in a movie theatre when the lights go down. What do you wish to nourish within yourself or your world? Patience, courage, honesty. Honesty with oneself first, then with others. The right to express everything, no matter how weird, crazy, "negative", or inappropriate. What are your deep desires and passions? My deep desire is to share myself, to express myself, to be myself in all my glory and aliveness and greatness and ugliness in front of everyone. My deep desire is to connect deeply through music. To be totally free to let my music flow out of me, with another. To let go and sing sexy, jazzy, heinous, thrash, powerful, psycho...all of it unashamedly with others who want the same thing. What inspires you? Movies about people facing the only choice in life, whether to follow their heart or not. Driving through the desert mountains of Nevada. Walking on the Cal campus with a musical soundtrack on the headphones, feeling the energy of dreams, creativity and youth. Feeling the aliveness of my emotions. cherish is a hard word for me to relate to, but i guess if i think of it as "really important" my relations with people, especially those closest to me. early in my adulthood i wondered if it was OK that I didn't really have any goals. after a few years i realized what a fortunate start to life i had been given, and it sort of became a goal to make sure my kids had that same legacy ... this held for a few years and refined itself to where it is now.... that i hope my kids will think as fondly of me as i do of my father. not to diminish mom's role, but dad was an especially broad minded and kind man, and i was fortunate to have a close relationship with him for many years. we were quite a bit different in many ways, but i like to think that in the important things of life we were very similar. i also knew that this was sort of an impossible goal because there was no way they would ever have the same physical closeness dad and I had. But that doesn't mean i couldn't at least try. whether i've tried at all times or not i don't know, and of course i'll never know whether i accomplished the limited success that could be as far as things, there is nothing i cherish. i do have a photo of matt and dad that wasn't very good quality when it was taken, and was allowed to deteriorate for about 20 years. What do I cherish? Connection A warm snuggle, hands held, lips pressed, feeling the pulse of another human being who loves you back. A long walk, cool breeze, rolling hills and a sky filled with mountainous cloud formations, shot through with sunrays. What do I hold dear? Choice My right to choose. To choose life, to choose breath, to choose my own way. What do you deeply want? To be myself To be loved for who I am and who I am not. To be accepted and cherished. To me myself and to become myself. What reminds you of your love for life? Wild Things New buds, growing things, wild oaks and giant redwoods. Green grasses, golden hills, snowy drifts and ocean waves. Breeching whales, curious sea turtles, humping squirrels and wild turkey. These are the things I have never tired of. What do you wish to nourish within yourself or your world? Possibility To continue to clear the way for unimaginable possibility for myself, others and the planet. What are your deep desires and passions? Truth To live in my truth and to trust my experience. To trust that I have a unique path to follow and that, in the end, I am my only guide. To have a partner and family, to have some dirt of my own (and a VW Vanagon), right livelihood, and to share with others and contribute value to the community. What inspires you? Newness Right now, new buds inspire me. The budding Oak outside my window, the daffodil's pointed snout, the curiosity I feel when I don't know what the bud will be or look like... AND it EXCITES me. This is also what scares me the most in my "real" life. In my life I want to know the answers/ outcomes/results NOW. I struggle to have patience with the gestation... anxiety replaces excitement, when it comes to the unknown.(Surprise is to be avoided at all costs.) AND, I try to remember that every hour is a brand new hour. Every second is a brand new second. In every moment, there is always newness. If I choose it, anything can change. What do i Cherish? Sometimes I wish I could remember plodding on my path, slowly going until IT happens knocking me from the dirty trail to land on a cloud, spinningwhirlingloving loving but what was IT? making a difference? writing about cherishing? sharing a laugh with a room? Or when my body feels the music and knows the world feels it too Or for that split second where another person forgets about their path and joins me on the cloud Or even better when my love looks at me with the pure devotion burning away all doubt - to give me that one taste of purity then I think I know what IT is . . . but sometimes I forget Music...Love...Jesus...Yeah! This exercise is custom made for me... This is not a random collection of thoughts. I considered each of these items carefully and in their fullest sense. I guess I'm saying that I took care in assembling this response. My list: 1) Sweat 2) Tomorrow 3) Words 4) Silence 5) Peanut butter 6) Sex 7) Thanksgiving Day 8) Ah-ha! 9) Morning 10) Diversity I cherish making a half-court bounce-pass to a teammate on 3 on 2 break for a bucket in a basketball game. It's the kind of play, and one of a few things in life, that still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and where I feel that I cannot hide my smile, inside or out. I cherish this country because I'm allowed to freely and openly hate it. I cherish deep, soulful belly laughs in totally inappropriate places. I cherish the first few seconds after an ice-cream headache subsides -- the pain gets so intense, you think your head will explode, then ahhhhh, soothing warmth washes all over your body, and you're spent from battling the pain. I cherish the feeling of crawling into a soft, warm bed on a hard, cold night and curling up with your warm ball of mushy girlfriend. I cherish curveballs on 3-2 counts, play-action passes on fourth and inches, blocked shots as part of a triple-double, pocket aces before the flop, the fumblerooski, the tacke-eligible, a pitcher who can hit, a good left hook to the body, and long, deep, wet kisses that last for three days. That's pretty good given that life may be of moments and not monuments. All in all, seems to me that most follow their bliss in leisure and moment to moment movements. That is to say, The sun comes up, we answer the phone and go on. But here's the second take on your questions. What do I cherish? That happy feeling in the soul - or is it the chest - that is me. Tied to this feeling is sunshine in the air and the joy of the others in my life. What reminds me of love for life. How great the human being is. Deep desires & passions. The moments of depth and moments of rest. What inspires. I don't know. It seems to happen itself. Some days it doesn't. Some years back I heard someone say that everybody should have a "Life is ____" statement that they adhere to. You decide how to complete that sentence. At that moment I decided that "Life is an adventure." the master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his religion. he hardly knows which is which. he simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. to him he is always doing both. your question reminded me of this poem. its a tough question for me. you know i have many passions. what i cherish most is this beautiful gift of life, indulging in its abundances, and experiencing it to the fullest . but if i had to pick just one thing it would be the thrill of athletics and exerting myself physically. It's a good assignment to think of these things in this horrible dark time, but kind of hard. That being said... I cherish playgrounds and the people who play on them, antique pictures, a belly laugh, good ideas, soft pillows, the dance-the dancers-the music-the players, the power to love and heal and speak and feel, intuition, my brother-mother-father-sister-cousin, ancestors, teachers, plants that grow in the city and rainforest and everywhere, an audience, dreams. thanks for the meditation, and have fun with the project, I cherish the love of my friends and the courage and perseverance with which they quest deeper into themselves. I cherish the Earth and the way in which she bravely holds us to her bosom, nurturing us even in our blindness, loving us unconditionally. I cherish the Sun, who is a Star, and I am moved by the realization that the Stars are not very far away at all, and that my face is warmed by starlight when I look to the sun on a bright day. I cherish the Moon who reminds me every night of the Mystery that is life, and invites me to embrace that Mystery with faith rather than analysis. I cherish the opportunity of this earthwalk, this lifetime, to call down the light from Source, to call out the light from myself, to open my inner eyes and see myself as Source, and to invite the light that lives in every molecule of existence to pulse in the highest way, to rise up singing, so to speak, to anchor balance, to vibrate peace. These are the things that I cherish. love I cherish choral music. It opens my whole being to a level above the ordinary day. Specifically, Rachmaninov, "les Vespers" op.37; Chanticleer's album, "Out of this World"; King's Singers, "You are the New Day"; Mozart's , Requiem. These are just a touch of much that can heighten, release, relax or change your life. This is a fun project and hope you get fine responses. Reading, eating, and traveling. Few things are as basic to the human condition as eating and understand the world in which we live. While those concept can include a wide variety of things and activities, it boils down to, for me at least, reading, eating, and traveling. Reading is the easiest way to transport oneself to a different time or place. It can be instructive, romantic, fantastic, heart-wrenching, heart-warming, erudite and thought provoking. I tend to gravitate to non-fiction as it satisfies my thirst for history and the human condition. It excites me to learn the details of history and apply them to the macro-view of humanity and the path we choose for ourselves. Learning about other cultures and places allows me to understand and separate the absolute truths from the relative ones which ultimately allows me to better analyze how and why certain groups get along (or don't along) This pursuit lends itself to the travel experience. Exploring a culture and region of the world is the best way I know to innocent puerile worldview. Your stereotypes will be smashed and rebuilt by your own experiences traveling. In addition, the dirty little secret of traveling is that it teaches one about oneself (country, culture, biases, etc) as much as the foreign country one visits. As an example: to myself, I am American; to the American census, I am Asian-American, and to many in SE Asia, I am a Japanese person who happens to live in America. Returning from a long trip throws me into a whole new process of reevaluating the concept of identity and the self's relationship to the world. Not surprisingly, this process never really stops. Eating is inextricably intertwined with my passion for travel. It is at once a necessity, a luxury, and another way of exploring that country's culture. What they eat and how they prepare it can indicate any number of different things: what the local land can produce? how much importance that country places on food? the role of food in the family unit? Eating well is a lifelong quest of mine. Life is too short for shitty food. What do I cherish? At crazy times like this in the world I cherish simple pleasures... a cold bottle of beer on a hot day, the squeak of sneakers in a musty gym, the chatter on from a little league dugout, he feel of sand between my toes on the beach, the wag of my Bear's tail and her paw of approval. what a beautiful project, i feel honored to be a part of it... i'm in boston, on a beautiful sunny day, and i realize what i cherish most in the world is my capacity for awarenesss which helps guide me toward greater wisdom and compassion. through awareness i am able to connect with all the rest of the beauty i cherish...family, loved ones, friends, nature, work, the earth...however, i have to be present.. I cherish: My friends My family My independence My freedom Happiness That I know myself and how to make myself happy when I am sad (lots of people don't know how to do that :o) My childhood A cold, ripe peach on a warm summer day A fruit smoothy first thing in the morning Outdoor activities on a 70 degree day Sitting on a chairlift with good friends in the mountains Riding my bike up a hill, and reaching the top The second I finish a long run The "teaching moment"-when I am teaching a class, and people get it When someone tells me I inspire them When someone inspires me That I love life Landing on a plane, cuz I made it to my destination safely, and ultimately I get to see a familiar face I haven't seen in a while A good laugh A good cry A swim in a nice clean lake Getting into bed with warm, clean sheets Putting on my slippers My pictures My teddy bear and my panda bear The skills I continue to acquire that make me a better person, family member, and friend My car, rust, dents and all, as it allows me the freedom to see what I want in places I have never been before Education Open minds Closed minds, as they teach us to be even more open Lying down on a grassy lawn on a warm day and looking at the blue sky through tree branches with green leaves Seattle/home life What I cherish and hold dear... My marriage, family and friendships. My ability to dream. My health. What I deeply want... To live life passionately. To live without boundaries. To live in peace, comfort and beauty. To do this with Kurt. What inspires you? Travel. Learning and speaking foreign languages. Sadness in art expressed brilliantly through color, e.g. Egon Schiele and Mark Rothko. Sadness in music expressed brilliantly through discord, e.g. Mozart and Radiohead. Great conversation. Feeling grooooovy. Relationships are everything. With good and bad in this world I believe that the good must come together and create positive energy/relationships to make the world a better place to live. You can only touch those you know and hope that the vibe is passed on to others. Money, your career, material possessions, and even your health can be taken away but relationships can live forever. Being in motion is, oddly enough, where I feel most still. Most centered. Most able to reflect and consider the life I want to create for myself. Gazing out the window of a 747. Watching quiet Texas pastures glide by from the drivers seat of my parents' truck. Feeling Manhattan swoosh by as I blade up and down the West side. Motion. It's as if the breeze it creates gushes through my mind taking with it all the unnecessary clutter only leaving space for new creations - new inspirations. Responsibilities, Limitations, Obligations are swept out. Possibilities, Dreams, Passions come flooding in. Motion is what I cherish. What do you hold dear? the love i get from my cat, Leo being in good health my relationship with my friends good acid What do you deeply want? world peace. enough money to live comfortably without having to work, and enough to be able to sponsor $$ to any of my friends/acquaintances for interesting projects which they are undertaking (and i feel like supporting).... What reminds you of your love for life? any type of adrenaline rush activity, such as, skiing in deep powder, mountain biking, surfing..... What do you wish to nourish within yourself or your world? greater compassion for all beings on earth.... What are your deep desires and passions? who the fuck wants to know? What inspires you?) a groovy song a cute girl the daili lama The words "Feel Joy Deeply" were once said to me by a woman who had just realized that while we often feel pain deeply, we let joy wash over us lightly. As she said this the light fell through the trees onto her and the daisies that she was standing in front of. Behind the daisies was a creek and her child was playing with the flow of the water, gently watching the shifts in current. For some reason, her words sunk in and I realized what was involved in "feeling joy deeply". For me, it means allowing myself to be open to love. It means I get to love who I am with and I get to carry those I am not with in my heart as if they are right beside me. It means I am able to see the positive even in the hardest things, getting joy from the beauty of the learning experience or the acceptance of tears. It means that I am inspired by other's who don't hold back in sharing their joy or pain and how real these sensations are for them. It means that I get to love who I am because I am feeling it deeply. When I think of this and how it has become part of my life I realize how much I cherish her words and I cherish the things that her words have helped me to realize. I feel like one of the lucky ones. I write all the time; & when I got your email decided to dedicate a portion of my journal to your questions. I just cut/ pasted some of my thoughts for your cherish tree. It's not easy for me to share deep thoughts but I thought they would be safe with you. I LOVE LIFE! and especially after experiencing the devastation first hand of September 11th, more so then ever before I cherish life. I live life for me and my family and friends now; as opposed to before when I don't think I did so. I was so caught up in 'making my mark in business' I lost ME in the process. That sucks, I wish I could take that back but I can't. It took close to a year for me to realize that but I do now and I'm back! I care about Me more than I did before; and as a result, everyone else in my life is better for it. I hold dear my family, my friends, and my sweet dog, Zoe who has become a huge and loving part of my life. Animals are greatly underrated and under appreciated in this world. She has done so much for me. Everyone should have a warm lick in the morning! Now I don't mind waking up early [I hated waking up early before], seeing the sunrise is inspiring. A new day, possibilities endless! Also, seeing the sunset is probably my favorite thing to do. Whatever has happened in that particular day, I watch a beautiful orange/red & gold sky slowly fade and know that I have another shot at doing something great or experiencing something amazing tomorrow. Closing my eyes and writing that sunset in my memory is precious. What inspires me? Such a hard question! Many things. My Dad for one. Someone who at 80 has experienced so much in life and even though he still struggles to understand my past choice of work w/ internet entities, still took the time to go online w/ me to understand. And while he was online explaining to me how things were done 'in the OLD days'. I learn things new from him every day! And as he puts it. 