This site provides an avenue for Michael Hofmann's friends to provide support for his care. Michael continues to paint and sculpt, but his memory for day-to-day things is not good enough that he can live independently.

Jason Hofmann, Michael’s nephew, is leading the effort to sustain a nurturing living situation for Michael. His family is currently providing a great deal of support for Michael, but they will need significant help in the near future.

Michael's needs do not involve a one-time medical expense, rather the need is for continuous support. While we are deeply grateful for one-time donations, we also would like to develop a broad network of support based on reoccurring monthly donations. If you are like me, a reoccurring monthly contribution turns out to be the way of being most generous.

We are currently building a website where Michael's art: Sumi-e, painting, ceramics, can be purchased. We will keep everyone up to date on this through this GoFundMe page.

Why should we help American Sumi-e master, painter and ceramicist Michael Hofmann, who now needs it? Michael never gathered significant savings, except for his art works. He never strived to make his work widely known, or pushed to exhibit at galleries, though both recognition and exhibitions came his way.

Michael took this path since he wasn't interested in what he could gain from his creating, but where creating might take him. It is impossible to separate Michael's Zen practice from his artistic practice.

Michael has devoted his adult life to his art and Zen practice, which were interlocked through his 30 year relationship with Sumi-e master/Zen priest Jikihara Gyokusei. What began as a discipleship slowly matured into a collaborative relationship.

Several years after master Jikihara's death at 101, Michael felt it was time to once again start fresh - so he headed back to his geographic roots in California. He was particularly interested in the increased opportunities for teaching others, which he had come to deeply enjoy.

Our plan is for Michael to live in Enso Village, an assisted living facility in Healdsburg, CA. A central part of the mission of Enso Village is to provide a welcoming place for continued Zen practice. In fact, a mural painted by Michael hangs at Enso Village. Please help make this plan a reality.