Monks, Sand and Art at Van Wezel

By Beau Denton

The first thing that strikes you when you step inside Van Wezel's Grand Foyer this week is the sound--a metallic chirping, like a chorus of crickets. It's coming from the center of the room, where five monks are huddled around a colorful, ever-growing design made entirely of sand.

That design is called a sand mandala, and in recent years Tibetan monks have traveled the world to share this art form. The cricket sounds come from the metal tools used to grind out the sand, in a process that requires the kind of patience and focus you might expect from monks, taking nearly a week to complete. The result is a rare union of creativity and precision.

On Sunday a group of monks from the Drepung Loseling monastery in Tibet moved into the Grand Foyer at Van Wezel, where viewers are gathering all week to watch the creation of a new mandala. The monks are working from 12 to 8 p.m. every day, slowly filling in the design that was etched on Sunday. Everyone who visits seems enchanted by the process, watching the display grow gradually from the center. "I've never seen anything like it," says Ruth Finch of Bradenton. "I've been watching for an hour, and I keep thinking I'll leave soon, but I just can't yet.” Indeed, something about the bright colors, the rhythmic grinding of the tools, and the slow growth of the display lulls viewers into a trance-like state.

For those who can pull themselves away for a few minutes, the other tables around the foyer are worth a visit as well. Pictures of Tibetan monasteries and scenery line the walls, along with mandala-inspired drawings and paintings from local schools. Across the room, the monks have set up tables selling jewelry, books, clothing and other items to support their home monastery. There's even a station where you can create your own sand mandala.

Insider suggestion: Try to visit the monks more than once this week. "It's fulfilling, to come back after a few hours and see the progress they've made," says David Gillins of England, whose two-day business trip has been extended by the volcanic ash over Europe. "I plan to come here every day until I can go home."

And you won't want to miss the dispersal ceremony at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, immediately following the closing ceremonies. To emphasize life's transitory nature, the monks will carry the completed mandala to the water and let the wind dismantle it. Their hope is that, after so much focus and creativity is poured into the display, the water will carry that positive energy all over the world. They love talking about the ideas behind it, even in struggling English, so feel free to strike up a conversation. We guarantee you will soon be sharing their contagious smiles.
 

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