A record of Introducing western audiences to bonseki art.

The Living Archive is an image collection of bonseki trays created by participants in contemplative workshops focused on healing, transition, and inner reflection. As each tray is swept away after creation, what remains are photographs, words, and memories — markers of experience, expression, and time.

All images have been shared with permission.

Settling Sands: Landscapes for lives in transition

In therapeutic settings, bonseki becomes a form of personal expression and a grounding practice for those navigating trauma, grief, or change. The Settling Sands workshops are supported through the Andy Warhol Foundation, INSITE Fund, & the RedLine Contemporary Art Center and offered in collaboration with the Gathering Place. Support was also provided in part by the Aspen Art Museum.

Denver ART Museum: Mindfulness Workshops

This ongoing series of bonseki workshops is offered as part DAM’s Creative Classes for Adults. Our group gatherings offered participants a supportive space for growing their unique sense of mindfulness, expression, and connecting more deeply with seasonality. Each group enjoys tea services, discussions of Japanese cultural arts and their roles together, as well as a visit to the museum’s Japanese collection.

Denver Health: acute eating disorders ot group

This series of bonseki workshops was offered as part of an arts-based recovery group at Denver Health, supporting individuals navigating eating disorders and complex mental health challenges. Our group gatherings offered participants a safe space for grounding, expression, and emotional regulation. Each session was trauma-informed and contemplative, inviting presence through movement, material, and finding comfort of impermanence.