Blog

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Why Art For Me?

Alfred N. Whitehead not only inspired my artistic creativity but also, disciplined my artistic process. I’m often engaged in many different artistic pursuits such as oil painting, ceramic art, architecture, and landscaping projects. What often inspires me throughout these pursuits is Whitehead’s belief that our environment nourishes our souls. He said, great art “is more than a transient refreshment. It is something which adds to the permanent richness of the soul’s self-attainment.”
As a trained architect, I see how a Whiteheadian God is also like an architect whose creativity provides the basis for cosmic order and delight. I sense all the way down to my bones, God’s cosmic design process, as Whitehead affirms: The Many Become One and are Increase by One. Each stone or brick is metaphysically essential and equally valuable to a whole building. And a built environment as a whole takes each part seriously in dynamic interaction with all of its surroundings. This dynamic integration and cooperation elevate it to become an architectonic whole.
Thus, art making, for me, is more than pleasure seeking. My biological and psychological senses are not positively engaged within stale interior spaces or dull exterior places. As such, I constantly seek to create environments that are soul-nourishing and ecological. For these, I keep searching for organic structure, metabolic pattern, sustainable growth, delightful living place where I can touch, smell, feel alive and engage fully. Such spaces are a vital source of my physiological well-being and sustenance.
~ Sung Sohn, 04.04.2021

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Current and Previous Myrahouse Residents’ Reflections

Click here to view our resident’s reflections in PDF Format

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The Francis Ring

One of the more recent activities at the Myra House has been a restoration garden project. A pile of crumbling rocks has been transformed to an earthbag-laid polyculture hub. This hub now grows all sorts of medicinal and culinary herbs, flowering plants, and waterwise succulents. Colorful ceramic tiles, each of which bears a symbolic representation of a member of the Sohn family, adorns the mound. Recycled glass bottles were inserted under sandbags in rhythmic sequence generating wavelike movement. St. Francis statue sits in the center.

The spiral shape of the mound represents change, progression, and new birth as demonstrated in nature from a cactus flower to a spiral galaxy. The ascending spiral form is a metaphor for us to remain “grounded” upon this earth while at the same time, evolve “upward” mentally, spiritually, and physically. The circular form signifies a sense of whole that presents a compact expression of “subjective-objective” phenomena as a person takes adventurous journey through meaning search and engaging activity. Organic form as sign of physiology that can lift viewers or participants, possibly connecting with A. W Whitehead notion—meaning resides in the co-dependency and inter-relationships of all things in a world. Its geometric form is derived from a common relational metaphor of physical space evolving passage of time—birth, death, and rebirth.

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Father-Son’s 500/40 Backpack Trek

Once upon a time, there was a boy living in East Asia who had many dreams about what he wanted to be when he grew up. As he grew older, it became obvious which path he should choose.

He found fascination with the look and sound of the violin. Without hesitation, he signed up for the class and began learning how to play the violin. He really liked playing it so he practiced a lot. He wanted to be a great violinist. Yet, he had to let go this dream because his dad disapproved, assuring him that playing the violin wouldn’t make a living.

After some thought, he decided instead to become an army general. .When he finished high school, he applied to the Military Academy and passed all the necessary exams. Yet, he had to let go of this second dream because he was denied admissions in the final interview.

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A message for Lydia and James’ Wedding

What a special day today! How precious this moment is! My only daughter Lydia is getting married. I am celebrating her wedding ceremony as an officiant. Is there anybody here who has officiated for their only daughter’s wedding? [You might know exactly what I am going through at this moment]. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not many people have this privilege. I am exceptionally gratified! I am so thankful to the Claremont United Methodist Church Congregation, Rev. Sharon, Rev. Dan and the Claremont church staff for their unreserved support in helping to make this event possible. This wedding ceremony marks a new beginning of life-together for Lydia and a great man, James, officially my son in law in the next few minutes, if everything goes to plan. This ceremony also marks a new beginning for the Rogers and Sohns to become ‘One’ new family.

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TRANSFORMING LAND and SPIRIT

July 20, 2012

How surely gravity’s law, strong as an ocean current, takes hold of even the smallest thing and pulls it toward the heart of the world.
Each thing- each stone, blossom, child- is held in place.
Only we, in our arrogance, push out beyond what we each belong to for some empty freedom.
If we each surrendered to earth’s intelligence, we could rise up rooted, like trees…
-‘Wenn etwas mir vom Fenster fallt’ from Rilke’s “Book of Hours (Love Poems To God)”