Sand Painting

Community Sand Painting Design Contest

Monday, June 1, 2015 - 5:00pm
  • Library Front Desk

Call for artists: Design the Community Sand Painting for the Drepung Loseling monks’ summer visit!

Submission deadline is June 1.

Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery will take up residency at Bud Werner Memorial Library from July 29 to Aug. 2 to construct a Sand Mandala in Library Hall. Mandala Sand Painting is an ancient art form from the Tantric Buddhist tradition that is designed to purify and heal the environment and its inhabitants. Six monks will lay millions of grains of colorful sand into place to form the intricate image of a mandala. The monks’ work will be open for public viewing as they create the Sand Mandala over five days before a closing ceremony swishes away the mandala and sends it down the Yampa River at sunset on Aug. 2.

As the monks create their Sand Mandala, the local community will have an opportunity to try the ancient art of sand painting as well. Using the same tools and techniques that the monks employ, observers will be invited to help build a Community Sand Painting adjacent to the monks’ Sand Mandala.

Bud Werner Memorial Library is seeking design idea submissions for our 2015 Community Sand Painting.

This is not an attempt at replication of the monks’ sacred art. By contrast, the images in the Community Sand Painting should reflect strongly the local essence of our community and/or our landscape.

Here are the important elements to consider for your design idea submission:

1.    The Community Sand Painting will be constructed on a square platform that is similar to the one the monks will use. The final design will be approximately 4’x4’, but  design entries should be on a smaller scale (12”x12” is the recommended size).  Bud Werner Memorial Library will supply all of the colored sand, and trained docents to assist with the process. A color picture of the design will be displayed nearby so people will be reminded where to place your suggested colors.

2.    The design should be simple, meaningful and easily recognized by the local community. The design can be a combination of shapes, images and words – but not overburdened by intricate details.

3.    The design should be able to be viewed from all angles, without a defined top and bottom – so everyone who works on it or views it at any angle will still have a good seat.

4.    Many people will work to bring the design to fruition – young and old, artists with and without experience.

5.    Remember the medium. This is a painting in sand. Shapes and edges need to be well defined.

6.    All design proposals must be submitted in color. Color pencil is preferred, or a medium that does not allow for shading of colors, as this is not possible with the sand. Computer graphic design is acceptable as well.

7.    By submitting the design for the Community Sand Painting, you agree to release all rights to use this image to Bud Werner Memorial Library solely for the purpose of the Community Sand Painting. Your design may be used in part or entirety, in the spirit of collaborative community design.


Submitting your design
Design submissions must be submitted to the Bud Werner Memorial Library by no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1. Designs can be delivered in-person to the library front desk, or via mail to 1289 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat Springs, CO 80487. Clearly mark all submissions with your name, phone number and email address. The winning design will be revealed before the monks arrive, in mid July.

Questions?
Contact Bud Werner Memorial Library Adult Programs Coordinator Jennie Lay with any questions by phone at 970.367.4917 or email. The library thanks you in advance for your interest and enthusiasm in helping to create this one-of-a-kind community art installation in Steamboat Springs.

See images and stories the Community Sand Painting during the monks’ 2010 residency at the Bud Werner Memorial Library here. Full schedules for the monks’ 2015 visit will be announced soon.