Artist group “City Meditation Crew” blends technology, walking, and meditation into new forms of public art

City Meditation Crew in Hamlin Park
Photo by by Nat Seymour

Members of the nationally-recognized performance art group “City Meditation Crew” (CMC) will lead two 45-minute walks in the urban forest of Hamlin Park in Shoreline on Saturday, August 11 (2:30 – 3:15pm and 3:30 – 4:15pm, immediately followed by a reception); rain date August 12.

An RSVP is requested through advanced registration with the Shoreline Walks Program (mjohnson@shorelinewa.gov, 206-801-2638).

The hike is short but there are several steep inclines. The meeting point is at the park’s east side parking lot entrance on the SW corner of 25th Ave NE and NE 160th St in Shoreline 98155.

An imaginary city department complete with its own uniforms, CMC workers have inspired pedestrians to explore innovative mindfulness practices since 2009 in cities from New York to Seattle. 

Partially based on the images gathered by participants in 2017, CMC has developed Meditation Circuit, a short walking loop featuring a series of meditation stations marked by colorful artwork.

Each station offers a different mindfulness-based activity intended to support well-being: listening; walking; even using cell phones as tools for meditating on the many colors of green in the park.

More on the project can be found online. After the August 11 event, the Circuit and artwork will remain in place for up to a year.

Funding for Meditation Circuit is made possible with support from the City of Shoreline Parks Recreation, and Cultural Services department, Shoreline Walks Program, 4Culture Tech Specific Grant, Michigan Technological University, and private donors.