“Ontopo Bak Lim Sa 2025: Sensory Cultivation” was a two-day participatory gathering held on June 7–8 at Bak Lim Sa (Catskill Zendo), a Korean Buddhist temple situated on 180 acres in the Catskill Mountains. Organized by Jon Santos with guest curatos Sofia Thiệu D’Amico and Danni Shen, the event brought together artists, musicians, writers, naturalists, and members of the temple community for performances, workshops, readings, and site-responsive activities exploring the theme of sensory cultivation. Attendees participated in lantern-making, Zen-inspired shadow drawing, sound performances, guided walks, Buddhist chanting, Dharma talks, and calligraphy sessions led by head monk Sunim Hyesong, creating an immersive environment centered on presence, observation, and exchange. Through shared meals and overnight communal living, participants engaged with the temple’s spiritual traditions and surrounding landscape while exploring the relationship between creative practice, ritual, and sensory awareness. The event fostered an attentiveness to both community and environment through embodied participation and shared experience.

Participating Artists
Anna Ting Möller
Woojae Kim
Rahul Nair
Ching-Wei Wang (Way) & Lu Gao & Billy Chen
Jake Tobin
Grace Villamil
ANYO (Ayoung Yu & Nicholas Oh)
Anh Vo & Kristel Baldoz
Ye Qin Zhu
Dr. Patricia Kaishian