by Jonathan Bruce Williams and Payal Parekh
Consciousness Energy Grid, a new series of wall-mounted lightbox scultures by Jonathan Bruce Williams, will open with Conscious Connection, an experimental movement and meditation program on Sunday, May 4 from 4–6pm, led by Williams and Payal Parekh, followed by a reception with the artist from 6–8pm.
Departing from Consciousness Energy Grid’s sculptural exploration of bodily vulnerability, altered states, and the transformative valence of movement and light, Jonathan Bruce Williams begins this experiential program by demonstrating the creative use (and abuse) of mobile communication technologies to form a chain of uncanny connection that summons the ghosts in our collective machines. Payal Parekh follows by leading participants in an embodied practice that includes stretching, meditation, reflection, and discussion based on Blessed Rest by Payal, an affirmational card deck conceived as a supportive reminder that rest is our collective birthright and a critical aspect of healing.
Jonathan Bruce Williams is a Lower East Side-based artist and technologist who creates art systems at an intersection of research, imagination, and light. His work explores perception, psychology, and technology through custom-designed apparatuses aimed at healing. He holds an MFA from Columbia University and a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Currently, he is training to become a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified instructor, focusing on Ashtanga and Vinyasa, integrating movement and mindfulness into his creative approach.
Payal Parekh is a New York-based art advisor and yoga teacher with a passion for promoting wellness and diverse art perspectives. She holds a BA in Art History from Mount Holyoke College 2001 and an MA in Contemporary Art from Sotheby's Institute, London. Payal Arts International, founded in 2008, focuses on consulting artists and advising collectors. As a 500-hour nationally certified yoga teacher, she believes in the power of movement and meditation to improve physical and mental health. Payal has led meditation sessions at Christie’s, David Zwirner Gallery, The Armory Show, Perrotin New York and The Baltimore Museum of Art. In addition, she has served on the board of the American Visionary Art Museum and is currently a member of the Skowhegan Council and an FCA Friend (Foundation for Contemporary Arts) in New York. Her new self-care deck, Blessed Rest by Payal, offers tools for self-reflection and self-care practices to manage stress.
Department of Transformation and Conscious Connection are generously supported by the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center.
