What is a Mandala What is a Mandala

What is a Mandala?

What is a Mandala? l The word “mandala” is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to “circle”.

What is a Mandala? l l l It represents wholeness or whole world. It is a representation of the universe and everything in it. Traditionally believed to be the circle of eternity organized around a unifying center.

Mandalas have been used for centuries by various cultures and religions. l l Catholic rose windows are a form of mandala. They were created to shine light into a church or cathedral instilling in the viewer the beauty and love of God.

Buddhists have created two dimensional and three dimensional Mandalas for centuries as a way of depicting the gods and the universe. l

l l Tibetan monks create mandalas out of sand for meditation The mandala is dismantled after completion as part of the ceremonial process The sand is collected in a jar which is then wrapped in silk and transported to a river (or any place with moving water), where it is released back into nature. This symbolizes the impermanence of life and the world.

l Hindus have also used mandalas for centuries as sacred meditation tools.

What kind of balance is this? l l A. Symmetrical B. Asymmetrical

What kind of balance is this A. Symmetrical The same, or equally balanced, on both sides l If you were to

What if I cut it in half horizontally, is it still symmetrical?

Radial Symmetry l A symmetrical arrangement that emerges (or radiates) from a central point l This means that the image will be symmetrical both vertically and horizontally, like a piece of pie

Radial Symmetry in art Radius in math

Radial symmetry in pie Radius in math

Mandala Objective and Standards Objective: l Students will be able to create an original mandala design that demonstrates repetition and balance using the elements of design (line, color, shape, and form). California Standard of Visual Arts l 3. 0 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT Understanding the Historical Contributions and Cultural Dimensions of the Visual Arts l Role and Development of the Visual Arts - 3. 1 Identify similarities and differences in the purposes of art created in selected cultures.

Mandala Rubric Points Neatness Repetition Design Complexity Color 5 Completely neat The design is repeated correctly Design is complex Used 3+ colors in an appealing manor 4 Neat with 1 -2 errors 1 -2 mistakes Design is somewhat complex Used 3+ colors in a somewhat appealing manor 3 Neat with 3 -4 errors 3 -4 mistakes Design is not complex yet not simple Used 3+ colors in an unappealing manor 2 5+ Errors 5+ mistakes Design is simple Used less than 3 colors or colors 1 Not neat at all None of the repetition is Design is overly simple correct Incomplete pencil design 0 Nothing turned in