A project by the Meditation Ocean Constellation

Six-channel video installation with ambient score, guided meditations, seating, public programming

67 minutes, looped


Meditation Ocean works toward human and more-than-human thriving through oceanic meditation and responsive terrestrial action. An accessible "indoor ocean," M.O. is equal parts video installation and platform for public programming. The project proposes the interdependence of individual and communal well-being, the deep connection between humans and kindred species, and the nonduality of the social and the environmental. 


In M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow, the premiere iteration of the project, a group of eight divers spent four days in Biscayne National Park in the Florida Keys. Experimenting with notions of buoyancy and what they offer to terrestrial concepts of “grounding” in meditative practice–along with new modes of weightless embodiment–the divers rose from the seabed to float in meditation. This “underwater meditation retreat” was both a live experience and a video production.


Meditation Ocean launched with an exhibition at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, from February to July 2023. The project’s video oceanscape catalyzed a series of workshops, events, and programming connected to local issues, which you can read more about at the "Programs" link here.


Meditation Ocean is supported by the Wexner Center for the Arts Film/Video Studio Program and Artist Residency Award in Film/Video.


Read about Meditation Ocean in Artforum and the exhibition's Gallery Guide. Follow us on Instagram at @meditation_ocean. The M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow score is now an album; you can listen here. A Climate Impact Report for the Meditation Ocean exhibition is shared on Artists Commit.

Click here to view "Meditation Reels from M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow"

A project by the Meditation Ocean Constellation

Three-channel video with five guided meditations


Channel 1 — 14 min. 55 sec. looped

Tifani Kendrick, "Breath-Centered Meditation to Connect with Creation"

Sara Smith, "When humans dive, are we marine mammals? Five considerations as we breathe."


Channel 2 — 19 min. 08 sec. looped

Riane Tyler, "Your Deepest Ocean Meditation"


Channel 3 — 27 min. 48 sec. looped

Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful Espejo Ovalles, "Meditation for Divers"

Fiona Middleton, "Concentration; a mineral gathering"


Excerpts from each of the five guided meditations follow. Full artwork credits appear at the end of this page.

Meditation Ocean Constellation

Meditation Reels from M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow, 2023

Three-channel video with five guided meditations


Production:

Hope Ginsburg, Artist/Director

Jennifer Lange, Producer

Alexis McCrimmon, Editor and Colorist

Matt Flowers, Director of Photography

Joshua Quarles, Composer and Sound Recordist


Meditation Authors/Readers:

Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful Espejo Ovalles

Tifani Kendrick

Fiona Middleton

Sara Smith

Riane Tyler


Divers:

Bob Ballard

Mary Boltz

Hope Ginsburg

Sarah Howard

Jim McNeal

Steve Peloquin

Rachel Stewart

Riane Tyler


Vocalists:

Matthew Barger

Olivia Carlton

Lauren Maho

Jesse Roberts


To hear all ten of the "M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow" meditations, please go here.


Meditation Ocean and Meditation Reels from M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow are supported by the Wexner Center for the Arts Film/Video Studio Program and Artist Residency Award in Film/Video.