American Tanka are illustrations of the light of the heart.

The symbols most frequently used are the peony, flower of the bodhisattva, the word om, cloud forms, radiances, wisdom flames, the dorji - representing the tool to conquer ignorance. Often the central fragment of a poem by one of the great mystics is presented, the energy creating all of these being the same. The purpose of the Flowerbanners is to present the light of the heart to the light of the heart, that all may wake in the joy of the world. Gold and silver thread are representative of the sanskrit word “upavita”, the thread that connects all souls. It is appliquéd to brocades to remind of the transient radiance of being. American Tanka are made to demonstrate the universal transcendent spirit of life and the central core of being, loving compassion. Praise pranja and joy to the world!

Dan A. Barker - 6/’94 - and still

For a 141 page pdf retrospective of American Tanka - photos, prose, poetry, method & materials (8 MB)-A.T. Retrospective '02-'07.pdf

revised June 21, 2008

revised June 21,2008