She chained herself to a log truck, posed nude to protest the destruction of ancient forests, and turned rain-streaked yurt canvas into “moving Zen” art.
I think she deserves at least 2 videos here on Daily Doc.
I’ll look out for more!
Watch “Dot Fisher-Smith Interview on Wisdom at Age 96”
Watch “An Ordinary Life” Documentary on Dot Fisher-Smith
There’s also a great documentary on Dot Fisher-Smith. It’s 27 minutes and you can watch it for free on Vimeo:
Ratings:
- My Rating: I give both the interview and the short doc a score of 90/100
- IMDB Rating: na
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: na
Release Date: 2024 (Interview) and 2011 (“An Ordinary Life”)
A Summary of Dot Fisher-Smith
Instead of a review of either video, I thought I’d just give some background on Dot from both videos:
Dot Fisher-Smith has spent 96 years living boldly, blending art, activism, and spirituality into a life of purpose and passion.
Early Life and A New Path
Dot was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1928.
Growing up in the segregated South, she made a promise to herself: “I won’t be like them when I grow up.”
That vow shaped her life. She moved far from her roots, first to New York, then California, and eventually Ashland, Oregon.
By the 1960s, she was at the center of anti-war activism.
In San Francisco, she studied civil disobedience with the War Resisters League and joined protests against the Vietnam War.
Her activism didn’t stop there. Dot fought for environmental causes too. In one of her most famous protests, she chained herself to a logging truck to stop old-growth forests from being destroyed.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
At age 75, Dot appeared nude on the cover of Earth First! magazine, standing in front of a massive slab of a fir tree that had been cut down.
The image was her way of showing the world the devastation caused by logging—and her commitment to the planet.
Art As Zen
Dot’s art is as unconventional as her life.
She uses old canvas from a meditation yurt that she and her husband, John, kept on their land. The canvas is already marked with rain streaks and lichen patterns, and she lets these natural elements guide her work.
Her tools are colored pencils, ink, and pastels, but her method is anything but ordinary. Dot calls it “moving Zen.”
Instead of controlling the process, she lets intuition take over, allowing the art to emerge naturally. Her pieces often reflect nature, with their soft lines and deep connection to the world around her.
Activism Guided by Zen
Dot’s activism comes from her Zen Buddhist beliefs.
For over 35 years, she has followed Soto Zen principles, which shape her approach to life.
In 1982, she and John joined a peace blockade to protest nuclear submarines.
The couple also helped start Peace House in Ashland, Oregon, in 1981, a center for peace activism.
Her Buddhist practice has given her strength to face life’s challenges, including the illness of her son—a difficult experience captured in the 2010 documentary An Ordinary Life by Patricia Somers.
Life in Ashland
Today, Dot is known as an elder in her Ashland community.
She is still busy as an artist, therapist, and group leader. At 96, she bikes around town, meets with her women’s group, and continues to inspire others.
Her art and activism are deeply personal. Members of her community admire her honesty and humor.
They see her as a role model who keeps growing and becoming more real, even as she ages.
Wrap Up
I believe Dot Fisher-Smith’s life shows how art, activism, and spirituality can work together.
Her bold choices—whether protesting injustice or creating meditative art—are a lesson in living authentically.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc