Institute for Philosophy & the Arts'
Salon on the Spiritually Creative Life

[Photography by Nathaniel Taylor]

THE SALON ON THE SPIRITUALLY CREATIVE LIFE

Our 29th Year Continues
... still on Zoom!

Please join Carol Soucek King virtually on
Sunday, May 11, 2025 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

Miller Yee Fong
Architect, Professor, Artist, Designer

"Gratitude is Architecture"

Scroll Down for:
Morning's Agenda
Speaker's Bio
Zoom Info
Today's Lyrics & Poem
2025 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

"You'll Never Walk Alone"
by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein
Dean LeGrand Carlston, DDS
Composer/Singer/Instrumentalist

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%.

Main Presentation:

Miller Yee Fong

"Gratitude Is Architecture"

"God has given me many gifts. One of them being an architect. I have practiced architecture as of this year for sixty years.

"My father, who came to Los Angeles as an immigrant at age 15 in 1930, always wanted me to be an architect. Being a good Chinese son, when I graduated from High School, I started USC School of Architecture in 1959. He also told me, that when I graduated, he would dance in the streets. That day in June of ’64, he danced in the streets! I have been a Trojan ever since, and just retired as a professor at the USC School of Architecture for 22 years.

"I will be sharing images and stories of my early architecture that began in 1964."

Music Interlude
by
Douglas Decker
Recording Engineer/Musician/Composer
"2=1"
by Douglas Decker

Poetry Reading
with
Patricia Ferber
Sculptor/Painter/Educator/Curator/Poet
"Gratitude"

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.

Jan Furey Muntz, AIA,Architect, LEED AP, Consulting Architect/Architectural Historian/Speaker

All are invited to continue sharing thoughts on
Gratitude.

until noontime

Finale
"He was There All the Time"
by Gary S. Paxton, 1975
Susie Katharine Shaw
Actress/Vocalist

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

About Our Speaker
Miller Yee Fong

Miller Yee Fong is one of those people who seemed to be born an artist and whose talent has shaped his path throughout his life and career. He grew up in his family’s Los Angeles-based furniture business, Fong Brothers Company [formerly Tropi-Cal], following his father Danny Ho Fong in designing contemporary rattan furniture known for its artistry, detail and fresh perspective. The award-winning furniture by both father and son has been published and exhibited widely, including numerous museums [two Danny Ho Fong designs are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the iconic Lotus Chair by Miller Yee Fong is in the permanent collection of Los Angeles County Museum of Art ]. In addition, Miller Yee Fong has been a practicing architect since graduating with honors in 1964 from the University of Southern California School of Architecture, and has designed homes coveted by friends and family in Southern California and Hawaii. It is at USC’s School of Architecture where, as a Professor for twenty-two years, he taught his class “Architect’s Sketchbook,” sharing his devotion to the fine art of sketching, which to Miller is an innate natural gift but which most architects allow to lie dormant in this digital world and has become an almost lost skill.

Fong and his wife Jetty reside in Pasadena, California, celebrating their sixty-first year of marriage! Their worldwide travels are captured in his series of coveted sketchbooks, as are the events in the lives of the Fongs’ friends and family - which includes two daughters, their husbands and their six grandchildren. And now three generations of USC Trojans!
  

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, One Poem

"You'll Never Walk Alone"
by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

[Chorus]
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

[Verse]
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

[Chorus]
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone (Never walk alone)
Never walk alone

"2=1"
by Douglas Decker

Brother and sister, husband and wife,
male and female, now and afterlife.
Some put three together, others two of one kind.
For me, one of each, is sufficient this time.

Aqua permanens, ignis noster, prima materia
and love will appear.
That of the heat is me, that of the cool is you.
Together our life, is from one point of view.

For two equals one, when we're together.
You and I will last through this adventure.

"He Was There All the Time"
by Gary S. Paxton 1975

He was there all the time, He was there all the time-
waiting patiently in line, He was there all the time.
Time after time I went searching for peace in some void.
I was trying to blame all my ills of the world I was in-
Surface relationships used me till I was done in, and all the while someone was begging to free me from sin.
He was there all the time, He was there all the time,
Waiting patiently in line, He was there all the time.

Never again will I look for a fake rainbow’s end.
Now that I have the answer - my life is just starting to rhyme. Sharing each new day with Him is a cup of fresh life, oh what I missed, He’s been waiting right there all the time.
He was there all the time, He was there all the time-
Waiting patiently in line, He was there all the time.

"Gratitude"
by Patricia Ferber, May 2025

A snowflake floated down from the heavens above,
landing with others, on the ground.
It looked around, and wished for an adventure,
before it would have to depart.

Mr. Jones came out with his shovel,
and proceeded to clear a path.
The snowflake was whisked away,
and landed in another spot.

What now, it thought, as the day ended and grew dark.
The snowflake looked up to see a moonlit sky,
wishing it could fly amongst the many stars.

The next day it watched as the children came out to play,
sledding, frolicking, laughing with joy.
Susan’s father joined the children,
suggesting they build a snowman.
The children thought it was a great idea
and began gathering snow.

The snowflake was transplanted once more,
and became part of the snowman's head.
Giving it a magnificent view of charcoal eyes,
a carrot nose, and a top hat.
A colorful scarf was placed around its neck to keep it warm.

The snowman remained throughout the winter.
As the Earth began to change colors, the days became warm.
The snowflake melted and evaporated into the sky,
Filed with GRATITUDE, hoping to return and have an adventure once more.

The moral of the story is to make wishes
throughout your lifetime,
and may they all come true.

All 2025 Salon dates and themes

STABILITY
Sunday, January 12, 2025

GROWTH
Sunday, February 9, 2025

POSSIBILITY
Sunday, March 9, 2025

FAITH
Sunday, April 13, 2025

GRATITUDE
Sunday, May 11, 2025

HUMOR
Sunday, June 8, 2025

UNDERSTANDING
Sunday, July 13, 2025

KINDNESS
Sunday, August 10, 2025

HARMONY
Sunday, September 14, 2025

LOVE
Sunday, October 12, 2025

HEALING
Sunday, November 9, 2025

SPIRITUALITY
Sunday, December 14, 2025

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 © 2002-2022 All rights reserved