Saint Mary's University will be hosting a group of  tibetan monks September. 17-21, including a public performance Sept. 20. During their week-long residency, the Tibetan Monks will create a sand mandala in the Toner Student Center. In this sacred tradition, intricate and artistic designs are created from colored sand and then ritualistically destroyed to symbolize the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the impermanent nature of material life.
                        
In conjunction with these events, the community is invited to submit design ideas and participate in the construction of a community sand painting. The community will not create a mandala or any attempt at replication of this sacred art. Instead the images in this community sand painting should reflect strongly the local essence of the community and/or landscape.
                        
Design submissions must be submitted to the Performance Center at Saint Mary's, attention Community Sand Painting Design Committee, by no later than 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7. You can submit your entry electronically, or drop it off at the Performance Center Box Office between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday