Tibetan monks to perform, create sand mandala

Twenty-one photographs from the Tibet Image Bank, London will be on display through Sept. 24 at Saint Mary’s in conjunction with an artist residency by the Tibetan Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery.

The photo show, “Tibet: Magical Land of Spiritual Wonders” will be on display at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, located in the Toner Student Center, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

The Tibetan Monks will create a sand mandala in the galleries, beginning with an opening ceremony at 11:45 a.m. Monday, Sept. 17, and ending with a closing ceremony at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21. The creation of the mandala will run during gallery hours throughout the week. The public is also invited to participate in a community sand painting during this time.

In this sacred tradition, intricate and artistic designs are created from colored sand and then ritualistically destroyed to symbolize the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the impermanent nature of material life.

During the closing ceremony, the public is invited to join the Tibetan Monks in ceremoniously releasing the sand used from the mandala into Gilmore Creek. Events being held in the gallery are free and open to the public.

The Tibetan Monks will also present a public performance Thursday, Sept. 20, in Page Theatre. For more information, go to www.pagetheatre.org. Tickets are available online or at the Page Theatre Box office, Ext. 1715 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.