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, May 10, 2026
Via Zoom
To discuss one of God's essential aspects
illuminated throughout her book
Under the Bridges at Arroyo del Rey
Gratitude
With Main Presentation
Introduced by Artist/Teacher/Author
Nan Rae
Pamela Tom
Writer/Director/Producer
Emmy award-winning Filmmaker
"Tyrus Wong, Imperfect Mothers,
and the Transformative Power
of Gratitude"
Scroll Down for:
Morning's Agenda
Speaker's Presentation and Bio
Zoom Info
Lyrics, a Poem, & an Ode
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
Now available on Amazon
Personalized copies may be ordered at NanRaeStudio.com
Opening Song
by
Dean LeGrand Carlston, DDS Composer/Singer/Instrumentalist
"Mama"
by Dean LeGrand Carlston
Dean welcomes us to listen to and download his music at no charge by accessing his personal website: deancarlston.com
Salute to May 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:
Pamela Tom
Writer/Director/Producer
Emmy award-winning Filmmaker
Introduced by Artist/Teacher/Author
Nan Rae
"Tyrus Wong, Imperfect Mothers,
and the Transformative Power
of Gratitude"
Above: Pam Tom with Tyrus Wong in his kite studio
(photographed by IIdiko Lazslo).
Above: Mother and Child (ink painting by Tyrus Wong)
“One of the greatest gifts of being a documentary filmmaker is getting to spend time with your subjects and immersing yourself in their universe. This was particularly true during the making of Tyrus, my feature documentary film about the pioneering Chinese American artist, Hollywood illustrator, and Disney Legend, Tyrus Wong. Over the course of 17 years, I interviewed Tyrus about his art, life, and family. I dug through his archives and scoured his home and studio for art, photos, letters, and other ephemera. I filmed him in his kite studio making colorful, whimsical kites, and on the beaches of Santa Monica, where he filled the sky with these magical creations. I filmed his emotional return to the Angel Island Immigration Station, where, as a frightened 10-year-old boy in 1910, he had been detained for a month. I filmed him whenever and wherever he allowed me into his life. For my presentation, I will talk about this life-changing journey with Tyrus, what I learned, and my immense gratitude to him and the community that supported my filmmaking.
“Because my presentation falls on Mother’s Day, I will also be exploring the mother-daughter relationship – not just from my personal experience - but from the perspective of several women who’ve had difficult relationships with their mothers and how they transformed pain into inner strength, neglect into compassion, and imperfection into gratitude. I will be showing clips from two films I produced to share these women’s stories and transformations. “ - Pamela Tom
Pamela Tom Brief Biography
Pamela Tom is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker whose films explore subjects ranging from art and religion to foster youth, social justice, and the Asian American experience. Her documentary, TYRUS, about Chinese American artist and Disney Legend, Tyrus Wong, premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and had its broadcast premiere on the 2017 Emmy-Nominated season of PBS's American Masters series. Finding Home: A Foster Youth Story, about four foster teens as they transition out of the foster care system, premiered on PBS and won a 2019 Los Angeles Emmy. Pam directed legendary actor Sidney Poitier in a short film for Showtime Networks and a feature documentary about his life for Bahamian National Television. Her 1990 narrative short film, Two Lies, about the conflict between a Chinese American teenage daughter and her mother, who undergoes plastic surgery to look more Caucasian, screened at the Sundance Film Festival, the Smithsonian, and Lincoln Center, and recently received a New York Women in Film & TV Preservation Grant. Her latest project, A Better Way: James Lawson, Architect of Nonviolence, premiered at the 2026 Pan African Film Festival and explores the life and work of the Civil Rights activist Reverend James Lawson, who Dr. Martin Luther King referred to as “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” Pam is a 5th-generation Angeleno. She loves film, pomegranates, and hiking in the Arroyo.
Pamela Tom
Writer/Director/Producer
谭宇琼
323.620.1228
www.pamelatom.com
Producer: A Better Way: James Lawson, Architect of Nonviolence
Audience Award, Pan African Film Festival
When asked how Fascism starts, Bertrand Russell said,
"First, they fascinate the fools. Then, they muzzle the intelligent."
Music Interlude
by
Douglas Decker
Recording Engineer/Musician/Composer
"Because You Loved Me"
Diane Warren and David Foster
Poetry & Ode Reading
with
Patricia Ferber
Sculptor/Painter/Educator/Curator/Poet
"Gratitude"
and
"Gratitude of Mourning Dove"
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.
All are invited to continue sharing thoughts on
Gratitude.
until noontime
Finale
by
Susie Katharine Shaw
Actress/Vocalist
"I Believe"
By Erwin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jim Shirl, Al Stillman
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
Three Songs, A Poem and an Ode
"Mama"
Dean LeGrand Carlston
You could have been in the movies, an actress a famous star
You had the looks and talent that could have
taken you high and far
But you chose to be a wife and mother, to create life,
give it meaning and direction.
In my eyes there will never be another for whom I hold this special kind of affection
Mama you’re my star, you gave me life and self esteem
Mama you’re my star, you helped fulfill my childhood dreams
You’re the heroine in my life’s drama,
You’re my friend my confidant, my Mama
You didn’t seek the world’s acclaim, fame and
fortune’s dream you set aside
You decided to pursue motherhood, to be our teacher, director, Papa’s bride
You didn’t choose an easy road, and you never ran
from your obligation
The consummate homemaker, eternal optimist,
finally gets her standing ovation
Mama, you’re my star, you gave me life and self esteem
Mama you’re my star, you helped fulfill
my childhood dreams
You’re the heroine in my life’s drama
You’re my friend, my confidant, my Mama
"Because You Loved Me"
Diane Warren and David Foster
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful, baby
You're the one who held me up and never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through, through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am Because you loved me, ooh baby
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand, I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love, I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me, Oh
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
"I Believe"
By Erwin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jim Shirl, Al Stillman
I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows.
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night,
a candle glows.
I believe for everyone who goes astray,
someone will come to show the way.
I believe, I believe.
I believe above the storm the smallest prayer
will still be heard.
I believe that someone in the great somewhere
hears every word.
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf
or see the sky..
Then I know why, I believe.
"Gratitude"
by Patricia Ferber, May 2026
Being thankful, being kind,
fills one's heart with the emotion of gratitude.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Keeping strong relationships with friends near and far,
carries the feeling of appreciation and of gratitude.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Awareness of others who are different from you,
respecting one another, creating insights anew.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Listen, oh spirits from faraway places,
rejoice with us in deep gratitude.
For all that has been and yet to come,
the miracle of life when one has deep gratitude.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
"Gratitude of Mourning Dove"
Patricia Ferber 2026
I watched a mourning dove fly into a tree. In its beak, it had a small twig, which it carefully placed just so. The building of a nest continued on, slowly taking shape. At last, the final piece was laid, and the female sat herself down. The beautiful tune the mourning dove sings brought music into the air for days.
Two weeks passed, and the babies hatched; the parents flew to and fro in order to keep them fed. They sweetly chirped and cooed in gratitude with each morsel that was brought to them. As time passed, they grew bigger and finally flew away, to venture near and far on their life's magical journey.
They say that mourning doves will return to building a nest in the place where there was one before. I look forward to seeing it next year and feel grateful to have watched the beautiful family of sweet mourning doves.
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
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