Tibetan Buddhist monk begins creation of sand mandala

Source: The Birmingham News

December 2: Patience, stamina and a steady hand - essential requirements for most artists. Add a lifetime of spiritual devotion, metal scraping tools and several vessels of colored sand, and you have one of the most exquisite art forms imaginable.

Lama Tenzin Deshek, who leads a group of Buddhist practitioners in a small space at a Cahaba Heights strip mall, will depart from his weekly disclosures of dharma wisdom to create a sand mandala. As a youth, Deshek escaped the tyranny of the Chinese army by traversing the Himalayas from his native Tibet to Dharamsala, India, where he learned the art of mandala creation.

A colorful display depicting Buddhist symbols and patterns in concentric squares and circles, each mandala represents a particular deity. Customarily, it's created by a group of monks standing at various angles around a table, but because Deshek is Birmingham's only Tibetan Buddhist monk, he's taking on the task alone.

Sand mandalas aren't new to Birmingham. Deshek last demonstrated the art in March 2006 in the McWane Science Center lobby, alternately scraping sand and fielding questions with a friendly smile. The feat was preceded in December 2004 and December 2003 at Energy Pointe Institute in Southside. All three were done solo by Deshek. A group of monks from Drepung Loseling monastery created another in the Birmingham Museum of Art lobby in March 2003.

Deshek will take 15 days to complete the work, after which it will be ceremonially swept up and destroyed. The event takes place today through Dec. 16 at Losel Maitri Buddhist Center, 3118 Bellwood Drive, near the intersection of Cahaba Heights Road, Pump House Road and Dolly Ridge Road. The free event is open Monday through Friday, 2-7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Vulcan swing:

Since Vulcan Performers debuted its stylish contemporary dance show in August, rehearsals have moved from the crowded basement of founders T.J. and Wendy Zito to the company's own studio in Mt Laurel. It's already working on its third show, which the Zitos describe as "wild, energetic and sometimes controversial." Combining ballroom, hip-hop, salsa and "PG-13"-rated strip aerobics, the group is made up of college students, an ex-Steeldogs dancer, an industrial sales representative and dance studio owner.

"Night Rhythms" is the new show's title. It takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Highland Conference Center, 2012 Magnolia Ave. Tickets are $15. Call 205-792-4642.

Art sale to benefit UAB:

Works by Keith Mitchell, a Birmingham sculptor who died in June, 2006, will be sold by the estate on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Nine sculptures by Mitchell, including eight clay works and a bronze, will be up for auction at the UAB Visual Arts Gallery, 900 13th St. Proceeds will benefit UAB's Department of Art and Art History, where Mitchell was a student.

Gallery Director Brett Levine described the sculptures as "whimsical with a twist. He has pieces that seem like Grimm's Fairy Tales are meeting an assortment of Southside characters."

For questions about the event, call 934-0815.

Christmas music this week:

City of Birmingham Holiday Tree Lighting. Tuesday, 4:30-7 p.m. Linn Park. Choirs sing and dancers dance, along with other activities as the tree goes up in Linn Park. Urban Impact Christmas Parade starts at Kelly Ingram Park at 5 p.m.

Birmingham Boys Choir. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Mountain Brook Baptist Church, 3631 Montevallo Rd. Directors Ken and Susan Berg take the senior and junior choristers, as well as the Minnesingers, dads and alums through a program of carols and new holiday songs.

Covenant Advent Concert. Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Covenant Presbyterian Church, 65 Old Montgomery Highway. Carols mix with new songs, with Alabama Symphony members accompanying. Preceded by dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Holiday Concert at Fair Park. Saturday, 3 p.m. Alabama Symphony plays seasonal music at the fairgrounds, 2331 Bessemer Road. Bring donations of nonperishable food.

Christmas at the Alys. Next Sunday, 3 p.m. Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. UAB choirs join Samford University's A Cappella Choir and the Birmingham Concert Chorale for holiday music by Gabrieli, Pinkham, Vaughan Williams and others.

Aloft Choral Ensemble. Next Sunday, 5 p.m. Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 1912 Canyon Rd. Gorman Jones directs music for Advent and Christmas by Rutter, Thomas Morley, Morten Lauridsen and Richard Webster. Harpist Judith Sullivan Hicks will assist.

Michael Huebner is fine arts writer and classical music critic for The Birmingham News. mhuebner@bhamnews.com.