One Thousand Arms installed at the Open Concept Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI

998 screen prints on cloth, cut, sewn, sound

Based on the One Thousand Armed Bodhisattva of Compassion, this work invites viewers to explore the role of compassion in their lives. A bodhisattva is a person who has reached enlightenment but chooses to return to the physical plane of existence to help others. Bodhisattvas are often given special powers and attributes upon their return, and the Bodhisattva of Compassion was given 1000 arms to be able to offer more compassion to humanity.

The idea of action is central to the idea of compassion. Compassion is an active state, not an emotional state. Compassion is to suffer for, with, on behalf of another. Compassion is to take on someone else’s suffering for them, to carry the load, to provide them relief from their burden. The viewer’s participation is symbolic of the act of compassion. The piece contains 998 “arms” with gallery visitors being invited to add their two arms to complete the piece.