Monthly event brings together healing arts

What if you could take the tranquility of an art exhibit and mix it up with other creative disciplines that soothe the soul –– poetry, literature, culinary creations, performance art, psychic readings and massage?

That’s the idea painter Nja Oné had for a once-a-month healing power of the arts event. Called Last Saturday, it’s scheduled for 7 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month at 6600 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 123. Doors are set to open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $15.

The next one is planned for Saturday. For more information, visit njaone.com or facebook.com/njaart or call 702-741-2056.

“It’s about healing the mind, body and soul,” Oné said. “It’s all the arts together.”

Each evening starts with viewing the art exhibit and 10-minute massages for a donation of $5. Proceeds go to various charity organizations. Young artists in various disciplines receive about 15 minutes in the spotlight. The culinary-minded bring samples to share. Poets and other literary types read their verses aloud. The list of participants changes each month with an emphasis on variety.

Lynette Owens offers Reiki energy treatments.

“I’m really on board with Nja’s vision,” Owens said. “She has this beautiful vision for families and just the whole art community, and I have a passion for that type of work. It helps people get connected with their own creative nature. I have a little bit of a guided intention, so if people have blocks that are keeping them from moving forward, they can relax and get in touch with their internal intuition.”

Bob Johnston gave chair massages at the last event. He said 10 minutes in the chair can relieve a lot of stress, as the neck and shoulder regions are where people tend to tighten up. They can sit in the chair with their face in the cradle as he works their muscles.

“A lot of people get up sleepy,” he said.

He added that the tranquil setting, with soft music and trickling water, complements the experience.

The idea for the multi-disciplinary event came to Oné in November. It was born out of her desire to lend a hand to other artists.

“For a long time, I wanted to do something to give back to the community,” she said. “I know there are a lot of things that are not as conducive for young artists coming out. ... I wanted to do my part (to recognize) all the people who helped me by helping other people.”

She said the idea had been brewing for the past two years, always in the back of her mind but not quite ready to be acted upon. In November, she said she got a strong sense of being pulled in that direction. It came with a sense of urgency.

“It said, ‘You need to do this, and you need to do this now,’ ” Oné said. “The sensation was: It was time, and it was right. It was so strong, I said, ‘OK.’ ”

Oné began by making phone calls to others in the art community, not sure how she was going to pull off her idea. After all, she was an established artist, used to having event organizers call her to be part of their presentations, not the other way around.

“Everyone I asked, there was not one hesitation,” Oné said. “It was like the universe opened the way and said, ‘You listened, and we’ll help you.’ ”

Oné said everything fell into place quickly once she began setting up the event. She found a spot when she went to visit one of the practitioners. There was a courtyard setting with a gazebo, a pond with little fish one could watch from an arched bridge and a grassy area nearby. The tranquility of the spot was not lost on her, and then she learned the office complex had a banquet room that looked out on it that was hardly ever used.

Oné quickly secured the use of it.

“I remember walking out and going, ‘What’s going on?’ ... I do believe that when you give from your heart, when you give back, when you want to heal, when you do something more than just (for yourself), things just open up for you.”

The first event was in January and saw nearly three dozen attendees. Claire Griffin was one and said that as soon as she entered, she felt the peaceful atmosphere.

“Art comes in so many different forms, and it reaches people differently. It was almost like a mosaic of communication,” she said. “She had an awesome spoken artist there. She had music. There was acting art. The whole thing, I was moved. It was like all the holidays were rolled into one. This was what it means to get away and have fun. Every one of your senses was saying, ‘Thank you.’ ”

Oné said her next goal is to make it an all-day festival.

Contact Summerlin/Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 702-387-2949.