únashay
a grief sanctuary in the making
hello and welcome.
Únashay is a grief sanctuary, 501(c)3 in the desert that offers land and community-held presence, sanctuary, and creative arts for the grieving. All whilst living into a new culture for grief.
It sits on red earth of the Tewa people in northern New Mexico, and recognizes with honor, all that came and happened before it. It is a living experiment, born of the disturbance of living in a world that doesn’t know how to be with what is breaking, when everything is breaking.
In a culture where presence and support for the grieving is painfully out of reach⎯ we want to explore this abandoned territory by building accessible sanctuary for the grieving, where the gesture we hold is to court rather than “fix” what hurts; to listen, and travel with the Rio Abaja Rio “river beneath the river”. This vibrancy running from below, when not tended, begins to erode and turn into a thousand different arrows upon itself and the ‘other’; and when tended, flowers into a thousand different petals.
We want to tend this deeper river, and build a culture from the flowers rather than the arrows.
Thank you for being here. Have a look around and click below to learn more. with love,
Aimee Wilson, listener + executive director of Únashay
join us this November 15th, 2 to 9pm:
Join us for ⎯ 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘴, at Dar al Islam in Abiquiu, New Mexico.
2⎯5p: Sanktuaree Bazaar, where community from around the world will share their sanctuary creations throughout the vaulted adobe rooms of Dar al Islam.
5⎯6p: Live online talk with Bayo Akomolafe
6⎯8p: Grief Feast: a slow 5-course community ritual feast, served by co-founder of Earthseed Black Arts Alliance, Nikesha Breeze, and únashay.
8⎯9p: Music with Luz Elena Mendoza (of Y La Bamba) and Aimée Wilson
Proceeds from the Grief Feast will be split between Earthseed Black Arts + únashay. Proceeds from the rest of the day will go towards Únashay Grief Sanctuary's direct community service for the underserved grieving of New Mexico, and beyond.
30% ABIQUIU LOCALS DISCOUNT for $70 All-day Comprehensive Tickets, with access to everything (full 5-course feast, sanktuaree bazaar, and music performance). Write inquiries@unashayhome.com for questions/ info.
What is this in tangible form?
Únashay sits on 10 acres of Tewa land in Abiquiu, New Mexico. It is both a grief sanctuary and a private homestead. It has 2 guest houses with all amenities, private tiny dwellings (for the stewards), an outdoor kitchen with dining area and horno (clay oven), hand-carved yurt, and recording studio/ community creation space that is under construction.
Please have a look at our blueprint, and click below on any infrastructure you’d like to explore. Not all spaces are complete- as you see in the color key (i.e. land steward homes, recording studio, various land/ water systems).
If you wish to stay with us and/ or explore our offerings, please click the button below to learn more. And if you wish to contribute towards these projects, visit ‘give’.
Click image for fullscreen and then click on the image to zoom in.
Únashay blueprint, co-designed by San Isidros Permaculture Institute + Aimee Wilson, w/ graphic design help by Ryan Kowalchik.
Future Recording Studio + Creation space
☽ This is an unfinished space, that has yet to be funded. Our vision for it- is that it will be a recording studio, art space, performance venue, and community hub for gathering, creating, and the generative heart behind the sanctuary’s work.
Mongolian Ger, hand-carved circular house
☽ The ger (pronounced “yer”) is made of wood, felt and canvas. We use it as a quiet solo and/ or intimate gathering space for music, ritual, art exhibit, film, movement, community discourse and creation.
Hawk and Raven House
☽ These are our guest homes, with all amenities, within short walking distance of another. We host private solo and group stays in them, and are working hard to host sponsored grief and/ or artist residencies for under-resourced grieving kin.
Outdoor Kitchen and Horno
☽ This is a lovely outdoor space to gather, cook, have tea, hold classes, Noria grief cafés, have tea and watch the moon rise.