Sarah A Uys

Integrated Community Project: Mandalas for Collective Creativity

Written by

in

2023

In partnership with Pasco County Library System – Summer Reading “All Together Now”

Public Installation, Adult Education, and Digital Outreach

Designed, Coordinated and Facilitated by Sarah A. Uys

Project Overview:

This multi-layered initiative was developed to support the 2023 Summer Reading theme All Together Now, emphasizing community connection, creative participation, and accessible art-making. The project included:

1. A large-scale interactive mandala window installation outside the teen room

2. A concurrent mandala unit in my adult drawing class, focused on artistic foundations and creative confidence

3. A publicly available instructional YouTube video, produced with the Pasco County Media Production Manager, teaching patrons how to draw a mandala step-by-step

Together, these components formed a cohesive, intergenerational program that blended public art, arts education, and digital learning.

I. Community Window Installation

A brightly colored mandala with teal, green, yellow, pink, and purple shapes painted on a glass panel.
Three finished window mandalas displayed on large glass panels in the teen room, viewed from inside.
Three finished window mandalas displayed on large glass panels in the teen room, viewed from inside with blue seating in front.
A close-up of a window mandala showing layered petals and colorful circular symbols, including a green yin-yang motif at the top.
Three finished window mandalas displayed on large glass panels in the teen room, viewed from inside with blue seating in front.
A teen wearing a bright pink shirt sits on a stool and colors a large mandala on the library window with chalk markers.
A brightly colored mandala with teal, yellow, pink, and purple shapes painted on a glass panel.
A colorful mandala with teal, purple, and yellow petals painted on a glass wall.
Large colorful mandalas painted on the teen room’s glass wall, created by community participants during an interactive art session.
A person seated at a stool coloring a glass mandala while art markers and supplies sit on a nearby table.
Two children interacting with chalk markers while colorful mandalas are drawn on the library window behind them.
Children and adults coloring mandala outlines on the glass walls of a library room using chalk markers.

For the teen room, I designed three large mandalas using Procreate, mapped to the exact dimensions of the glass panels. The outlines were drawn on the interior surface with permanent markers; patrons were invited to color the exterior surface using washable chalk markers.

Cultural and Educational Framework

Mandala imagery was chosen for its universal associations with connection, unity, and the Buddhist concept of a “map of everything.”

I created an informational handout with:

  • A concise explanation of mandala origins and symbolism
  • An introduction to Tibetan sand mandalas
  • A QR code linking to a nonprofit supporting Buddhist education

Because sand painting was not feasible, this became a community-friendly reinterpretation of a temporary mandala — created, erased, and recreated multiple times throughout the summer.

Low-Stakes Participation

A sign welcomed anyone to participate, emphasizing that:

  • The artwork was temporary
  • Each piece would be “reset” weekly or when filled
  • Creativity was encouraged, not judged

Patrons could also create patterns by removing dried chalk with cotton swabs, making the experience accessible even for those hesitant to draw.

Community Impact

  • Teens who usually engaged only with computers began participating, often returning multiple times.
  • Children and families contributed collaboratively, using it as a reason to linger and connect.
  • Adults with little artistic experience colored or erased details as an approachable entry point.
  • Several teens developed sustained interest in drawing after contributing to the project.

The installation was refreshed and documented multiple times, emphasizing impermanence, collaboration, and communal creativity.

II. Adult Drawing Class: Mandala Unit

An older woman smiles and holds up a brightly colored geometric mandala she completed in a drawing class.
A partially completed mandala with teal, blue, green, yellow, and orange geometric shapes and marine life motifs radiating from the center.
A close-up of a person’s hand drawing a spiral mandala with green and yellow shapes surrounded by pale purple watercolor rings.
Hands holding a large watercolor mandala featuring a golden sun face in the center surrounded by circular celestial symbols on a purple and blue galaxy background.
A highly detailed mandala drawn in black ink with swirling patterns, petals, and decorative linework on lightly sketched construction lines.

While the public installation encouraged spontaneous creativity, the adult class focused on artistic skill-building and creative reawakening. Participants learned:

  • Radial symmetry
  • Repetition, rhythm, and harmony
  • Measurement, planning, and drafting
  • Pattern development
  • Meditative drawing methods

Transformative Outcomes

This group consisted largely of adults returning to art decades after discouragement from teachers or parents. In this context, mandalas became a powerful tool for:

  • Rebuilding confidence
  • Relearning foundational art techniques
  • Developing personal visual language
  • Exploring mindfulness

Several notable outcomes:

  • Many created additional mandalas independently.
  • Some began meditative drawing or Zentangle-inspired practice.
  • One student went on to teach mandala and doodling classes locally.
  • Another integrated mandala doodling into her mental health self-care routine.

This portion of the project demonstrated how accessible, structured art-making can support emotional well-being and creative renewal in older adults.

III. Digital Outreach: Instructional YouTube Video

To extend access beyond in-person programming, I collaborated with the Pasco County Media Production Manager to film a step-by-step mandala drawing tutorial for the MakerSpace webpage.

This video served several purposes:

  • Providing self-paced art instruction to the public
  • Offering a permanent creative resource accessible year-round
  • Driving organic traffic to The Loft fine art makerspace
  • Showcasing the library’s evolving role as a space for hands-on creative learning

The digital content has been successful: many patrons now recognize me from the videos and use it as a natural entry point to learn about The Loft and the library’s art programming.

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