Institute Retreat | “Beauty x Justice: Creating a Life of Abundance and Courage” with Makoto and Haejin Fujimura
What if the pursuit of justice requires more than activism? What if it also requires beauty?
Join us this December for a reflective retreat led by Goldenwood Institute Deans Makoto and Haejin Fujimura, exploring the deep connection between beauty, justice, faith, and the work of cultural renewal. Drawing from stories of their global work in the arts and advocacy, and from their book Beauty x Justice, they will invite us to consider how beauty can sustain us in the slow work of restoration.
Together, we’ll explore how gratitude and generosity can keep our hearts open, why justice without beauty can become harsh, and what it looks like to cultivate a generative life, one that courageously participates in God’s work of making all things new.
This will be a space to slow down, encounter beauty, share stories, and imagine new ways of living and serving that are not only faithful and just, but deeply life-giving.
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Details:
Weekend Schedule: (more details to come)
- Friday December 4, 7:30p-9:30p
- Saturday December 5, 9:00a-9:00p
- Sunday December 6, 9:00a-1:00p
Location: Princeton, NJ (exact address provided after registration)
Cost: Choose your Tier – A Pricing Model Rooted in Generosity & Relationship
At Goldenwood, we believe in a gift economy—where our work and giving is not transactional but part of a relational and generative system. Like a root network, where some trees bear more fruit in one season and others in another, this pricing approach allows for a shared ecosystem of flourishing—some contribute more so that others may receive, and all are sustained together.
Our tiered pricing model reflects this, allowing participants to contribute at a level that aligns with their capacity while supporting the mission to see work revived by love. We invite you to participate in a way that reflects your own season and capacity.
1. Full Value (Sustainable Tier) – $1000 + accommodations
Reflects the true cost and value—while balancing affordability—including the unseen work that makes this a meaningful and transformative experience. Includes several meals, retreat sessions, & materials. Does not include lodging; see info below.
2. Covering Costs (Supported Tier) – $850 + accommodations
Covers only the essentials—venues, facilitators, meals, materials—ensuring the program is financially viable. Includes several meals, retreat sessions, & materials. Does not include lodging; see info below.
3. Generative Giving – $1250 (or choose amount) + accommodations
Goes beyond covering costs, helping make our programs accessible to others and investing in the long-term flourishing of this work. Includes several meals, retreat sessions, & materials. Does not include lodging; see info below.
Lodging: Your retreat registration includes several of the group meals and all retreat materials, but does not include lodging. We have a room block reserved at Princeton Theological Seminary’s Erdman Center, details provided at registration for your selection.
Space is limited for this retreat. Registration will close once at capacity.
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About your Guides:
Makoto Fujimura, Dean of Nature for the Goldenwood Institute, is an internationally renowned painter, cultural thought leader, and author whose work sits at the intersection of art, faith, and nature. An influential voice in both the art world and the broader cultural landscape, Makoto has authored several acclaimed books, including Art+Faith: A Theology of Making, Silence and Beauty, and Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art, and Culture. Through his writings and paintings, he invites readers and viewers alike to explore the profound connections between creativity, spirituality, culture, and the natural world.
As a leading practitioner of Nihonga, an ancient Japanese painting technique that uses natural materials such as minerals, gold, and silver, Makoto’s work is deeply informed by his reverence for nature. His art captures the intricate beauty of creation, drawing attention to the subtle details of the natural world and offering a meditative space to reflect on life’s deeper meanings.
Beyond his contributions as an artist, Makoto is a cultural thought leader who speaks passionately about the role of creativity in society. His work challenges contemporary notions of utility and productivity, advocating instead for a culture that values beauty, contemplation, and the nurturing of the human spirit. As the founder of the Fujimura Institute, IAM Culture Care, and a former Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts, Makoto has influenced a wide array of disciplines, from education to public policy, with his vision of cultural renewal through the arts.
Haejin Shim Fujimura, Dean of Justice for the Goldenwood Institute, is a lawyer, entrepreneur, speaker, and strategist whose work bridges justice, beauty, and cultural transformation.
She is the founding attorney of Shim & Associates, a law firm rooted in cultural renewal, and the CEO and cofounder of Embers International, a global NGO working to end intergenerational exploitation and prevent human trafficking. Fujimura is also the creator of the Estuary, an innovative vocational ecosystem where law, art, advocacy, and business converge for culture care.
Her entrepreneurial ventures include Culture Care Creative, Academy Kintsugi, and Fujimura Institute. She has served as an Equity in Action Visiting Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania with her husband Makoto Fujimura.