Festival of Tibetan Arts Comes to SUNY Plattsburgh

January 31, 2011

Photo of a Tibetan Buddhis monk creating a sand mandala The Plattsburgh State Art Museum is presenting a two-week-long celebration of Tibetan arts.

With exhibits and demonstrations from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., daily through Feb. 12, the event will feature Ven. Dhondup Tsering, a Tibetan Buddhist monk, consecrating the space and designing a mandala in the Burke Museum on the second floor of the college’s Myers Fine Arts Building. The festival will close with the dismantling of the mandala and a procession to the Saranac River on Feb. 13.

There will also be exhibits and presentations on photography, Thangkas (Tibetan scroll paintings), calligraphy and more — including a talk by a representative of the Office of the Dalai Lama.

Schedule Highlights

Monday, Jan. 31 — Burke Gallery opens at 9 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 4 — Opening reception, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Winkel Sculpture Court. Traditional Tibetan food and teas served.

Friday, Feb. 4 — Sonam Zoksang, photographer, presents a slide lecture, Cardinal Lounge, Angell College Center, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 5 — Tsering Phuntsok, Thangka painter, is present to talk about Thangkas.

Tuesday, Feb. 8 — Tibetan calligraphy and writing lecture, 3 p.m., Burke Gallery.

Wednesday, Feb. 9 — Lecture/discussion with Lobsang Nyandak, North American representative of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 6 p.m., Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall.

Thursday, Feb. 10 — Ven. Dhondup Tsering gives demonstrations in butter sculpture throughout the day. Winkel Sculpture Court.

Friday, Feb. 11 — Woodcarver Dholak gives a demonstration 3 p.m., Winkel Sculpture Court.

Saturday, Feb. 12 — Ven Dhondup Tsering, lecture and demonstration in butter sculpture, 10 a.m., Winkel Sculpture Court.

Saturday, Feb. 12 — Childrens program. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Play Dough. Children will try their hand at making a butter sculpture, Winkel Sculpture Court.

Sunday, Feb. 13 — Dismantling of Medicine Buddha mandala and procession to the river:

- 8-10 a.m. preparation for the dismantling and special prayers.
- 10 a.m. dismantling ceremony and procession to the river.