Past Events: Spring-Summer 2018
Mmmwhah! Gatherings | Second Sundays | 2-5pm |
@ Chuck Ceraso's Gallery & Studio, 1294 Doric Dr., Lafayette
Gather with our fellow artists, musicians, dancers, writers, photographers, and other creative spirits to inspire and nourish the muses in all of us. There will be opportunities to improvise music, movement, and art of all forms, or to just listen / observe / take it all in as nourishment. We will have a gently guided structure and continue playing with elements introduced in the Music Improvisation workshops.
Musicians to lead the improvisational music will include Bill McCrossen, Clare Church, and Chuck Ceraso.
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Please RSVP. Space is limited.
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Doors close at 2:15 pm so we can set our collective intention.
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Minimum Suggested Donation: $10-$20+. Work-study or trade also possible. Email Merlyn to discuss.
Photo of piano by Adam Griff.
Music & Movement Meditation
Wednesday, April 25, 7-9 pm
Boulder Circus Center, 4747 26th St., Boulder
Sliding scale: $10 - $20+ RSVPs requested.
Join your friends in Mmmwhah! at our yummy Music & Movement Meditation. The music will be divine with Mmmwhah's "Master Musician" Bill McCrossen on kora, ngoni, ocean harp, Tibetan gong, meditation bowls, bird whistles, and more. Merlyn will lightly guide the meditation and movement, but mostly this is time to drop in and move as you are inspired with live music that responds to you and the room.
Visual artists / photographers: Feel free to bring your sketch pad / easel / camera / other tools to create art as part of the meditation practice.
Just listening / observing / taking it all in as nourishment is welcome as well.
Photo by Merlyn
Journey in Sound and Movement with visiting artist Will Clipman and James Marienthal
Wednesday, May 16, 7-9 pm
Nevei Kodesh, 1925 Glenwood Dr., Boulder
World Class pan-global percussionist Will Clipman and new age/world flutist James Marienthal present an evening of transformational sound and movement, with special guest vocalist Kimberly Braun. Together they create a sonic atmosphere that is both meditative and trance-dance groovy.
Seven-time GRAMMY® Nominee Will Clipman is best known for his thirty-year collaboration with Native American flute master R. Carlos Nakai and his thirty-five recordings on the Canyon Records label. James Marienthal is fresh off the release of his album with Mysteries of the Night. "Alive Inside The Tank" continues to get stellar reviews and is reaching a national audience.
The audience is welcomed and encouraged to express themselves in conscious movement, or simply absorb and enjoy the harmonious vibrations of the music in stillness. There will be chairs, back jacks, and open floor space for movement. Bring a mat or blanket if desired.
Co-hosts: Mysteries of the Night / Silver Wave Records. Buy tickets now >
Mmmwhah!'s Vocal Improvisation Playshop Series!
May 2 - June 12
Join us for this delightful series with five of the Boulder-Denver region's best vocal improvisers and facilitators. Impossible to find such a series anywhere else.
Come discover your voice over and over again in myriad ways of expression. And sing to your heart's delight.
All voices welcome. No experience necessary. Tons of experience welcome as well. Truly this is for all levels.
Image by El Mama Mia
Mmmwhah! to Lafayette
Let's use this beautiful landscape by Chuck Ceraso as our starting theme in May. What music will it evoke? What movement? and art? Feel free to bring clothing, scarves, musical instruments, art-making tools that complement this palette and theme. -->
Typically a Second Sunday series of "Mmmwhah! Gatherings" in Lafayette. This one will be a Third Sunday though to leave Mother's Day free for Mother's Day celebrations. *_*
Big thank you, again, to the Lafayette Cultural Arts Commission for providing seed funds for the first two in February and March. We're off on our own now with this beautiful seedling -- And need to request a minimum suggested donation of $10-$20+. Work-study or trade are always an option. Don't let money stop you.
Mmmwhah! Gatherings | Second (or third!) Sundays | 2-5pm |
@ Chuck Ceraso's Gallery & Studio, 1294 Doric Dr., Lafayette
Gather with our fellow artists, musicians, dancers, writers, photographers, and other creative spirits to inspire and nourish the muses in all of us. There will be opportunities to improvise music, movement, and art of all forms, or to just listen / observe / take it all in as nourishment. We will have a gently guided structure and continue playing with elements introduced in the Music Improvisation workshops.
Musicians to lead the improvisational music will include Bill McCrossen, Clare Church, and Chuck Ceraso.
-
Please RSVP. Space is limited.
-
Doors close at 2:15 pm so we can set our collective intention.
-
Minimum Suggested Donation: $10-$20+. Work-study or trade also possible. Email Merlyn to discuss.
Photo of piano by Adam Griff.
Mmmwhah! Ensemble
Ensemble members, clockwise from upper left: Sindhu Hung, Founding Creative Spirit: Merlyn Holmes, Bill McCrossen, Amy Biondo, Dexter Payne, David Silver, Brian Mullins, Darlene Lorrain, and James Hoskins. Instruments range from the kora, ngoni, guembri, ocean harp, Tibetan gong, meditation bowls to cello, clarinet, percussion, and more.