'You kids have no idea' ... [interpret as you will] Our parents know so much.. we have to take the time to learn from them. Anyone who knows someone who has experienced that much life MUST be inspired as I am. Architecture - I think I'm a closet artist but I haven't found my groove yet. I love old buildings and could spend hours walking around looking at buildings & taking pics. I do it in NYC all the time and among others spent a bit of time in Spain enjoying the vastly diverse and amazing artists; and yes I like Gaudi. My friends inspire me. Seeing your paintings online Gabe inspired me. Looking at my friend Patrick's paintings inspire me. Reading a great book inspires me. Finishing a few chapters of my book inspires me. I'm not one to share, so... so far this is big for me. I am breaking down and sharing so regardless of what happens with this it's me 'uncut'. for you Gabe and it does feel good. My deepest desire would be to wake up tomorrow and have two things happen: The love of my life said 'HELLO' - I would smile back ......... yes the simple things in life and wake up knowing that it's gonna be an amazing new day and I feel really happy knowing that something new and exciting is waiting for me as it will for the next 50 or so years... that's the romantic in me.. until then I will continue to live life to the fullest and hope that I'm doing justice to the time that I've been given here on this great earth.\\ I cherish the way a baby's eyes light up when he or she notices that I am looking at them with perception of their deep wisdom and consciousness. I cherish the way my best friend looked when her surprise birthday party really was a surprise. I cherish the times when someone understands a deep concept and their whole world changes. I cherish my lover who suddenly stopped talking to me-for he forced me to claim my deepest self-esteem. I relish the moment during hard aerobics when the endorphins kick in and everyone in the vicinity is luminous and dear to me. I want to keep feeling the connection that is made when all barriers drop between two people and a psychic rapport goes beyond the personal to the realms of Spirit I nourish the clarity of perception that grows inside me. I nourish the new insight that keeping agreements with myself is ultimately the most empowering way to live. I feel passionate about people recognizing their inner beauty. I am astounded when awareness awakens around me. I am inspired by those who have a passion to be more conscious, more alive, and more present. I CHERISH having time and space to think my own thoughts I CHERISH my children and grandchild I CHERISH a clean, white sheet of paper I CHERISH a heart that listens I CHERISH this planet Earth I cherish Sunday mornings in bed with my husband. We open the heavy curtain to allow the light to gleam in. One of us gets up to make the coffee; the other lays the newspaper out on the bed. We spend hours propped up against pillows, reading silently. It is the most peaceful part of my life. I hold quietude dear. I hold long walks with my husband dear. I hold the voice of my mother dear. I hold articles and letters I receive from my father dear. The 3- to 4-year old children whom I work with prompt my love for life. They themselves are so in love with life's smallest moments. Many of them greet me with a new boo-boo or scratch or bruise; many cling to me and beg me not to go when class is over. They help nourish my sense of curiosity and patience. A blue sky and bright sun inspire me. Doing something active every day makes me happy and vibrant. I know this to be true for I love all types of fun and invigorating sports, activities, and meanderings. The list is endless; hockey, basketball, squash, snowboarding, hiking, biking, swimming, trampoline'ing, dancing, yoga, Frisbee, surfing, soccer, football, kickball, tennis, swinging, kite flying, trekking, flying. Social or solitary, I find joy in them all and for all of us. Martin Luther King, Jr. People who have some level of compassion/concern for those that are > 1 degree of separation from them. Being in places where the view could pass for a Sierra Club calendar shot. Creative solutions to everyday problems. My niece, who has allowed me to understand why everyone talks about their progeny and/or niece/nephew as "the most wonderful child in the world." Seeing effort that is driven by generosity rather than greed. Couples holding hands. The ability to understand people and to respect what you understand about them. Far above everything else, I cherish my daughter and my wife. I am fortunate in my parents and brother and love the brief times with them. I love music and my saxophone and without it I think I would fall into despair. At the end of an evening with good friends I feel rich. But my immediate family is like oxygen. Also, now that we have fellow Americans dying in Iraq I no longer take for granted my freedom and cherish being free to do and say as I like. i cherish life in general and am grateful for every extra day i get when i wake up in the morning. i am passionate about learning about people before judging them and aim to meet at least one new person everyday. what reminds me of life is all the people i know and love and what they mean to me and never to forget where i come from. i cherish nothing