Poets and Dreamers is honored to share this magical collection of captivating images by artist and designer Simon Alcantara. Having met Simon in New York at an intimate dinner party for Joan Didion, which was hosted by author Stephanie LaCava and her husband Brian Weiss, the words Simon shared with me that evening about manifestation and realizing dreams has inspired me since, not simply with writing, but in all areas of life. We sat at that dimly-lit table across from Joan Didion in a conversation like old friends, and Simon said: “When you’re creating something, everything you hear outside of you, that’s external.” He then held his hands open to the sky, looked to me, and said, “This—this is all that matters—only listen to this...” I didn’t know about any of the sublime works Simon was creating at that time, or about his uniquely inspiring years as a dancer in New York, the city where my parents once met and married...we simply connected on a similar plane, as we both identify ourselves as dreamers who create reality from a mystical place, a quiet otherworldly place, a seemingly impossible place that begins with contemplation and love. To now enjoy this moment in time when Poets and Dreamers can showcase Simon's transformative work feels like a dream in itself...through his divine collection of images and passages, Simon takes us on a mystical journey through exotic worlds as he shares exquisite portraits of the enchanting people and places that touch him most deeply, and inspire him to change the world...
“My intention is to create something beautiful, meaningful, timeless, memorable, and powerful.”
- Simon Alcantara
- Simon Alcantara
Meditation
Here we have two images overlayed, both shot in NYC in March of 2016.
One of the photographer and sometimes model Maxmillion Rosario, who also happens to be my nephew.
The image of the leaves I shot in Washington Square Park in the summer of 2016.
Here we have two images overlayed, both shot in NYC in March of 2016.
One of the photographer and sometimes model Maxmillion Rosario, who also happens to be my nephew.
The image of the leaves I shot in Washington Square Park in the summer of 2016.
Transcendence and the Breath of Life
I shot this image of the model Riji Suh, a dear friend and constant collaborator, at the end of August of 2016 in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic. We see Riji Suh here as if in a trance, merging with the water and the orchids blooming from her mouth. As if she is breathing them into existence.
I shot this image of the model Riji Suh, a dear friend and constant collaborator, at the end of August of 2016 in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic. We see Riji Suh here as if in a trance, merging with the water and the orchids blooming from her mouth. As if she is breathing them into existence.
Luna
I shot this photograph in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic at the end of August 2016. Riji Suh and I have a deep connection with the moon and we realized last year that we were consciously and unintentially shooting either near the full moon or the new moon. When we arrived in Terrenas, it was the full moon and there had been a storm the day before. leaving the water and sky in this otherworldly color. As it turns out, the house we stayed in was also named Luna (Moon). In this image, Riji powerfully embodies the majesty of the moon the ocean.
I shot this photograph in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic at the end of August 2016. Riji Suh and I have a deep connection with the moon and we realized last year that we were consciously and unintentially shooting either near the full moon or the new moon. When we arrived in Terrenas, it was the full moon and there had been a storm the day before. leaving the water and sky in this otherworldly color. As it turns out, the house we stayed in was also named Luna (Moon). In this image, Riji powerfully embodies the majesty of the moon the ocean.
So we travel on earth seeking the terrain of Poetry, walking through wilderness and empty landscape or visiting those ancient sites like Dholavira in far-western Gujarat, or Mykenai in the Greek Peloponnese, or the Arawak campsite on eastern Carriacou in the Grenadine Windward Isles, pursuing that authenticity of experience in a form of antique material reality...
from The Yoga of Poetry by Kevin McGrath
Memorial
I took this photo in the early fall of 2015. I was in Massachusetts for the memorial weekend of my spiritual teacher of four years, Zoe Marae. A few of us went on a hike and as I walked past this location I loved how the puddle reflected the top of the trees and created again this feeling of being in between two worlds.
I took this photo in the early fall of 2015. I was in Massachusetts for the memorial weekend of my spiritual teacher of four years, Zoe Marae. A few of us went on a hike and as I walked past this location I loved how the puddle reflected the top of the trees and created again this feeling of being in between two worlds.
Numinous
I took this photo in the early fall of 2015. It is actually two images overlayed. The subject is the ballerina Nan Venderbush who attends the SAB (The School of American Ballet founded by George Balanchine), her mom and I danced together when we were teenagers in the ballet world. Before I took the image, Nan and me were having a discussion about the the famed and dreamy ballerina Susane Farrell and then I just asked Nan to dance in this beautiful garden. The garden is located in their house in East Harlem NYC.
