By Rabbi Bluth featuring Thais Aquino

I am delighted to introduce to our community Thais Aquino, a black indigenous Brazilian artist whose artistry is interwoven with self discovery, spirituality, and activism. Through photography and word, her exhibition explores rest. As we enter Shabbat at this time of the full moon of cheshvan, we are invited into Rest as a sacred practice.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said,

“There is a realm where the goal is not to have but to be,

not to own but to give,

not to control but to share,

​not to subdue, but to be in accord.”

That is Shabbat. As Thais says, “When we pause and rest, we experience greater presence, deeper self-awareness. We enter soul land, we envision a new world, we imagine what it could be. Our soul holds our destiny, she knows our longings and desires.”

Thais inhabits spaces of contemplation, discovery and beauty. Her art is a creative manifestation of her longing for ancestral wisdom and eros. She believes stories can penetrate our spiritual world and awaken deeper truths within the self. Thais offers art medicine through a poetic visual storytelling where she explores harmony, connection, consciousness, truth, love, souland and the earth.

She welcomes us into our time of Rest.

Portrait of the Artist:

Thais Aquino is an extraordinary international artist, born and raised in Brazil where she started her professional journey as a designer and visual artist. After working for Brazil’s largest TV network, Globosat, she moved to New York at the age of 25 to expand her career into the creative arts through photography. New York City is deeply benefited by the extraordinary abilities of Thais Aquino. She calls New York her home and work base but she is also serving clients in other states, including California, Florida and Massachusetts. In addition to her commercial work for influential brands like Bloomingdales, L’Oreal, The Rockefeller Center, The Coca-Cola Company, she is a highly respected fine art photographer whose work has been exhibited in many New York galleries and during Art Basel Miami. Thais’ renowned versatility and professionalism are best evidenced by the prestigious clients she has worked with – from photographing the actress Jessica Alba to shooting campaigns for Garnier, and doing creative collaborations with Love Serve Remember Foundation – Ram Dass Foundation in between.

Ram Dass opened Thais to spirituality, influencing how she perceives the world. Ram Dass’ teachings lead her on her cosmic journey in pursuit of truth, love and devotion. The teachings of the Divine Mother and the spirit of oneness allows her to transform every single experience in life as a vehicle for awakening. The dance between ego and self-inquiry has guided Thais into deeper intimacy with neurosis, pleasure and pain, leading her into a complete marriage with my dharma. Thais honours all the creative beings on the spiritual path of self-realization, relationship with the divine mother and remembrance of god.

Thais is offering Soul Portraits and Brand Ethos Imagery for healers, ceremonialists, ritualists, wellness practitioners, yoga teachers, etc. You can visit her website for more details on her offerings + price. She will be based on Maui, Hawaii, then Santa Fé NM for some other creative endeavors and as always, New York.

www.thaisaquino.com
@tthhass
thaisaquin@gmail.com