because it hurts to desire. don't get me wrong. i'm a happy happy boy that drifts through life getting smacked in the face, like bugs on a popular windshield, with new life experiences some good some bad not expecting anything because when you start anticipating fantastic surprises you are inviting disappointment. one christmas not too long ago i was excited to get lots of nicely-wrapped presents until i opened them to discover that i had received the NY Times list of best selling self-help books: Chicken Soup, Venus & Mars, Deepak Chopra; they were all there. there is no plan in life, at least not in mine. when the randomness stops then, congratulations!, you're an undead robot. that's probably why i avoid fortune tellers at all cost because who really wants to know what happens at the end of the movie while you're still living it? fuck i really should stop now because all this thinking is giving me a bad headache. but i stand by what i said: i cherish nothing. yeah man, nothin. i cherish the light for... in the absence of light feeble hearts run amok dog-eared days stretch for miles cigarette ashes fornicate into heaps in the absence of light wonders cease to amaze even the brim of dew loses its luster i chatter on like disrupted vinyl stuck in its groove with pointed thoughts sharp enough to kill such dangerous candy in the absence of light i keep strange bedfellows hope and despair always reaching out to embrace the emptiness a cruel trick to the senses in the absence of light blurred reality is my sitcom my laughter falls upon deaf ears deep desires no more than unblown birthday candles saved for a rainy day where is my light? Currently, I cherish clean water. Everyday as we leave our house in this Indonesian neighborhood we can smell the stench from the open sewers that run along our street. The stench is stronger on those humid days when there is a little breeze. The sewers empty into the several canals and rivers that run through Surabaya a port city of four million people located on the Indian Ocean. Poor people have built their houses along the canals and rivers that they use for sewage deposit and bathing. Most of the world's population lives without clean water. America and much of the Western world have clean water. Clean water, like good health, is something you take for granted until you lose it. Time we are delivered and granted it. immediate and non-discreminating. it does not discern differences, tangible or spiritual the whiteness of the world upon me, I have been granted time. immense in its greatness.. overlooked. yet embraced only as the face of fear enters. less than subtle in its suggestion that absence approaches to surround you in its warm, nothingness it is the only time we are aware of it... time ever present. taken for granted. sumptuous, soft, tactile senses not withstood full and bounding. youth's optimism. the potential of color, the sweetest sound a slight variation in flavor Genius all things evocative of emotion that makes our kind. time bestowed: the greatest gift. time relinquished: the greatest sadness. the whiteness of the world upon me i have been granted time. Kimberly Pagan, 4/03 (for Sebastian King and Elizabeth Walker) [gabe note: Kimberley specifically requested name inclusion] Places in nature. The grounding I get from being in the wild spaces. What do I cherish? I cherish the morning alone. My backpack full of fun stuff; art supplies, a frisbee, snacks, whatever. I've blocked out a chunk of time to let my creative juices flow and see what happens. I find myself, suddenly, more aware of everything. More aware of people, of sounds, of smells. I feel alive and alert. I feel like I'm part of the swirling masses of people on the planet. I feel safe and taken care of, but at the same time vulnerable and real. What reminds me of my love for life? When I sprint, when I run so fast it feels like I'm gliding, when I run as fast as I can. Moving my legs as quickly as they'll go. Leaping with each stride. I don't feel breathless or tired. I feel this powerful sense of presence. What do I wish to nourish within myself or my world? This question makes me think of the things that challenge me. The parts of life that don't come so easily to me, but that I want to have. When I'm calm and present, when I'm aware of the moment I'm in and not spinning in my head about future plans, that's what I want to foster. Because in that moment I know myself and my life. I know what is true for me and what I need. My energy is clear and directed. I feel light and joyful. What are my deep desires and passions? I want to come home one day and find a cute, young hippie knocking on my door to sign some petition. We both take a deep breath when our eyes meet, instantly aware that we're passionately attracted to each other. My next breath is quick, uncomfortable, caught in my throat. She seems