Unity Mandala Workshop with Salma Arastu
$100 plus a $35 materials fee
Sign up for the workshop here
OVERVIEW:
“I have been involved since couple of years in creating new works with Unity of Sacred Texts and Symbols theme as I strongly feel that we are connected and our destiny is shared. Apart from doing research and several paintings which layered different texts in symbols I also created a few Mandala shaped paintings with different faith symbols which were very much appreciated. Encouraged by positive feedback and a grant from city of Berkeley this year I am expanding the same project by involving communities to create collaborative unity mandalas.” – Salma Arastu, 2016
A mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian and Buddhist religions, representing the universe. Describing both material and non-material realities, the mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community. Native Americans used in healing rituals and in Christian cathedrals the labyrinth is a mandalic pattern used as a tool for meditation.
Creating a group mandala is a unifying experience in which people can express themselves individually within a unified structure. The participants can create their own individual mandala which can be incorporated in the larger circle or join to create their own symbols and stories in one large circular surface as I plan to bring blank circular shaped canvas or wooden panels with embedded religious symbols. Salma will start the Mandala’s by loosely draw circles, with pencil, starting from the center and spreading out. Each participant will add in a circle their own design, words or symbols with colors. To finish, Salma will then layer the panel with final glaze of gold paint to unite the entire message of unity.