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Contemplative films exploring creativity, transformation, nature, philosophy, mythology, and the strange experience of being human.

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Recent Short Films & Reels

@artfunky2022
Cynthia Calhoun

@artfunky2022

Contemplation through creative expression. Artist • Filmmaker • Storyteller • Meaning-maker. Exploring what it means to be human.
  • Sometimes the adventure you didn’t ask for turns out to be JUST the thing you needed.

We were headed to Bear Creek Lake in WNC when we started talking about Wolf Lake. I asked John if he’d ever taken the boat there. Nope. Then I asked what it was like.

“It’s smaller than Bear Creek Lake.”

“Well, want to try it? We’re on the same road that leads to it, right?”

When we got there, I immediately noticed how quiet it was. NO other cars at the boat launch.

We’d found the Introvert Lake. 😂

Lakes can be busy places in the summertime. Sometimes it’s really nice to stumble upon a quiet little place you weren’t even planning to visit...and discover that it’s exceptionally beautiful.

#dogsofinstagram #wnc #828isgreat #boating #lakelife
  • A walk. It’s kind of magical, really. You get a chance to breathe the fresh air, get a change of scenery, and your dog just might think you’re the best for taking her along. 🚶‍♀️🐾 

#walking #artfunky #contemplation #problemsolving
  • What filming Justice actually looked like... ⚖️

Two trips up a mountain. Camera equipment. Costumes. Props. A painting. Briars. Location scouting. And at some point, the realization that perhaps I had made some questionable logistical choices. 😂

Here’s a little glimpse behind the scenes as I searched for the place where Justice would come to life.
And yes, there’s a reason I carried that painting all the way up there. 🖼️

JUSTICE: The next chapter of The Hero’s Journey
Coming next week.

#ArtFunky #BehindTheScenes #Filmmaking #CreativeProcess #JusticeArchetype #TarotArt #MajorArcana
  • Sometimes the most profound thing we can do is simply return to our center. 🌲

This Earth Star Chakra meditation grew from a hand-drawn mandala, filmed one line at a time, and slowly became a contemplative journey through an ancient forest.

Rather than trying to "fix" ourselves, this meditation is an invitation to pause, breathe, and remember our connection to the earth beneath our feet…and to something far older and far larger than ourselves.

I hope it brings you a little steadiness today.

🎥 Full meditation now available on YouTube. Link in bio.

#EarthStarChakra #GroundingMeditation #MandalaMeditation #CreativePractice #ArtFunky
  • The Justice card is often associated with fairness, truth, and accountability.

But over the past month, I've been discovering another side of this archetype. As I created the mandala and am working on the archetype video…

I see that there’s a quieter side.

One that subtly asks:

♠️Where am I out of balance?�
♠️What choices bring me back into alignment?�
♠️How can I live with greater integrity and compassion toward myself and others?

This hand-drawn mandala became a meditation on returning to what matters most.

If you'd like to slow down for a few minutes, the full guided meditation is now on YouTube. I'd love to have you there.

What does "balance" mean to you right now?

#JusticeTarot #MandalaMeditation #ContemplativePractice #MandalaArt #artfunky
  • Every brick I carry is one step closer to the sanctuary I’m creating.

What started as a garden project has slowly become something much bigger: a place for meditation, creativity, filming, quiet mornings, and gathering around the fire with people I love.

It’s slow work.

Every brick has to be dug out, cleaned by hand, hauled, carried up the hill, and eventually laid into place.

Oddly enough...I love that.

Some things aren’t finished in a day, a month, a season, or a year.

They’re meant to be built one brick at a time before they take shape over the long term. 🧱

#BackyardOasis #CreateEveryDay #ArtFunkySanctuary #MindfulLiving #GardenSanctuary
  • I went on a fantastic hike with friends I met through @ristlaofficial at ScreamFest last year.

So much good in one day:
– festival friendships that turn real
– time together in nature (even when the heat said otherwise 😅)
– a challenging uphill climb with a view worth every step
– stepping away from work to reset and breathe

A beautiful, grounding day. I can’t wait for the next one.

