Wabi-Sabi Saturday Retreat: A Perfectly Imperfect Day of Leisure
Saturday, August 8, 2026 | 10AM – 3PM
Embrace the beauty of the flawed and join the grazing deer at the restorative, relaxing, and beautifully weathered grounds of O’Hanlon. This retreat day is dedicated to the art of Wabi-Sabi—the Japanese philosophy of finding perfection in imperfection.
We are gathering on 8/8, a double-eight date symbolizing infinity and limitless possibilities.
Begin outdoors in the sculpture garden with a warm cup of green tea and gentle stretching. Yoga teacher Sarah McNeil will guide the group into a period of silence, during which you are free to wander the grounds and sketch, write, or simply appreciate small elements of impermanence in the O’Hanlon landscape.
Mid-morning break the silence and choose your wabi-sabi adventure:
Photo Expedition (Led by Jackie LaLanne & Naomi Tamura): With a camera as your eye, take a stroll, perhaps meandering to the nearby Cascade Falls or Three Wells.
Sculpture (Led by Sherry Williamson): Create soulful sculptures using found natural elements— whether collected previously or gathered directly from the O’Hanlon grounds.
Sumi ink and paper will also be available for impromptu markmaking and any gesture of the moment.
Gather in community with a lunch packed from home, or opt-in for locally organized Bento Boxes (details upon registration).
We’ll close the circle in the afternoon, sharing thoughts and work, and leaving you rejuvenated to re-enter the outside world.
Reserve your spot below!
Registration Details:
When: Saturday, August 8th (8/8)
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Cost: $80 Members / $100 Non-Members
(If OHCA Materials are Used, a $10 Materials Fee will be Requested)
Optional Bento Box Lunch: (cost and pre-order details after registration)
Maximum 18
About the Facilitators
Jackie La Lanne recently retired after teaching art in the Mill Valley School District for over 30 years. She continues discovering, making, envisioning, sharing, and having fun. Jackie graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and a Master’s Degree in Art Education. She is an accomplished artist, teacher and photographer who has exhibited at the O’Hanlon Center for the Arts. She is a past Board Chair and currently facilitates O’Hanlon’s iconic Tuesday Perception Workshop.
Sarah McNeil With over 30 years of experience, yoga teacher Sarah brings a creative perspective to the mat. Also an active mixed-media artist and board member at the O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Sarah blends her love of community, art and mindful movement to help others find presence and ease in their creative expression.
Naomi Tamura is a visual artist based in Mill Valley, California, working in acrylic paint, drawing media, and photography. Her work blends representation with intuition, exploring themes of memory, emotion, and atmosphere through expressive mark-making and the lens of a camera. A lifelong artist, Tamura studied Studio Art at Scripps College and graphic design at ArtCenter College of Design, leading to a 20-year career as a designer and art director. She has exhibited at the O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, where she is a past board president, and remains active in the local arts community.
Sherry Williamson is a classically trained architect specializing in residential interiors, custom furniture, and lighting. She holds an M.Arch from Yale, a BA from WashU, studied at the École d’Architecture in Strasbourg, and creates sculpture, ceramics, monotype prints and watercolors while co-running Rivet Interiors in Mill Valley, CA.