Jade Marie Solan

“Welcome to Students”

O, my friend, here we are
in relationship to the unknown.

We are called to find our voices in
the electric field.
We are called to hear each other
across the dark silences of separation and loss.

Bring your open and shining heart with you!
A feast remains.
If you are hungry, reach out to that which nourishes
and touch the deep truth of our shared humanity.
-Jade Solan


In a drawer somewhere lays a 10-page letter handwritten to Grandma Polly after a Diana Ross concert in
Tempe, Arizona. Feeling fine in her white pants and purple Hawaiian shirt, young Jade is beaming,
exhilarated to be so close to the stage.

Then the magic happens. Beautiful Diana extends her hand, choosing Jade as she sings, “Reach out and
touch somebody’s hand. Make this world a better place if you can. Reach out…” And Jade touches the
hand of a star, extending that energy through the audience as she reaches her other hand to her sister
next to her, the first link in a chain of love, joy, and humanity.
This moment expresses so much of the essence of Jade. Making the world a better place through her
ability to dress funky, attract magic, love a woman, touch the stars, appreciate beauty, lovingly observe
and analyze art with great insight and detail, and gently invite people to connect to higher values and
the best in themselves.

Jade is far too large to reduce to stats of birth and death dates, career highlights, and as the beloved of
lists of relations who did or did not precede her in death. “Well,” she might say, “Aren’t we all?” But
Jade’s life especially defies such simple reduction.

She was a Free Thinker. Feminist. Poet. Performer. Artist of the Spirit.
Warrior, Sapphist, Mystic, Dance Worker of Crow Magic.
Teacher of radical humanity, racial justice, and healthy relationships,
She is survived by Lucy, Benny, Koko, Daniel, Tatiana, Sam, Constanza, Angie, Rami…
Literally thousands of students who experienced her:
As professor in university and community college courses,
As holistic body awareness teacher in Nia dance classes,
As spiritual midwife and facilitator in Trance Dance, journeying, space clearing and center circle
workshops.

She made an art of home with her beloved Alisha,
Partner, wife, consort, conspirator, co-creator.
Together they hosted friends and family with warmth,

Playfulness, stimulating conversation, and original ukulele compositions—
“Coffee Time,” “Happy Little Dog,” “Whale Song,” “Ooh-Ee-Ah-Ti-Ta”
The rooms and gardens of their home space became a retreat and vortex out of time—
Where the present moment was strong enough to carry on for hours unnoticed.
We who are her continuation know her voice, art, and insights will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either of the following:

Deer Park Volcano Arts Center
By check:
1. Make check payable to TNH Foundation
2. In memo put “For Deer Park in memory of Jade Solan”
3. Mail to:
TNH Foundation
2499 Melru Lane
92026 Escondido California 92026
Online: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/donate

By check:
1. In memo put “In memory of Jade Solan”
2. Mail to:
Volcano Arts Center
P.O. Box 129
Volcano, HI 96785
Online:https://volcanoartcenter.org/