equally flustered. Without a word I open the door and gesture for her to follow. We can't make it inside before the first clothes start coming off. I hold her up against the wall, kissing her flushed face gently while our bodies rub strongly against each other. Our clothes tangle in our legs and arms as our naked skin begins to touch. We spend the next few hours exploring each other. Wet, smooth, tasty. What inspires you? When a person does what comes naturally to them. When someone acts without stopping to overthink the moment. When I see a chef making 15 different things on a busy grill. When I watch a receiver run a pattern, get open and catch a bullet pass between two defenders. When I see a hawk catch a thermal and float above the mountains. What do I cherish and hold dear? I cherish my daughter's smile, her deep sighs of sleep, when her soul speaks in the child voice and the poetry of everyday spills out....her skin sparks, she paints rainbows in the sky, we are gifted with the presence of a new, invisible family member, gifted with heart smiles. Moments of being completely overwhelmed from the enormity and miracle of nature, - a cerulean blue desert sky juxtaposed against the outline of a mountain range, a midnight blue velvet sky sprinkled with a billion blazing stars dizzying the mind. Dancing, the sheer freedom in dancing. Music. The kindness and giving of a complete stranger brings my heart to my throat and tears into my eyes, humbling. Something entirely unexpected from someone, almost out of character, sometimes just showing up, speaks volumes of love. I cherish those moments of free fall into faith, those so rare moments of making the right decision based on nothing more than soulspeak. No rationalization, you free fall into faith...and into flow. I cherish the deep feeling of possibility. Nourish...hmmm. Love. If I can just view the world through lenses of pure love every moment of every day and then give that love to each person I see, hear, encounter or even think of, I believe it might expand exponentially. Deep desires and passions? Music, being in love, dancing. I'm working on the rest.....
--Gabriel Mott
y purchasing a piece of '''G art, you receive a tool for transformation. It's Feng Shui; clear a wall in your home, create an intention and put up a '''G painting. Then watch and appreciate as your new space is transformed and you enjoy the kind of life you want to be living. Or just buy a painting to fill up a wall and support the arts.
Beautifully matted, the limited edition print includes an image of the Cherish Tree Canvas and the complete text, unfiltered and unedited, from everyone who responded to the question, "What do you cherish?". Only 200 versions will ever be created. Each edition is individually signed and numbered by the artist. Mattes are acid free and sized at 21" x 13" for standard framing. Cost is sixty dollars plus $12 for shipping and handling. Expect delivery in about two weeks. Think of it as piece for your art collection, a morning meditation, or as a holiday gift that aint so material (click the paypal link above to order). 
On June 12, 2004, the OCSC Sailing Club was transformed into an art gallery. Black Oak Winery and Amicitia Winery provided tastings, the locally famous jazz band ROIB provided funky beats and at the end of the night the fire dancing group Inspirall brought a ritual closing to a circle of over 100 people. Artist Gabriel Mott presented over 30 paintings. Outside, paintings were lit by fire-- an homage to cave paintings, a form of "original" art.
The Cherish Tree lands at Burning Man and becomes the focal point of a meditation to manifest deep desires. Participants rocked back and forth slowly along a path of prayer flags and bamboo poles that carried a message of gratitude as a way to unlock access to getting what you want.
Gary Payton deserves much respect for following his heart and speaking his mind. Nobody could say anything. His confidence seems rooted in a deep sense of integrity about being straight up. 
For three days, the Cherish Tree was flowered with ribbons from attendees at the Health and Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa. I worked with Brenda and Robert Mazzera, two Sonoma artists now in Washington, to create an 8 foot high sculpture. At the end of the festival, the Mystic Family circus marched the tree into the center of the closing circle. 
Otto asked me if I would create a Tree of Thanks for the BassCAMP benefit to send kids to summer camp. I thought it would be cool to find a city tree that had died-- and we could recycle it. I had heard that the city cuts down those trees on medians and dumps them. Before I could call the city to check, there was a car accident outside the warehouse I had just moved into. Nobody was hurt, but a 16 foot tree had been knocked down and it landed in front of our door.