Luke Townsend-Photographer

10/08/2024

A cheers for The Grateful Dudes

Auntie’s Mae’s Parlor | MidFest

09/24/2024

colourbend your reality
embrace the limitless

zeandale, ks, 2024

08/17/2024

Blessing | བྱིན་རླབས་

Twelve years ago I asked a lama for a blessing with a mala I had. After a good chuckle he proceeded in fulfilling my request. Returning the mala, he asked if I knew the real meaning of blessing. I certainly wasn’t confident to trust my own mind and assumed it to be a trick question. I had no answer, lol.

Now commonplace, blessing is seen in language throughout the world. We seek the blessings of religious figures, gods, ancestors, the universe, etc. When good things happen to us we say it’s a blessing…but what is the real meaning of blessing?�
Composed of two words:

བྱིན (Jin)- Synonymous with strength, power, force, capacity/or capability.

རླབས (Lab) - The action of transforming or effectively creating positive inner change, and can also mean the resultant form: the transformation, the positive change itself.

Sabchu Rinpoche explains the synthesized meanings:

- The force which brings about out positive changes from within.
- The power that causes positive, inner transformation
- That which gives rise to the innate capabilities to use effective change in ones self.

Rinpoche describes that instead of the idea of some outside “force” coming from an external source/person, touching someone inside, the closer meaning of the word ‘blessing’ is that “force” which emerges from inside of oneself in the form of positive change.

Perhaps, an external source such as a place/object/person could be a catalyst/spark/‘kick-starter.’ Perhaps one’s own trust toward the source could contribute toward the occurrence of jin lab.

The ultimate attribution is that blessing is the cause of inner, positive changes.

In this developed a deep importance and meaning behind the word and when I choose to use it. It showed me an indescribable preciousness within the people/things in my own life that have been catalysts for positive change. I can’t think of a greater act of compassion. I got quite the chuckle in thinking back to that moment with the mala came full circle.

In working through the composition, this particular arrangement appeared similar to a stupa, of which its shape symbolizes the perfect enlightened mind. Its shape diffuses the forces of chaos and negativity and moves the human mind towards enlightenment.

Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche explained that 'blessing' is the recognition of the nature of mind. We all have beginning-less non-dual nature, and when we see that - that - is blessing.

How that all seemed to come together without that plan in this way is quite remarkable!

08/12/2024

Dee Radkey warming up in that magical afternoon sunlight before headlining the last Arts in the Park on July 26,2024.

Slowly working through all the images and events from the last two months, from multiple Arts in the Park, Nirvana Hope, Eddy Green, Matt Wade/Dane Meloan, and more Pride in the Parlor Horse Gurl Summer!

08/06/2024

In the night,
seeing Orville as I walk on by,
it’s enough to make a young man ——

Pride in the Parlor - Horse Gurl Summer
| July 2023

08/06/2024

Ray, aka: Cowboy Killa, lost in the sauce during Pride in the Pink Pony Parlor at

(Image made at this exact moment of ‘s song.)

Thanks for a helluva night!
More tk…..

05/07/2024

2024.05.01
Manhattan, ks

‘Free Free Palestine’

Pro-Palestine protestors face off a line of afternoon traffic at the corner of Bluemont & N. Manhattan Avenue last Wednesday.

Organized by the K-State Young Democratic Socialists of America, many students, and community members marched across the campus of Kansas State University in calling for an academic boycott, and for KSU to divest from all research grants, investments, and partnerships with Israel.

©️Luke Townsend / ZUMA Press

05/05/2024

024.05.01
Manhattan, ks

‘Ag School Profits from Ecocide’

Protesters marched through the lawn of Anderson Hall at Kansas State University on Wednesday. Anderson Hall was the former home of the Agriculture College and now houses the Office of the President.

Organized by the K-State Young Democratic Socialists of America, many students and community members are calling for an academic boycott, and for Kansas State University to divest from all research grants, investments, and partnerships with Israel.

The K-State YDSA has demanded in an open letter to K-State President Richard Linton, to “step down from your role within the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD). Your continued involvement with BARD contradicts our schools values of agriculture, as Israel commits ecocide by destroying Palestinian crops and soil.”

©️Luke Townsend / ZUMA Press

05/04/2024

024.05.01
Manhattan, ks

‘Free Palestine’

Palestinian flags were raised on the lawn of Anderson Hall at Kansas State University on Wednesday as students and community members gathered to protest not only the genocide of the Palestinian people, but K-States continued financial and academic investments with Israel.

One of the Universities oldest buildings, Anderson Hall houses the Office of the President, and in an open letter to KSU President, Richard Linton, the KSYDS said that “our association with any organization that supports forces implicated in human rights abuses is contradictory to the values of our academic community.”

Organized by the K-State Young Democratic Socialists of America, many students and community members are calling for an academic boycott, and for Kansas State University to divest from all research grants, investments, and partnerships with Israel.

©️Luke Townsend / ZUMA Press

05/04/2024

2024.05.01
Manhattan, ks

Scene from Wednesday’s protest for Palestine at the corner of Bluemont & N. Manhattan Avenue.

