"Mandala" Series Design and Technical Information
Mandala Seriesã
Design Concepts and Technical Information
The word ‘mandala’ comes from the Sanskrit word meaning circle and symbolically mirrors an illumined state of mind. Mandalas are found world wide in spiritual traditions and are used as healing and transformational art in the Native American sand paintings and in the Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist rituals. The modern psychologist, Carl Jung, used the mandala to aid in psychological healing.
This series focuses on the energy centers in the body through the ideas of Belief, Power, Self, Love, Voice, Clarity and Transcendence. Each unique piece encompasses these concepts and contains the Sanskrit symbol for each idea along with the central point where all is ‘one’. The glyphs along the outer edge are representative of all mankind, cultures and energy and are drawn from musical notation, mathematics, Sanskrit, Egyptian hieroglyphics as well as Indian and Aztec/Mayan sign.
Carl Jung wrote, "The mandala symbol is not only a means of expression but works an effect. Very ancient magical effects lie hidden in this symbol…" And so it is with these carefully crafted works in glass. Each piece of the Mandala Series may evoke a special feeling within the viewer and is created to be more than a symbol.
The mandalas in this series are made of fused glass containing as many as four layers of glass. The radiating accents and shading are hand applied and fired into the first layer of glass. Additional accent glass is then applied to the first layer and the golden luster is hand painted and fired. Each controlled kiln firing fuses the paint into the glass surface at temperatures of 1500° F. A single firing usually takes 10 to 12 hrs. with each piece requiring as many as four firings. Careful annealing ensures a durable and lasting piece of art. The finished mandalas are beautiful decorative glass and are not intended for direct food contact.
Earthstar
Glass