I took this photo in the early fall of 2015. It is actually two images overlayed. The subject is the ballerina Nan Venderbush who attends the SAB (The School of American Ballet founded by George Balanchine), her mom and I danced together when we were teenagers in the ballet world. Before I took the image, Nan and me were having a discussion about the the famed and dreamy ballerina Susane Farrell and then I just asked Nan to dance in this beautiful garden. The garden is located in their house in East Harlem NYC.
Glory
I took this photo in the West Village in NYC in October of 2015. I loved the colors of the leaves on the ground and the burst of this morning glory shooting through the fence. It signified for me the cycles of death and rebirth.
I took this photo in the West Village in NYC in October of 2015. I loved the colors of the leaves on the ground and the burst of this morning glory shooting through the fence. It signified for me the cycles of death and rebirth.
Aspen Trees
I took this photograph at Brookfield Place at the World Trade Center site in the spring of 2015. It’s an image of the paper covering a large wall. It reminded me of the Aspen trees in the backyard of my friend Beau’s house in Telluride.
I took this photograph at Brookfield Place at the World Trade Center site in the spring of 2015. It’s an image of the paper covering a large wall. It reminded me of the Aspen trees in the backyard of my friend Beau’s house in Telluride.
These are places, strange and vague situations where death is manifold and thoroughly extant to the careful eye. There are women’s bangles made of shell to be picked up from the saline dust or small copper beads and thin chert blades, or tiny obsidian arrow-heads that can be unhidden and disclosed beneath those bloody grey walls about the Lion Gate, or beautiful indented potsherds and ceramic fragments at the waterline where the Atlantic rolls out its long blue visceral waves...
from The Yoga of Poetry
Flight
The two images above are overlayed. The beach image is of Seminyak beach in Bali. I took a two hour walk every morning on that beach in August of 2015. It was two weeks of regenerating and healing for me. The image of the model Riji Suh who is a dear friend and constant collaborator was shot in September of 2015 in NYC. The joining of two worlds coming together to create a new dimension....
The two images above are overlayed. The beach image is of Seminyak beach in Bali. I took a two hour walk every morning on that beach in August of 2015. It was two weeks of regenerating and healing for me. The image of the model Riji Suh who is a dear friend and constant collaborator was shot in September of 2015 in NYC. The joining of two worlds coming together to create a new dimension....
Adrere Amelal
I took this image of the Eco lodge the morning after our arrival as I was walking back to my room.
The structures you see below the mountain are the rooms constructed from salt and clay.
I took this image of the Eco lodge the morning after our arrival as I was walking back to my room.
The structures you see below the mountain are the rooms constructed from salt and clay.
Wonderland
I took this photo in Bali in August of 2015. It’s the outside of Potato Head, a beach club in the town of Seminyak.
The structure is built out of old wood screen windows. Something about it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, and I started daydreaming about a world of wonder on the other side of the wall.
I took this photo in Bali in August of 2015. It’s the outside of Potato Head, a beach club in the town of Seminyak.
The structure is built out of old wood screen windows. Something about it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, and I started daydreaming about a world of wonder on the other side of the wall.
Communion
These two overlayed images were shot in Las Terranas Dominican Republic at the end of August 2016.
Here we see Riji Suh communing with the ocean as she did every morning.
These two overlayed images were shot in Las Terranas Dominican Republic at the end of August 2016.
Here we see Riji Suh communing with the ocean as she did every morning.
All these rare and disjected objects come to us from millennia ago and can be read for their quiet validity and record of ancient humanity, for in these places we are travelling in time and passing through the unseen tissue and blind gateways of an absolute and unsigned dissolution...That is where Poetry begins, alone in an unaffected and untroubled world where the initial traces of humankind can be raised and admired, particularly for its stains of human loss and grief...
from The Yoga of Poetry
Siwa Oasis, Egypt 2010
I took this photo at the eco lode Adrere Amellal in Siwa in 2010.
A group of us arrived at the lodge the night before to be greeted by numerous men dressed in white djellabas, each holding a lantern. We were led to our rooms, made of salt and clay and lit by candles made on location. A magical dinner followed with drinks and laughter by a fire pit the remainder of the night. I kept commenting that I felt I could hear the ocean but of course that felt silly because we were in the desert. The next morning to my surprise I realized there was this huge body of water in front of us: the Siwa Oasis!
I took this photo at the eco lode Adrere Amellal in Siwa in 2010.
A group of us arrived at the lodge the night before to be greeted by numerous men dressed in white djellabas, each holding a lantern. We were led to our rooms, made of salt and clay and lit by candles made on location. A magical dinner followed with drinks and laughter by a fire pit the remainder of the night. I kept commenting that I felt I could hear the ocean but of course that felt silly because we were in the desert. The next morning to my surprise I realized there was this huge body of water in front of us: the Siwa Oasis!
