The Institute of Philosophy in the Arts, Architecture and Humanities
Salon on the Spiritually Creative Life

[Photography by Nathaniel Taylor]

THE SALON ON THE SPIRITUALLY CREATIVE LIFE

Our 30th Year Continues
... still on Zoom!

Please join Carol Soucek King virtually on
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Via Zoom
To discuss one of God's essential aspects
illuminated throughout her book
Under the Bridges at Arroyo del Rey

Understanding

Main Presentation

Performance Artist
Norton Wisdom

"My Journey in Art"

A lifelong convergence of drawing and morality,
abstract form, physics, philosophy, and the
mysteries of perception.

Scroll Down for:
Morning's Agenda
Speaker's Presentation and Bio
Zoom Info
Meditation, Lyrics & Poem
2026 Salon Dates/Themes

9:30 am Pacific Standard Time
Zoom Room Arrivals and
Himalayan Singing Bowls by Healing Arts Practitioner
Janet Martorello
 

10 am until noon – Program

Meditation
with
Nan Rae
Artist/Teacher/Author

Nan Rae’s latest published book – now available on Amazon
INSPIRED THOUGHTS ON LOVE!
Published by Laughing Elephant Books
Personalized copies may be ordered at NanRaeStudio.com
More good news! Nan Rae is now offering her art class not only in her studio but also on-line through Crowdcast!!!

Opening Song
by
Dean LeGrand Carlston, DDS Composer/Singer/Instrumentalist

"The Lord's Prayer"
The lyric is taken from Matthew 6:9-13 arranged and set to music by American composer Albert Hay Malotte

Dean welcomes us to listen to and download his music at no charge by accessing his personal website: deancarlston.com

Salute to July Birthdays,
Special Congratulations, & Prayers
with
Graham Lance Richardson
Retired Westside Realtor after 35 years.
Licensed Plumber & Gas Fitter.
Certified Welder to 100%,
and Frequent Presenter at The Salon.

Main Presentation:

Performance Artist
Norton Wisdom

"My Journey in Art"

A lifelong convergence of drawing and morality,
abstract form, physics, philosophy, and the
mysteries of perception.

Above: Norton Wisdom with his painting on
cover of ArtScene magazine.

Above: "Peace" by Norton Wisdom

Above: “One Nature" by Norton Wisdom

Norton Wisdom is known to most of us as a performance artist -- painting on stages around the world his impressions of the simultaneous performances of musicians, dancers and poets. At the Salon he will be live painting to some recorded music. Following is the journey that has led to Norton Wisdom’s rare form of art:

“My journey as an artist began in the mid-1960s when I discovered a passion for figure drawing while studying with the celebrated artist John Altoon at Chouinard Art Institute. Altoon imparted a lesson that has remained central to my work ever since: that art and morality are inseparable, and that the artist bears a responsibility not only to form and beauty, but also to deeper human values.

“From Chouinard, I continued my studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where I worked as foundry assistant to the influential sculptor Peter Voulkos. Under his guidance I developed a profound fascination with abstract form and the expressive possibilities of nonrepresentational art. During my years at Berkeley, I was honored to receive the Eisner Prize for Artistic Excellence, the university’s highest award in the arts.

“At the same time, my studies extended beyond the studio. Courses in physics with Fritjof Capra, author of the influential The Tao of Physics, introduced me to questions about perception, consciousness, time, and space. These investigations gradually merged with my artistic concerns, leading me to explore how reality is constructed through experience and intuition.

“The work that has occupied me for more than half a century, the ongoing series Critic of Pure Space, began in the late 1960s and continues today. It is the result of a lifelong convergence of these influences: drawing and morality, abstract form, physics, philosophy, and the mysteries of perception. The paintings are less answers than questions, attempts to understand how we experience space, time, and meaning. After more than fifty years, the inquiry remains unfinished, and I see no end in sight.”

nowisdom@gmail.com

Music Interlude
by
Douglas Decker
Recording Engineer/Musician/Composer
"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
by Nina Simone

Poetry Reading
with
Patricia Ferber
Sculptor/Painter/Educator/Curator/Poet
"Understanding"

Followed by Discussion

Opening the Discussion will be
Nino Wong, designer/business leader/Volunteer
Chairman of the Chinese Garden Docents,
Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens.

Jan Furey Muntz, Architect, LEED AP, on-camera historian in the five Myron Hunt documentaries on You Tube by cinematographer Curtis McElhinney. Curator and author for six architectural exhibits at Caltech, The Huntington, Scripps and Pomona Colleges, Barnsdall, and the Armory. Computer Systems Analyst for GE Missile and Space Division/ NASA.

