Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. - Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13
Recent events involving policy brutality of unarmed Black citizens have illuminated a great deal for us as a nation. How are we to respond to this horrific pattern, seemingly without end? I have been grappling with this personally, just as we are wrestling with our response as a nation and here at the Rothko Chapel. What is our role at a time like this? What are we poised to do? In the face of so much grief and injustice, how do we respond?
Fundamentally, I have come to understand the Chapel is a place of incubation. 85,000 people will come through its doors this year to be enveloped by Mark Rothko's paintings and experience the unique silence the Chapel engenders. It is a chrysalis of sorts, a place where people can be with their own thoughts and emotions, and let go of doing for a few moments. It seems to be serving this purpose right now, amidst the confusion and chaos that has ensued.
The image above of the Chapel's guest book certainly attests to that.
In that spirit, I invite you to join us for four special programs this month:
- New Year's Day Crystal Bowl Meditation, Thursday, January 1 at 12pm.
- Black Lives Matter, Wednesday, January 7th at 7pm contemplation and dialogue.
- Songs of Freedom, Thursday January 15th at 7pm featuring Rutha Mae Harris, one of the original Freedom Singers.
- Martin Luther King Day, Monday January 19th audio installation.
I hope to see you at the Chapel soon.
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