Clearing and Creation is an exhibition at Hanya House, in collaboration with White River Gallery (@whiterivergallery), that celebrates and explores the sacred feminine. This isn’t just any exhibition though… it has a backstory that’s close to our hearts:

The late (and great) Bruce MacFarlane was the first patient to step over the threshold of Hanya House when Rav and I converted a former golf lodge into a Wellness Collaboration focusing on whole-body healing: Mind, body, and spirit.

In fact it was Bruce and his wife, Dana (Owner & Curator of White River Gallery) who would sit in consultation with Rav in the converted garage of our home (where Rav’s practice started) and say to Rav:

“You can do this girl!”

Admittedly, we’ve added the “girl” in for effect, but if Bruce was from Brooklyn, that’s what he would have said. Rav would come upstairs and say to me: “Bruce really believes in our vision. He keeps asking me when we’re going to do it.”

Bruce would also say something along the lines of “live while you’re alive” for he knew better than most – as that stage of his own life – how precious every single moment is.

The magic of Bruce and Dana MacFarlane can be felt throughout Hanya House

Hanya is the Shangaan word for “alive” and in early 2023, guided by that word, Dana thoughtfully outfitted Hanya House with South African artworks that would invite guests to reflect on what it means to live, to be alive, and to heal. And one of the things I’m most grateful for at Hanya House is its emergence as a home of creative healing energy.

Dana and I set an intention shortly after we opened the doors: Instead of waiting in a waiting room we wanted guests, visitors, and friends of Hanya House to begin reflecting on their relationship with healing as soon as they stepped into the Living Room.

And we believe, wholeheartedly, that art and creativity are super healers.

At the opening of Clearing and Creation, we were lucky enough to hear from award-winning portrait artist, Felicity Bell, who has four pieces on exhibit.

The spirit, energy, and love of both Bruce and Dana are felt throughout the space, and we couldn’t be happier that the healing hands of the sacred feminine inspire this new exhibition which we have called Clearing and Creation.

Each piece has been paired with a short haiku-inspired poem written by visiting Earth artist and writer, Claire Takahashi. 

Griet van der Meulen’s eco-feminist power can be felt in what we now refer to as the “garden wing”

Clearing and Creation will be on exhibit well into Spring and we invite you to step into the catharsis of “clearing” and the miracle of “creation”.

We’d love you to come and enjoy this exhibition and – perhaps – leave with Bruce whispering in your ear: “Live while you’re alive.”



With so much love and appreciation for Bruce and Dana.

Love,
Ryan

Kerri Dunshea (top right) has four artworks on exhibit. To read about Surrendering to the unknown, click here. Also, Visiting Earth artist and writer, Claire Takahashi (bottom right), helped to curate Clearing and Creation and paired each piece with a Haiku-style poem. She is also hosting the Creative Medicine Table every Monday morning this August. There is no cost, simply pull up a chair, bring some paper and write, paint and/or play.

The creative joy of community – A special thank you to the artists and friends who joined us for the opening. We loved every minute we got to spend with you.
Moné van Rooyen with two of her pieces: Gaia and Blooming Bold.

FEATURED ARTISTS: Moné van Rooyen, Kerri Dunshea, Karin Daymond, Sue Martin, Majak Bredell, Maria Patrizi, Felicity Bell, Odette Saayman, Ingrid Uys, Griet van der Meulen, Marina Louw, Anton Smit, Sue Pam-Grant, A.B. Heyns, Bob Mnisi, Michael Heyns, Jonathan Kassel, Liezel Lüneburg, Laurel Holmes, Siphiwe Fokazi & Claire Takahashi