About
After receiving his MFA from cal arts, Kalmowitz taught at the Otis Art institute, but felt that a need to deepen his life experience beyond the rarified world of fine arts. He made two decisions which strongly impacted the rest of his life and art: the first, was to pursue a masters degree in clinical art therapy; the second decision, was to learn about meditation.
Soon after Kalmowitz joined the adolescent center, he was promoted to a team of physicians who specialized in treating chronically ill and dying adolescents, and focused their research on pain control, using self hypnosis. Joseph was trained as medical hypnotist and was a lead trainer on numerous research studies. The totality of this research lead Kalmowitz to publish several papers about the diagnostic implications of the drawings done by the patients. Accompanying these children and teens throughout their ordeals, further exposed Kalmowitz to the depths of human suffering and the possibility of mending by artistic means. After several years, Joseph left to pursue art and new ways of healing.
Exploring new methods to heal and Navigate life, lead Kalmowitz to his second major life decision: to learn about meditation. He plunged into the practice by attending a 10-day silent Vipassana Meditation retreat. This new Buddhist vantage changed everything. It was an alternative way of understanding people and the world we live in. Buddhism has served as his ballast during his clinical work and everything else in life. The focus gained by meditation informs his technique and painting practice. While often consulted, Joseph humbly states that he is simply applying the Dharma (teaching) to a given situation. He has attended innumerable retreats and maintains his practice, while participating with several local and national meditation groups.