Listen, Be Still, & Laugh

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I immigrated to California in 1999 from China. As I prepared to leave my homeland, my father gifted me these three small ceramic Buddha sculptures. Each depicts a different posture, serving as gentle reminders to listen, find stillness, and practice laughter.

For 27 years, these figures have traveled with me, serving as an enduring connection to my roots and a daily reminder of my cultural heritage.

Photo caption if needed.

JunJun Lii • Sebastopol resident

Jun Jun Li studied Zen calligraphy in China. After moving to California in 1999, she studied abstract painting at Sonoma State University and has continued making art for more than 20 years. Her work reflects the cross-cultural journey she has traveled and the ways her artistic traditions have evolved across place and time.