Believing that art is a living-breathing encounter, Goldenstein Gallery has consistently championed opportunities to create a life enhancing experience for the public.

From the special events in the gallery to satellite exhibits shown publicly citywide it has strived to involve people in interactive ways, bringing artist and collector together.

One experience is its ever-expanding Artist in Residence program and now it will be hosting the Gaden Shartse Monks at L’Auberge de Sedona to create a beautiful and sacred Green Tara sand mandala from Friday, May 26, through Friday, June 2.

For the past two years, it has worked in partnership with L’Auberge de Sedona expanding the Artist in Residence program onsite at the resort allowing hotel guests to not only view local artwork in changing exhibitions, but to watch the artists at work and learn more about their art. The types of artwork being created range from clay and wax sculpting for bronze casting to pointillist painting.

Visitors can interact with the artists, ask questions about their work and preferred art medium. In the past year, over 100 artists have participated in the program.

Goldenstein Gallery has been honored to host the creation of the Tibetan Buddhist sacred sand mandalas multiple times in the past.

Owner Linda Goldenstein said of this sacred work, “From an artistic perspective, the mandala is created with extreme detail and studied precision to produce a stunning visual effect. Sand is not an easy medium to work; the monks lay each grain of sand down with purpose of creating a larger vibrant vision. The making of the sand mandala is a culturally expanding opportunity to watch a centuries old art form being created today.”

Mandalas appear in spiritual traditions around the globe, but mandalas formed from sand are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and are believed to effect purification and healing. The monks begin construction of the sand mandala by consecrating the site with sacred chants. Over one week, they fill in the design with millions of grains of colored sand.

While constructing a mandala, Buddhist monks meditate to invoke the divine energies of the deities residing within the mandala. The monks then ask for the deities’ healing blessings.

At its completion, the mandala is blessed. The blessed sand is swept up with small portions offered to those present. The rest will be taken to Oak Creek where, after a short ceremony, it will be poured into the water to bless and purify the environment and all beings.

Green Tara, a female Buddha, is one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism. Considered the Goddess of Universal Compassion, Green Tara represents compassion in action. From a foundation of meditative ease she is ready to spring quickly into action for the benefit of all beings.

Painter and sculptor Sherab Khandro will be the artist in residence each day during the creation of the Green Tara Sand Mandala from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning each day with a short guided meditation on compassion at 9:30 a.m. which the public is invite to attend.

As the Sacred Arts Director for the building of the Amitabha Stupa in Sedona, she is one of a handful of early western artists to receive formal training from Buddhist masters in exile in the U.S., bringing forth traditional sacred art in the way it has been done in Tibet for centuries.

Using the neo-impressionist style of pointillism in her paintings, tiny dots of color create vibrant imagery; each stroke of the brush holds the intention of compassion.

This healing intention also carries through in Khandro’s sculpture and intentional jewelry line. Her work, including paintings, jewelry and interactive sculptures such as the Wheel of Compassion, is displayed at Goldenstein Gallery.

The opening ceremony for the Green Tara Sand Mandala takes place May 26, at 11 a.m. Join Goldenstein Gallery at L’Auberge and witness this sacred ancient ritual throughout the week from May 26, through Thursday, June 1, from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On June 2, the closing ceremony takes place at 2:30 p.m. Information about additional events with the Gaden Shartse Monks is available at SacredArtsofTibetTour.org.

Although Goldenstein and the gallery have worked with hundreds of artists including respected museums and community exhibitions, the gallery now focuses on 50 fine local and regional artists. USA Today’s 10 Best recently named the gallery as the No. 1 place to shop in Sedona.

Goldenstein Gallery’s new address is 150 SR 179, at the corner of State Routes 179 and 89A and is open daily. Visit GoldensteinArt.com or call 204-1765 for information.