Enliven your day with Serenity Seat shout-outs and serenity quotes

What is a Serenity Seat?

The Serenity Seat Shrine a feminist art project by MultiPurposeWoman's Gwendolyn Kelly. It is one of twelve public art pieces installed in the Phoenix Hill Neighborhood in Louisville, Ky. The pieces are part of the Creativity Rising project curated by artist-curator-activist Aron Conaway. Thanks to Frankie Bibb & Allison Roth the shrine is painted. That almost didn't happen :-)

The Seat speaks for itself

There's a laminated sign attached to the piece that gives potential participants a bit of information. Here's the text ....

The Serenity Seat Shrine is not an object it is an opportunity.
It is a chance for you to just SIT. All you do is SIT.
Nothing else is expected or required

If you can … also BE STILL and/or BE QUIET.

When you are sitting (or thinking about sitting), if you need additional “help” or guidance look in the two bins located behind the seat.

The white polystyrene foam bin has a timer, note cards, and pencils. It is an official geocache.

Set the timer for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 15 minutes and SIT for only that amount of time.

If you feel the desire to write please leave a comment below.

The clear plastic bin is a type of library called a Book Crossing Zone. Take a book if one interests you. Go online to www.bookcrossing.com and announce that you found the book. Read the book and release it so that others can read it.

You can come and sit-participate

The seat is near the sidewalk to the west of The Green Building @ 732 East Market Street Louisville, KY.

Seat Updates

*See the right sidebar to read serenity quotes left at the shrine.

Most of the initial books were damaged by rain dispite their plastic zip lock bags. With the next batch I'm taking an additional container and a note asking people to please reclose the bags AND return the books to the bin.

Plan to add a patio umbrella soon.

I sat and ...

serenity quotes direct from the seat

I'll pick up quotes from the seat at least twice a month and post them here. The only thing I'll exclude are names.

9 August 2010

no notes on last two visits (read blog below/left for more info)

7 July 2010

I sat at the Shrine about 9 in the morning while waiting for a friend to have a breakfast meeting at Toast. They have fresh squeezed lemonade. I didn't know. Anyway, picked up 2 cards.

-You're awesome! Thanks! 1st time in KY and loving it!

there's a spiral and heart + inside sketch of a snake there's "All is one "

-celebrating year 32 with my most wonderful friend. Yeah for today!!!

picked up the following on 2 July 2010 (before the Gallery Hop started)

-if the whole world would truly sit and listen, they would hear God calling them out of themselves and into each other. There is no greate religion than ulifting each life we contact.

-a drawing (I'll post it soon - tried! need to figure out some WebGUI craziness :-()

extra, extra -some nice person left 3 books for the Book Crossing. They even put them in big ziplock bags. I brought them home to label and post at Book Crossing and then I'll return them to the shrine. (returned them 7 July). UPDATE: 9 August - found out from CBK that she left the books. She walks her dog past the Shrine daily.

picked up the following on 19 June 2010

-it changed my perspective to sit and just be, really hearing the birds, wind, etc. thanks

-we made out! Thanks! If there wasn't a bench here I'd never land my girl.

-I read a whole novel on this bench! Thanks!

-sweet time with only my thoughts and the songs of the birds. I was miles away, right next door.

picked up the following on 10 June 2010

-listening to birds, sun warm on my back, feels like childhood again

-life is full of suprises - wind is blowing - birds are singing. Im so lucky to be alive. Do you know how lucky you are to be alive? It's a miracle.

-being paid to sit in absolute serenity ... Ahhh, this is life!

-cool breeze on a warm night. Like the bamboo fence and the plants

-overheard @ the Serenity Seat Shrine 6/4/10 approx 7 PM "we need to get some women started over here!" "I like it in Detroit(?)" "I think they're growin' for in here" "I'm gonna have to burp soon (?)"

-7:38pm (name) is a serenity seat failure, but that's okay because we leave on our europena adventure in 16 days!

-Oh crap. I thought this was a toilet. Sorry.

Another Way to Share Books

In addition to Book Crossing you can trade books at paperback swap and other online spots. Read my comparison page about places and ways to trade books

What is a Serenity Seat?

The Seat speaks for itself

You can come and sit-participate

Seat Updates

Serenity Quotes from the Serenity Seat Shrine

I sat and ...

sitting on the seat poll

Q: How long did you sit at the shrine?

serenity quotes direct from the seat

picked up the following on 2 July 2010 (before the Gallery Hop started)

picked up the following on 19 June 2010

picked up the following on 10 June 2010

Another Way to Share Books

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