133 Lauren Gong

I learned that a mandala is a circle and that can be any way you want it to be. Also that there are American mandalas and Chinese mandalas and in some cultures they take a long time to build one and then they destroy it.

I learned that I can be an artist and that every piece you create is excellent. Also that art is fun and that I like it. Each culture has wonderful art because of who you are.

I learned about China that Tibetans destroy their sand mandalas after they make them. We have some of the same things here in the U.S., just a little different. Also, China is a great place and the artwork is different.

Chinese like playing with swords and we like playing with bats. We both have presidents and symbols that stand for feelings.

I liked that we learned about things and learned a new type of art. I liked seeing images I've never seen before. It was also interesting.

Note: This mandala was made in a Mandala Project workshop called "Chinese-American Mandala" in May, 2000. After a presentation on Chinese culture, each student created a mandala with symbols from both Chinese and American cultures and then wrote about their experience. Read more about the workshop.