Artist & Woman Of Steel Fighting For The Cause Of Tibetan Nuns

We like the play on words in reference to Superman because this girl is a SuperWOMAN who uses actual steel in her artwork. Remember the name Miya Ando, because she is doing some pretty awesome and unforgettable things.

She is a half Japanese, half Russian-American artist, a descendant of Bizen sword makers, raised in a Buddhist Temple in Japan and later in life in Northern California. Wow! Doesn’t get more badass than that.

Miya is one of a group of talented artists, painters, sculptors and creative women who are part of the Element Eden advocate program as her work in the art world always has a message and a cause.

Her latest project is a series of luminous paintings, the sales of which will go to a cause close to her heart, The Tibetan Nuns Project.

100% of the sales of the paintings will go to the TNP and are available through Paddle8’s website until August 23, 2013.

“Each painting is inspired by the colors of Tibetan Prayer Flags. I painted the backs of the paintings with phosphorescence so they absorb light during the day and at night emit a soft glow for 5 hours, like a soft halo or aura. Prayer flags emanate blessings into the air and I wanted to create artworks which similarly emanated light into darkness” says Miya.

Lisa Farmer, executive director of the Tibetan Nuns Project says: “Miya Ando’s generous and compassionate gift of her Prayer Flag series of paintings will help the Tibetan Nuns Project provide food, education, health care, and shelter to over 700 Tibetan Buddhist nuns living in 7 nummeries in northern India. Specifically, the timing of this auction will help support and empower the 228 nuns of Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute in their efforts to tell their own stories through media such as film, photography and writing.”

It blows our minds to see the power of media reach even the remotest of people groups such as Tibetan Nuns. It can be a very empowering and powerful tool, and it is awesome to see Miya teaming up with an organization dedicated to giving these women a voice to reach the rest of the world.

“I believe fundamentally that it is my responsibility as a human being to support others. If I can do so with my artwork, I see this as a blessing in my life and art practice. Organizations such as The Tibetan Nuns Project are especially dear to my heart, as a woman and as sister, and a person who spent part of my childhood in a Buddhist temple in Japan” Miya explained to us about her reasoning behind supporting a cause like this.

“I go with my heart and choose projects which are of true intention.”

Miya is known for her art combining metals, reflectivity and light in her transcendent paintings and sculpture. We assume being a 16th generation Japanese sword-smith has something to do with this.

In 2011 she completed two memorial sculptures for the 9/11 in which she utilized 30 foot tall pieces of steel which had fallen from the World Trade Center Buildings.

Her work has been exhibited around the world in places such as South Korea, London, New York and California. She is the recipient of numerous awards and grants, which shows having a cause and reason behind what you do gives it more meaning.

Sure you can be an artist and become famous by creating something viral and meaningless. Each to their own. But seeing the gorgeous Miya Ando dedicate her talent to benefiting someone else other than her own ego, is something to take note of.

How many artists do you know that use their exhibitions as a way to empower a nunnery in the Himalayas?

If you want to bid on any of Miya’s pieces for TNP, you have until August 23 and you can do it all online right HERE.