The Mystical Arts of Tibet at Dominican University

Dominican University will host The Mystical Arts of Tibet for a special weeklong residency by the members of the Drepung Loseling monastery. The residency will include the construction of a sand mandala in the Rebecca Crown Library, visual art displays and a multi-phonic singing performance.

The sand mandala construction is a time-honored tradition of the monastery. Lamas first sketch an intricate design on a five-foot round table, then carefully create a beautiful piece of art by delicately filling in the design with brightly colored sands. An opening ceremony for the project will be held Wednesday, February 15, at 2:45 in the library. The artists will construct the mandala over three days, Thursday through Saturday, between 10 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. before deconstructing the completed mandala in a closing ceremony on Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 p.m. The opening, closing and construction are all free and open to the public.

The residency will be highlighted by a “Sacred Music, Sacred Dance,” a multi-phonic singing and sacred dance performance, to be held on Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. The performance will be held in the Lund Auditorium on Dominican’s Main Campus, 7900 W. Division Street, River Forest.

The monastery was established in 1991 for the study and preservation of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of wisdom and compassion and has its roots in the forced exodus of monks resulting from the Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet in 1959. Endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and presented by Richard Gere Productions as a means of promoting world peace and healing through sacred performing art, the tour has taken its performers to many of America's greatest theaters and music halls.

Public tickets for the February 18 show are $33, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Tibetan monasteries in the U.S. and India. Free on-campus parking for the event is available.

For tickets and more information, contact the DUPAC box office at (708) 488-5000 or visit dom.edu/pac.