Mmmwhah! Ensemble in "Open Space"
Dairy Arts Center's Gordon Gamm Theater
2590 Walnut St., Boulder
May 25, noon - 2pm
Free and open to the public.
Come see the Mmmwhah! Ensemble, , with special guest artist Lisa Michot, in this wonderful showcase of choreographers' work from Boulder and surrounding area | with a party afterwards to boot. We'll be on around 1:30pm, plus/minus half an hour.
Mmmwhah! Ensemble: "the Extraordinary Ordinary"
June 19 (rain date June 20), 6-8 pm + garden party
A traveling house concert of music, movement, mindfulness, and art-making through three homes and gardens in Boulder, Colorado.
Starting location to be emailed upon ticket purchase.
Tickets available now! 20 Spaces Only
$20 At the door, but only if space is available. Advance purchase recommended.
$15 Pre-show tickets available now. Cash, Checks, or PayPal accepted.
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Make checks payable to "Merlyn Holmes dba Mmmwhah!" and send to 4691 16th St, Boulder, CO 80304
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Or PayPal.me/MerlynHolmes as friend or family. Please state this is for the Ensemble's June performance. (Credit cards incur small surcharge.)
The Mmmwhah! Ensemble is a 9-person ensemble of musicians, movers, and artists collaborating on
spontaneous compositions through a practice of deep listening. We aim for:
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music to provide a framework for silence
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movement to provide a framework for stillness
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art to provide a framework for white space
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Having a great time along the way.
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Won’t you join us?
Open Rehearsal with the Mmmwhah! Ensemble
June 21, 12:30-2:30 pm, Boulder Circus Center
Limited to 10 participants
RSVP Required. Limited to 10 people.
$10-$20 sliding scale
Join the Mmmwhah! Ensemble as we dive deeper and refine our own improvisational skills with music, movement, mindfulness, and art-making in a collaborative process. Experience our relational, creative meditative practices. Become part of the composition.
Open Rehearsal with the Mmmwhah! Ensemble
July 12, 12:30-2:30 pm, Boulder Circus Center
Limited to 10 participants
RSVP Required. Limited to 10 people.
$10-$20 sliding scale
Come sit in on the Mmmwhah! Ensemble's rehearsal as we dive deeper and refine our own improvisational skills with music, movement, mindfulness, and art-making in a collaborative process. Experience our relational, creative meditative practices. Active listening and observation are key elements of our practice, so we'll ask you to start with those, then we'll invite participants to join in specific pieces.
Mmmwhah! Gatherings
May 26, 1-4pm
Mindfulness & Creativity Gathering in South Boulder
At a lovely home & garden. Address will be sent upon RSVP.
$10-$20+ | Free for residents within 2 blocks of Crescent | Space is limited to 20.
Share your gifts, share your practices, Then join in free dance and art-making with live improvisational music.
Sun June 3 , 2-5pm
Mmmwhah! Creativity Gathering in North Boulder
At a beautiful home and garden in North Boulder. Address will be sent upon RSVP.
Space is limited to 20.
$10-$20+
Free dance and art-making with live improvisational music.
Sat June 9, 9 am
Mindfulness Gathering, + Yoga + Music & Movement Meditation
Vista Village Mobile Home Park green
Free for residents of Vista Village | $10-$20+ for additional guests and lovers of Mmmwhah! | RSVP |
Mmmwhah! Gatherings | Second Sundays | 2-5pm |
@ Chuck Ceraso's Gallery & Studio, 1294 Doric Dr., Lafayette
Gather with our fellow artists, musicians, dancers, writers, photographers, and other creative spirits to inspire and nourish the muses in all of us. There will be opportunities to improvise music, movement, and art of all forms, or to just listen / observe / take it all in as nourishment. We will have a gently guided structure and continue playing with elements introduced in the Music Improvisation workshops.
Musicians to lead the improvisational music will include Bill McCrossen, Clare Church, and Chuck Ceraso.
-
Please RSVP. Space is limited.
-
Doors close at 2:15 pm so we can set our collective intention.
-
Minimum Suggested Donation: $10-$20+. Work-study or trade also possible. Email Merlyn to discuss.
Photo of piano by Adam Griff.
Mmmwhah! at Vista Village
Sat June 2, 9-11 am
Pancake Art with Mmmwhah! as part of the first annual Vista Village Pancake Breakfast. Free to residents.
Sun July 1, 4 pm
African Water Drumming ! Vista Village Mobile Home Park pool
Join some members of the Mmmwhah! Ensemble to explore African Water Drumming in the pool Google "water drumming" to see what we're up to, Musicians and interested drummers, please contact Bill McCrossen if you'd like to be part of the orchestra.