Organized by the K-State Young Democratic Socialists of America, many students, and community members marched across the campus of Kansas State University in calling for an academic boycott, and for KSU to divest from all research grants, investments, and partnerships with Israel.

©️Luke Townsend / ZUMA Press

04/27/2024

After a long & chilly 420 morning frolicking through the central meadows of Manhattan, I nestled down between the cushioned leather folds in the shoe of a local giant with high hopes of dozing out into a cozy, peaceful afternoons nap.

Midway through this unconscious journey down the rabbit hole of my mind, the croaking of a few local pond frogs lured me out of my deep sleep, which on any normal occasion might have been cause to indulge in a tasty treat of crispy frog legs.

Approaching the pond I felt the rumble of the frogs croaking shake the earth beneath my feet, and peering through the rods of marine fauna, I saw before me a creature of only legends lore! The creature, draped in a shiny purple cloak, indulging in the rare nectars of vanilla and lavender, could be none other than the Frog Wizard himself. In the sight of such rare magnificence, I let out a wallow of gasp!

Startled, the Frog Wizard leapt from his lilly, disappearing into the fading light of the marsh. Curious to catch another glimpse of the legendary Frog Wizard, I followed a trail of nectar drops down an old alley where hundreds of locals were carousing about.

Taking a swig, I was reminded of a place I once knew. Someplace warm. A place where the nectar flows like wine. Where beautiful people instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano.

Climbing to the top of a buildings roof I sat down next to the Frog Wizard, and as we gazed upon the performances below, I realized in that moment this could only be one thing…

…FROG WIZARD FEST!!!!

and sure do know how to throw one helluva party! I’m so glad I could be there to make photographs of this legendary festival!

Although I was only there for the last two bands, and rocked downtown Manhattan harder than I’ve ever seen!

This is the Manhattan that makes me happy!

more pix tk…

04/22/2024

420 was one helluva high this year and I can’t even express how grateful I am for this rad human, for the insane amount of support, trust, and belief she’s shown to me and my work!
Thank you 🙏

I couldn’t be happier to design this artwork for and seeing so many wearing these t shirts during was insanely heart warming! When I suggested making an artwork of Tibetan calligraphy, I never expected Katie to run with it so unobjectively, and I couldn’t be more proud to have this message of ‘Love’ highlighted and spread through this beautiful language!

Thank you so so much to everyone who purchased a shirt with the compassionate intention of supporting such a wonderful and needed organization in Manhattan.

Much love also to Dane, Ash, and Sarah at for their continued artistic collab and ex*****on of the weird s**t in my head for that beautiful coloured heart background…and for their masterful screen printing!

Remember……

“Love Is The Only Cause Of Happiness”
བདེ་བའི་རྒྱུ་གཙོ་བོ་ནི་བྱམས་བརྩེ་ཡིན།

04/15/2024

Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togethaaah today. Mawwage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam wifin a dream!

My first wedding where I wasn’t “working” but that didn’t stop me from sneaking some pix!

So so glad I got to be there on your day with the best families ever!
James & Taylor, love y’all infinitely and way to throw a banger of a party!

04/10/2024

བརྩེ་བ། བདེ་བའི་རྒྱུ་གཙོ་བོ་ནི་བྱམས་བརྩེ་ཡིན།
LOVE - Love is the Only Cause of Happiness

I never thought that when I was summoned to the house that would ask me to create the design for the 2024 TC t shirt to be released on 4/20 during Little Apple Pride!

My career in the arts has been in photography, and so being asked to create a design for an organization was insanely anxiety inducing, and also quite rare to be given carte blanche on a project - the level of trust that accompanies such freedom - well, the pressure was on!

I wanted a main piece to the design uniting around a central concept, a concept that fully embodies the values of TC and the positive impact they have on our community; LOVE

Having played around with this word stacking design as a gift for two of the most deserving people ever, .faithh , I expanded upon that for this piece. There’s a script style in Tibetan, called Khyug, that allows for a much more open expressiveness to the writing, to which I composed the Tibetan word for ‘Love’ - ‘བརྩེ་བ’ to mimic the shape of a heart. It needed another element, a sort of ‘anchor’ for the calligraphy to set upon, something colourful and attractive to the eye.

I was so happy to hear that will be printing these shirts! Knowing that they also happen to be some of the dopest artists to collaborate with, and that I would try and do something that I clearly can’t execute, I sent Ash the most horrid first draft concept ever, just a sloppy heart shaped mess of terribly mixed colours. It was bad. This is the genius of Ash! They took my concept and crushed it, creating this wicked rad, digital mixed paint “splashes,” I don’t know what you even call them. A perfect match of vision and ex*****on! If you’re not following Ash or Dane then you’re really missing out on happiness, it’s that simple.

Lastly, I chose to incorporate a line of text that ties back to the artwork I did for last year’s TC Auction which sums up the entire concept. That line reads: “Love is the Only Cause of Happiness.”

Thank you all so so much for your support and trust to create this year’s shirt!