All are invited to continue sharing thoughts on
Understanding.

until noontime

Finale
by
Susie Katharine Shaw
Actress/Vocalist
"Stand by Me"
Directed by Douglas Decker, by Ben E. King

To conclude Susie will lead us in Richard King's favorite
Native American Prayer

Love Faith and Joy - Carol Soucek King, MFA, PhD, Founder
Please respond if attending:
kingcarol@aol.com or 626/449-1238

For the time being, the Salon will continue to meet on Zoom. When appropriate, we will meet in person once again at Arroyo del Rey.

For access to the Salon on Zoom:

This meeting is being hosted by Zoom.
There is no charge to use this service.

Before the Salon on Sunday:
You will need to either go to the Zoom website, www.zoom.us, and register for a free account to access this meeting through your web browser or download and install the Zoom application on your device.

If you download the application to your device, you do NOT need to register for a free account. To download the Zoom application, click on this link... https://zoom.us/download

For any questions or assistance,
email Curtis McElhinney at Curtis@curtisvision.com

Meditation, Three Songs, One Poem

Meditation - Understanding
by Nan Rae

The more I know, the less I understand. Perhaps this is because I’ve come to know that, at best, I only perceive a fraction of the truth at any given moment.

In the Psalms, we’re told: “not to be like a horse or mule, which has no understanding”. And in Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” We’re told to “get understanding even if it costs us everything”. That’s why we’re cautioned to trust in the Lord with our whole heart and not lean on our own understanding. We have to actively pursue the
divine gift of understanding and not rely on our limited human reasoning.

This is why a loving, nonjudgmental mental attitude must be continually maintained, and why we are told to “judge not.”

This does not imply we’re to forsake discernment; we are to perceive clearly the facts as we can comprehend them, but not judge. Passing judgment on anything is safely done only by God Most High, and for our protection, we must remain “wise as serpents but harmless as doves.”

What can help is remembering we are not our thoughts. Our thoughts aren’t facts; they’re habits, and unease doesn’t come from reality; it comes from our interpretation of it.

Not everything we think is true. The assumption of a “fact” becomes the lens through which what is perceived and accepted is determined.

Our external world is a reflection of what we accept as truth. When we have an open mind, we become open to redirection and break the habit of negative interpretation. In other words, we have to be willing to change our self-concept and accept that our beliefs were programmed in our earliest years and now need to be audited.

May our hearts and minds be continually open to
the nonjudgmental love of God, which passes
all human understanding.

Nan Rae
Artist, Teacher, and Author
e. nanrae@nanraestudio.com
p. 818-842-6489
nanraestudio.com
livejoyfullywithnanrae.com

"The Lord's Prayer"
The lyric is taken from Matthew 6:9-13 arranged and set to music by American composer Albert Hay Malotte

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done
On earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day, our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil

For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory
For ever and ever More

Amen

"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
by Nina Simone

… Baby, you understand me now?
If sometimes you see that I'm mad
Don'tcha know that no one alive can always be an angel?
When everything goes wrong, you see some bad
… But oh, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood

… You know sometimes, baby I'm so carefree
Oh, with a joy that's hard to hide
And then sometimes again it seems that all I have is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side
… But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood

… If I seem edgy
I want you to know
I never mean to take it out on you

"Stand by Me"
by Ben E. King

When the storms of life are raging
Stand by me.
When the storms of life are raging
Stand by me.
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship out on the sea
Thou who rulest wind and water
Stand by me.

When I'm growing old and feeble
Stand by me.
When I'm growing old and feeble
Stand by me.
When I do the best I can
And my friends misunderstand
Thou who never lost a battle
Stand by me.
Thou who never lost a battle
Stand by me.

"Understanding"
Patricia Ferber, July 2026

Understanding can be found in many ways,
in a look, a smile, or by gazing up at the clouds in the sky.
We may not always think the same,
keeping a loving heart, opens the door to understanding.

Thunder and rain walk hand in hand,
the moon and stars as well.
The sun will set, the moon will rise,
The north star will guide us through time.
A twinkle here, a dash of kindness, keeping an open mind,
anchors us to one another to sail in harmony and love,
of understanding.

All 2026 Salon dates and themes

STABILITY
Sunday, January 11, 2026

GROWTH
Sunday, February 8, 2026

POSSIBILITY
Sunday, March 8, 2026

FAITH
Sunday, April 12, 2026

GRATITUDE
Sunday, May 10, 2026

HARMONY
Sunday, June 14, 2026

UNDERSTANDING
Sunday, July 12, 2026

KINDNESS
Sunday, August 9, 2026

HUMOR
Sunday, September 13, 2026

LOVE
Sunday, October 11, 2026

HEALING
Sunday, November 8, 2026

SPIRITUALITY
Sunday, December 13, 2026

Please let us know which salons you can attend by replying to KingCarol@aol.com or (626) 449-1238.

With all loving thoughts and hoping to see you soon!

Carol Soucek King, M.F.A., Ph. D.
Email: KingCarol@aol.com  
 

CAROL SOUCEK KING MFA, PhD © 2002-2026 All rights reserved