Free for residents of Vista Village | $10-$20+ for additional guests and lovers of Mmmwhah! | RSVP |
Saturdays June 9, July 7, and Aug 4, 9-11 am
Yoga + Music & Movement Meditation
Vista Village Mobile Home Park green
Yoga to by led by Cynthia Holappa, Music & Movement Meditation by Bill McCrossen and Merlyn Holmes. Free for residents of Vista Village | $10-$20+ for additional guests and lovers of Mmmwhah! | RSVP |
Sat Aug 11
Vista Village Community Gathering + Music & Movement Meditation | Boulder Airport Conference Room | 2-4:30pm |
A very special event:
*Mmmwhah! to Flagstaff Mountain*
Sun July 15, 9-11 am, at Flagstaff Mountain's Sunrise Amphitheater
Tickets available now >> Free, but tickets are required. Best to reserve now as the event will sell out quickly.
A Sunday morning service of Music, Movement, Mindfulness, and Art-making, in service to the beauty of nature. Flagstaff's Sunrise Amphitheater has inspired residents and visitors to Boulder for nearly a century. It's time to give back to this Muse!
Please join us in a participatory, creative expression of gratitude to this area of tremendous beauty and inspiration. We invite you to engage in deep listening and clearing the path for the creative to flow through you. To be inspired.
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Music: Improvisational music by members of the Mmmwhah! Ensemble Bill McCrossen, Dexter Payne, and James Hoskins on instruments such as the kora, geumbri, ngoni, ocean harp, Tibetan gong, clarinet, cello, flutes, bird whistles, and more.
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Movement: From the souls of your feet, through your heart, out into the world. Feel free to bring scarves or flowing fabrics to play with the breezes and to create air sculptures. Facilitated by Merlyn Holmes.
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Art-making:
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Painting: Plein Air Landscape, Mixed Media, and Live Painting led by artists Chuck Ceraso, Catherine Carilli, and Lisa Michot. Bring your sketch pads, easels, and art supplies.
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Sculptures from Nature: Balancing rocks, entwined branches -- you name it. Bring nature's gifts from your back yard or private spaces to sculpt with, as we will leave the elements of nature in the area untouched.
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Photography/Video as part of a meditative practice, along with David Silver, three-time "best of show" recipient of the Boulder County "Land through the Lens" Photography Show. Everyone, please sign this "Photography Understanding" form, both to be photographed and to photograph, to ensure respect for all in the process.
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Meditating / Deep Listening and Observing: taking it all in as nourishment.
Art beyond the event: We'll create a web gallery with the art and photography created during this occasion, and will coordinate submitting entries to the OSMP's bi-annual art show. Upload your photos and videos to https://tinyurl.com/mmmwhah-to-flagstaff. Please put your name in each image title, so we can give you proper credit.
Note: This will be a "Leave no trace" event. We wish to imbue our kisses and gratitude on Flagstaff Mountain, without the lipstick stains. So please: Come prepared to take home with you any art supplies you bring in, right down to the last drop: items from nature, water for paint brushes, etc.
Free but limited to the first 70 people who register. Registration will open the first week of July. Sign on to newsletter below to be notified of the date as soon as we know it. The event will sell out.
Mmmwhah! Garden Concert & Jam
Sun Aug 5, 2-4:30 pm
North Boulder. Address to be emailed upon RSVP.
Join us for more Music, Movement, Mindfulness, and Art-making at the beautiful home and garden of North Boulder artist Catherine Carilli.
Mmmwhah! Ensemble members Bill McCrossen and Brian Mullins will lead with a concert on instruments such as the ngoni, kora, erhu, cajon, Tibetan gong, meditation bowls, ocean harp, bird whistles and more. We'll then transition to a lightly guided music jam and human sculpture-making for anyone interested in participating.
Dance and art-making welcome throughout. Painting, mixed media, photography, sculpting with elements from nature are all options: What's calling you? Feel free to bring your own art supplies, plus snacks/beverages to share. We'll also have some easels set up with acrylic paints, and some items from nature to create art with.
Photo by Hari Baumbach
Sliding scale $20-$10 by cash, check or PayPal.me/MerlynHolmes as friend
Space is limited, so please RSVP to Merlyn.
Rain? No worries. We will simply move indoors. Or dance in the rain!
Music, Movement, and Writing with the Light
Mon Aug 6, 6-8 pm
Bobolink Trail, SE Boulder
Join us for this much-anticipated, first in a series of strolls through beautiful natural settings with live music, movement, our cameras, and light guidance from a contemplative perspective. Join Mmmwhah! Ensemble members on this creative journey along the Bobolink Trail.
To be facilitated by Merlyn Holmes and David Silver, three-time winner of Boulder County's Open Space photo contest. Music by Bill McCrossen on ngoni, bow harp, bells, Tibetan gong, et al. Bring your cameras, even just your cell phones, as well as your beautiful selves.
Suggested donation $20-$10 by cash, check or PayPal.me/MerlynHolmes as friend
Space is limited to 10. RSVP to Merlyn. Rain plans will be emailed.
Every Wednesday: Art & Activism | 9:30am @ Silver Sage Cohousing, 1650 Yellow Pine, Boulder
Art and Activism go together like Coffee and Bagels. Join us each and every week to tend the state of our nation and write postcards and make phone calls. It's way more fun doing this together! Coffee and bagels, postcards and stamps provided. Facilitated by Sandra Bierman.