#PurchaseKnob #naturetherapy #festivalfriends #foundfamily #simplemoments
  • 🎡One of the biggest lessons from creating this video...

...was realizing I wasn't just making a film about the Wheel of Fortune.

I was living it.

While working on this project, my family experienced major changes. My cat Emma became sick. Even filming became an exercise in surrender: construction noise, changing weather, shifting light, unexpected interruptions.

Life kept asking me to adapt.

The Wheel of Fortune reminds us that we can't control everything that happens.
We can choose how we respond.

The song in this reel is called “Circle Breath.”

Years ago, we sang it together as part of a school community, written by my friend Sue Ford – @sueford7654321 – who graciously gave me permission to include it.

Returning to it for this project felt like completing a circle.

Thank you, Sue, for trusting me with your beautiful music.

🎥 Full video now on YouTube (link in bio).

What season of life has asked you to surrender?

#tarot #wheeloffortune #wheeloffortunetarot #tarotreader #storytelling
  • At @smokymtnyogafest over the weekend, my dear friend Amber - @kleidoscope_yoga - came to see me. She was already so busy teaching classes, leading the opening ceremony, and spreading sunshine wherever she went. 

She took the time to come to my booth and get a chakra reading + mini healing session. I used the tarot cards to look at which chakras were asking for attention, and then we worked on some energy healing and aura clearing.

Amber is one amazing human. Not only that, cats love her, too! 

I love working with Amber with the intuitive arts. She not only teaches yoga but she does Akashic readings, too. When I had one done, I was blown away at how accurate and soul-filled it was. 

Here’s to friendship, intuition, healing, and transformation.

