Salmonberry Students to Create Sand Mandala at Orcas Library

Salmonberry School student working on detail of a sand mandala.

Salmonberry School’s 9-11 yr old students will create a live public installation of an original sand mandala in the meeting room of the Eastsound Public Library on Monday, December 17 and Tuesday, December 18. The public is invited to observe the creation process from 9-3 on Tuesday and 9-12 on Wednesday. On Wednesday afternoon, after the three foot diameter circular piece is complete, the mandala will be ceremonially smudged and the sand will be taken to the sea.

This project grows out of the class’ study of the cultures of Nepal and Tibet and the faith traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Over the course of this study students have looked at maps and geography, read about history and politics in the region, listened to music, eaten foods, attended theater performances and met with a number of guest speakers. Students have been particularly interested in Buddhism and the many forms of meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. They were excited to try their hands at designing and creating a sand mandala. The first one was created over three days in the classroom and the students were inspired to offer a second, even more detailed piece in a public venue.

During this day-and-a-half project students are bringing their learning practice into the public spotlight. There will be guest speakers, including intrepid traveler Jean Spalti, who will show slides and talk about her recent travels in Tibet. Members of Seattle’s Tibetan community will also share stories and various aspects of their heritage. During these two days students will engage in all their regular school studies, including reading and responding to young adult fiction set in Tibet as well as various art and craft projects. All the while teams of three or four students at a time will painstakingly apply colored sand to the originally designed mandala, creating a piece of stunning beauty. They will be exposed firsthand to a number of Buddhist principles including mindfulness, impermanence and non-attachment to the physical world.

This living art installation represents several aspects of Salmonberry’s approach to education. At Salmonberry learning is hands-on and multi-sensory. Students don’t just learn about their subjects, they live them. Arts are always integrated, and are a critical part of everything students do. The four walls of the classroom are the home base, but it is not at all unusual for Salmonberry students to take their learning on the road and into the public spotlight. And Salmonberry School considers multicultural education of critical importance, particularly in our relatively isolated and homogeneous island community. Teaching appreciation of all cultures and tolerance of all people is central to the school’s Mission.

So stop by the Library on Monday or Tuesday and see what all the buzz is about!