04/09/2024

Solar shadows

04/09/2024

Todays solar assignment - shadows

02/10/2024

02/01/2024

12/29/2023

So thrilled to be apart of this collaboration of community over at !

When local businesses support each other, amazing things happen, and if you know anything about Ryan Emley, the intentionality he’s put into building this dream is clear when you walk into Aggieville Brewing Company’s Taproom. Ryan didn’t just build a beer joint, he brought a community of local businesses together and let them shine!

Happy to share a selection of Giclée Photographic Prints and Graphic Canvas Prints from this incredible collaboration between two local Manhattan artists, .studio and , that graces the walls of Aggieville Brewing Company’s Taproom.

Start the New Year off right with good beer, food, and art on January 4th at Aggieville Brewing Company for their Grand Opening!

11/29/2023

Hard to stay overwhelmed at the endless crap life piles on you when there’s a giant f*cking balloon over your head reminding you to keep believing…

The universal irony is top notch

One of the best in the game right now, capturing this moment on his precious

11/25/2023

Sometimes I believe birds are nature’s confetti …

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
2023

11/24/2023

Sometimes you just gotta BELIEVE

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
2023

Shout out to the homie for a bakers dozen parades with the Macys Parade Group!

10/11/2023

“Seal of Our Spiritual Bond”

Oct. 11 marks National Coming Out Day, and also marks the launch of the 2nd Annual Auction!

Link in bio. Proceeds help provide services, advocacy, education in support of q***r & trans youth.

Honored to be asked back to participate , this artwork is contemporary play on the word བྱམས་པ love, or rather benevolence, to be kind/loving [towards others].

I was inspired by this instruction from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche:
(full text in comments)

"From lifetime to lifetime, our minds have been connected by the spiritual bond of love. As all our minds are connected, we can help each other through cultivating love.

Love is the only cause of happiness.
Its nature is all-pervasive like space.
Love is the sunlight of the mind."

Scribed in a bold and squat Tibetan Uméd script, Tsugtung, the word བྱམས་པ་ mimics the labyrinthine geomantic structure of ancient seal scripts like the Tibetan Horyig script. Its strong, commanding visual appearance acts as a unique identifying marker much in the way a chop seal acts as the artists identifying marker. It’s a visual signature of that spiritual link, sealed together by the unbreakable bond of love.

The smaller text, scribed in Uméd script style, comes from Rinpoches commentary: “Love is the only cause of happiness”

My hope was to create an artwork which can be a daily visual reminder and point of practice in understanding that love is at the very heart of who we are, the essence of Bodhicitta. If our minds are connected by love, our love will pervade their mind and we can help each other through cultivating that love. Through examining this connection, if we can begin to see each other as no different or not separate from ourselves we can find that love is at the very center of that…likewise we can also see that harming others only then creates harm for ourselves, to which there’s really no point in indulging in such matters.

So in this way it’s my wish that this artwork brings some benefit to anyone who sees it, and inspires everyone to love a little bit more!

12”x18”
Sumi Ink, cotton rag Shizen paper

08/22/2023

Never thought I’d say it…

…I’m officially a Jayhawk!

ཨེ་མ་ཧོ༔

Back in May, I was honored and thrilled to receive a scholarship to help cover tuition costs from KU Center for East Asian Studies to attend their Tibetan Language program.

Interestingly, the craziest of causes and conditions come to play in the new instructor, , former monk from Golok who just so happens to be the nephew of the resident lama at my monastery in Brooklyn I’ve gone to since 2012….living right here in Kansas! Lama la was trained in calligraphy by the old Amdo masters, so please take a look at his beautiful work!

Much love to Yodenzangs wife, Leigh, who is teaching the beginners Tibetan Language course and for helping me navigate how to do college at 35 years old, hahaha

While there’s still many costs involved that, honestly, I have no clue how I will pay, I’m so thankful for for their support, for without it, traditional academic education for this working artist would never have been possible.

ཐུགས་རྗེ་ཆེ། 🙏🙏🙏

08/20/2023

ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྃ།

Touring North America for the first time in five years, the Drepung Gomang Monks of the Sacred Arts Tour lead a procession through The Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri amidst 110+ degree heat warnings, carrying the collected sand from their World Peace Mandala which took a week to fully construct.

A portion of the sand was offered to Sangha members and guests in attendance, and the remainder was pourned into the Brush Creek waterway so that the blessings and healing energies may flow throughout the world. Coming at a time during increased violence and negative hardship in the Kansas City area, the monks were greatly welcomed.

The World Peace Mandala was constructed, consecrated, and dissolved at Unity Temple on the Plaza; in connection with Temple Buddhist Center, and ended at Brush Creek.

The Sacred Arts Tour World Peace Mandala showcases the major world religions: Buddhism, Baha'i, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, Shintoism, Judaism, Zoroastraianism, Taoism, Native American, and Jainism, representing each as beautiful and equal, none more right than others. In the center, a dove is superimposed on a world globe, symbolizing world peace. The monks dismantled the mandala by sweeping the sand to the center of the mandala base, symbolizing the impermanence of all that exists, creates awareness of our attachments and suffering and generates social healing.

©️Luke Townsend