#smokymountainyogafest #tarothealing #chakrahealing #transformation #828isgreat
Sometimes the adventure you didn’t ask for turns out to be JUST the thing you needed. We were headed to Bear Creek Lake in WNC when we started talking about Wolf Lake. I asked John if he’d ever taken the boat there. Nope. Then I asked what it was like. “It’s smaller than Bear Creek Lake.” “Well, want to try it? We’re on the same road that leads to it, right?” When we got there, I immediately noticed how quiet it was. NO other cars at the boat launch. We’d found the Introvert Lake. 😂 Lakes can be busy places in the summertime. Sometimes it’s really nice to stumble upon a quiet little place you weren’t even planning to visit...and discover that it’s exceptionally beautiful. #dogsofinstagram #wnc #828isgreat #boating #lakelife
1 week ago
116
View on Instagram |
1/9
A walk. It’s kind of magical, really. You get a chance to breathe the fresh air, get a change of scenery, and your dog just might think you’re the best for taking her along. 🚶‍♀️🐾 #walking #artfunky #contemplation #problemsolving
3 weeks ago
184
View on Instagram |
2/9
What filming Justice actually looked like... ⚖️ Two trips up a mountain. Camera equipment. Costumes. Props. A painting. Briars. Location scouting. And at some point, the realization that perhaps I had made some questionable logistical choices. 😂 Here’s a little glimpse behind the scenes as I searched for the place where Justice would come to life. And yes, there’s a reason I carried that painting all the way up there. 🖼️ JUSTICE: The next chapter of The Hero’s Journey Coming next week. #ArtFunky #BehindTheScenes #Filmmaking #CreativeProcess #JusticeArchetype #TarotArt #MajorArcana
1 month ago
1915
View on Instagram |
3/9
Sometimes the most profound thing we can do is simply return to our center. 🌲 This Earth Star Chakra meditation grew from a hand-drawn mandala, filmed one line at a time, and slowly became a contemplative journey through an ancient forest. Rather than trying to "fix" ourselves, this meditation is an invitation to pause, breathe, and remember our connection to the earth beneath our feet…and to something far older and far larger than ourselves. I hope it brings you a little steadiness today. 🎥 Full meditation now available on YouTube. Link in bio. #EarthStarChakra #GroundingMeditation #MandalaMeditation #CreativePractice #ArtFunky
1 month ago
105
View on Instagram |
4/9
The Justice card is often associated with fairness, truth, and accountability. But over the past month, I've been discovering another side of this archetype. As I created the mandala and am working on the archetype video… I see that there’s a quieter side. One that subtly asks: ♠️Where am I out of balance?� ♠️What choices bring me back into alignment?� ♠️How can I live with greater integrity and compassion toward myself and others? This hand-drawn mandala became a meditation on returning to what matters most. If you'd like to slow down for a few minutes, the full guided meditation is now on YouTube. I'd love to have you there. What does "balance" mean to you right now? #JusticeTarot #MandalaMeditation #ContemplativePractice #MandalaArt #artfunky
2 months ago
138
View on Instagram |
5/9
Every brick I carry is one step closer to the sanctuary I’m creating. What started as a garden project has slowly become something much bigger: a place for meditation, creativity, filming, quiet mornings, and gathering around the fire with people I love. It’s slow work. Every brick has to be dug out, cleaned by hand, hauled, carried up the hill, and eventually laid into place. Oddly enough...I love that. Some things aren’t finished in a day, a month, a season, or a year. They’re meant to be built one brick at a time before they take shape over the long term. 🧱 #BackyardOasis #CreateEveryDay #ArtFunkySanctuary #MindfulLiving #GardenSanctuary
2 months ago
1910
View on Instagram |
6/9
I went on a fantastic hike with friends I met through @ristlaofficial at ScreamFest last year. So much good in one day:
– festival friendships that turn real
– time together in nature (even when the heat said otherwise 😅)
– a challenging uphill climb with a view worth every step
– stepping away from work to reset and breathe A beautiful, grounding day. I can’t wait for the next one. #PurchaseKnob #naturetherapy #festivalfriends #foundfamily #simplemoments
2 months ago
1310
View on Instagram |
7/9
🎡One of the biggest lessons from creating this video... ...was realizing I wasn't just making a film about the Wheel of Fortune. I was living it. While working on this project, my family experienced major changes. My cat Emma became sick. Even filming became an exercise in surrender: construction noise, changing weather, shifting light, unexpected interruptions. Life kept asking me to adapt. The Wheel of Fortune reminds us that we can't control everything that happens. We can choose how we respond. The song in this reel is called “Circle Breath.” Years ago, we sang it together as part of a school community, written by my friend Sue Ford – @sueford7654321 – who graciously gave me permission to include it. Returning to it for this project felt like completing a circle. Thank you, Sue, for trusting me with your beautiful music. 🎥 Full video now on YouTube (link in bio). What season of life has asked you to surrender? #tarot #wheeloffortune #wheeloffortunetarot #tarotreader #storytelling
2 months ago
1510
View on Instagram |
8/9
At @smokymtnyogafest over the weekend, my dear friend Amber - @kleidoscope_yoga - came to see me. She was already so busy teaching classes, leading the opening ceremony, and spreading sunshine wherever she went. 

She took the time to come to my booth and get a chakra reading + mini healing session. I used the tarot cards to look at which chakras were asking for attention, and then we worked on some energy healing and aura clearing.

Amber is one amazing human. Not only that, cats love her, too! 

I love working with Amber with the intuitive arts. She not only teaches yoga but she does Akashic readings, too. When I had one done, I was blown away at how accurate and soul-filled it was. 

Here’s to friendship, intuition, healing, and transformation.

#smokymountainyogafest #tarothealing #chakrahealing #transformation #828isgreat
At @smokymtnyogafest over the weekend, my dear friend Amber - @kleidoscope_yoga - came to see me. She was already so busy teaching classes, leading the opening ceremony, and spreading sunshine wherever she went. She took the time to come to my booth and get a chakra reading + mini healing session. I used the tarot cards to look at which chakras were asking for attention, and then we worked on some energy healing and aura clearing. Amber is one amazing human. Not only that, cats love her, too! I love working with Amber with the intuitive arts. She not only teaches yoga but she does Akashic readings, too. When I had one done, I was blown away at how accurate and soul-filled it was. Here’s to friendship, intuition, healing, and transformation. #smokymountainyogafest #tarothealing #chakrahealing #transformation #828isgreat
3 months ago
1811
View on Instagram |
9/9
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