Witness the Creation of a Tibetan Sand Mandala in Brattleboro, Vermont, this April
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April 8-11, 2026
For a few quiet days in April, visitors to downtown Brattleboro will have the rare opportunity to watch an intricate work of sacred art take shape—grain by grain.
From April 8–11, the River Gallery School of Art is welcoming Tibetan monk Lama Tenzin Yignyen to create Avalokiteshvara — the Sand Mandala of Compassion at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.
The public is invited to stop by throughout the week to observe the mandala in progress.
Watching the process unfold is both mesmerizing and deeply meditative. Using colored sand placed with extraordinary precision, Lama Tenzin slowly builds a complex geometric design that symbolizes compassion and spiritual harmony.
Visitors can watch the work take shape Wednesday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, and admission is free.
A Work of Art Meant to Disappear
The most powerful moment of the event happens on Saturday, April 11, at 10:30 am, when the mandala is ceremonially swept away during a traditional closing ceremony.
While it may seem surprising to see such detailed work intentionally dismantled, the ritual carries an important meaning in Tibetan Buddhism: a reminder of the impermanence of all things.
“This mandala symbolizes love, generosity, wisdom, and appreciation,” Lama Tenzin explains.
“The Mandala is a reflection of our inner self — our inner positive qualities. It presents us with opportunities to cherish those qualities and a means to rid ourselves of negative qualities, so we may be happy and peaceful,” said Tenzin.
“The message of the Mandala includes all the important elements that can make us a happy and caring person. The construction is considered a blessing for the area and for the people who live where it is constructed.”
An Internationally Recognized Master of Sacred Art
Lama Tenzin Yignyen has been creating sand mandalas for more than forty years and is recognized internationally for his intricate work.
He trained at Namgyal Monastery in India, where he was ordained by the Dalai Lama in 1976 and later earned the monastery’s highest degree, Master of Sutra and Tantra. For more than two decades, Lama Tenzin served as a visiting professor of Tibetan Buddhism at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Today, he travels widely, sharing Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and demonstrating sacred sand mandala traditions.
This marks the third year that River Gallery School has invited Lama Tenzin to Brattleboro, continuing a tradition rooted in the belief that art and community can cultivate compassion and connection.
About River Gallery School of Art
For more than 45 years, the River Gallery School of Art has offered workshops, classes, and creative experiences for artists of all ages and skill levels. Programs range from weekly classes to short workshops in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, printmaking, and encaustics.
The school’s mission is grounded in the idea that creative expression benefits everyone, and it strives to foster an inclusive artistic community with programs offered in studios, online, and at regional venues.
Save the Date: Sand Mandala of Compassion
📍 Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
10 Vernon Street, Brattleboro, VT
Watch the Mandala Being Created:
April 8–10, 10 am – 4 pm
Closing Ceremony:
April 11, 10:30 am
Admission: Free and open to the public
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