Photo courtesy of Naropa University Archives
Barbara Bash is an accomplished calligrapher and performance artist who arrived to Naropa University’s faculty team in its early days. She served as a bridge for contemplative and artistic environments with her unique approach that combined Eastern and Western traditions. She taught students to engage with their creative endeavors in a mindful and meaningful way, and demonstrated the relationship between precision and spontaneity through letterforms and brushstroke practice.
She often did collaborative and immersive performance pieces that cross-pollinated with other artistic expressions like music and movement during her time at Naropa and beyond. Her presence at the institution helped students explore the deeper connections between art, spirituality, and personal growth, and her contributions to the creative curriculum helped create an atmosphere where individuals could engage artistic practices as powerful tools for self-discovery and transformation.