Rio Grande Gore Bridge
I took this picture in July of 2015 while visiting Taos with my good friend Beau. I was mesmerized by the scope of the landscape, the bridge and the famous Rio Grande. I imagined that the river led into some far away mystical world.
I took this picture in July of 2015 while visiting Taos with my good friend Beau. I was mesmerized by the scope of the landscape, the bridge and the famous Rio Grande. I imagined that the river led into some far away mystical world.
Shiodome 2008
I took this photo in 2008 in the Shiodome neighborhood of Tokyo Japan.
Often times if I am very jetlagged I’ll grab my camera and go shooting. I’ll admit I like the in between-worlds feeling of jetlag and I find that creatively it allows me to explore other dimensions.
I took this photo in 2008 in the Shiodome neighborhood of Tokyo Japan.
Often times if I am very jetlagged I’ll grab my camera and go shooting. I’ll admit I like the in between-worlds feeling of jetlag and I find that creatively it allows me to explore other dimensions.
Paris Sunset 2008
I took this photo from a friend’s terrace in Paris.
It was my brother’s birthday and our friend, who we had recently met at a Lux Yoga retreat in the South of France,
was hosting a dinner for us. It was one of those magical early September afternoons.
I took this photo from a friend’s terrace in Paris.
It was my brother’s birthday and our friend, who we had recently met at a Lux Yoga retreat in the South of France,
was hosting a dinner for us. It was one of those magical early September afternoons.
Light
I took this image in Bali in August of 2015. On my morning walk, I encountered two dogs playing on the beach and I was captivated by the light and their reflection on the wet sand. You can see surfers in the distance waiting for waves to ride.
I took this image in Bali in August of 2015. On my morning walk, I encountered two dogs playing on the beach and I was captivated by the light and their reflection on the wet sand. You can see surfers in the distance waiting for waves to ride.
Passi Fukuoka Japan, 2017
I took this photo and the the video in Fukuoka as I was having breakfast and thanking the Universe for such beauty in front of me. A moment later, I received a message from my mom back in NYC that beloved aunt in Dominican Republic had passed. This particular aunt was like a second mom to my brother and I. She had been ill, and she was also 94.
In that moment I felt clarity of her presence and knew I would always carry her love inside me.
I took this photo and the the video in Fukuoka as I was having breakfast and thanking the Universe for such beauty in front of me. A moment later, I received a message from my mom back in NYC that beloved aunt in Dominican Republic had passed. This particular aunt was like a second mom to my brother and I. She had been ill, and she was also 94.
In that moment I felt clarity of her presence and knew I would always carry her love inside me.
About the Artist
Native New Yorker Simon Alcantara is a former professional classical dancer who danced soloist and principal roles in the U.S. and abroad. He is an award-winning jewelry designer who formerly designed for Oscar de la Renta, Balmain Haute Couture and J. Mendel. In addition to being honored the Rising Star Award for Fine Jewelry by Fashion Group International Inc., Alcantara was also one of nine designers chosen by a panel of fashion editors, executives and members of the CFDA and the NY Transit System to design a subway-inspired accessory for the centennial celebration of the New York Subway System. Alcantara is continuously exploring multiple art forms, including jewelry, photography, and film. “My intention is to create something beautiful, meaningful, timeless, memorable, and powerful,” he says. “The most valuable lesson I have assimilated is the importance of working on your craft every single day with passion, respect, and integrity.”
All images displayed are property and copyright of Simon Alcantara. Please contact the artist for permission to share.
We can change the world...
Love yourself
and love one another.
Simon Alcantara
Poets and Dreamers, LLC
San Clemente, CA
So we travel on earth seeking the terrain of Poetry, walking through wilderness and empty landscape or visiting those ancient sites like Dholavira in far-western Gujarat, or Mykenai in the Greek Peloponnese, or the Arawak campsite on eastern Carriacou in the Grenadine Windward Isles, pursuing that authenticity of experience in a form of antique material reality...
These are places, strange and vague situations where death is manifold and thoroughly extant to the careful eye. There are women’s bangles made of shell to be picked up from the saline dust or small copper beads and thin chert blades, or tiny obsidian arrow-heads that can be unhidden and disclosed beneath those bloody grey walls about the Lion Gate, or beautiful indented potsherds and ceramic fragments at the waterline where the Atlantic rolls out its long blue visceral waves...
Kevin McGrath 🐚Yoga of Poetry
Wherever you stand
be the soul of that place.
~ Rumi
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