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Museum Hours
Thurs: 1 PM–8 PM
Fri–Mon: 10 AM–5 PM
Tue–Wed: Closed
Cafe Hours
Fri-Mon: 10 AM—4:30 PM
Thurs: 1—7:30 PM
Location
200 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.581.3500
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Activity

Create a Floating Mandala

Consisting of nested geometric shapes, a mandala is a symbolic map of the universe that serves as a meditation tool for Buddhists. The meditator focuses on the mandala and then visualizes entering it, taking a mental journey to the center. The act of creating a mandala can be a meditative experience, as well. Making repeating patterns can be a calming practice that keeps the artist focused and centered.

Detailed step of floating mandala activity.
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Create a floating mandala.

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Collect flowers, leaves, and grasses of different sizes and colors.
Fill a large bowl or plant pot with water, stopping right before the rim.
Begin to arrange the mandala, start by placing the largest flower in the middle.
Use the other flowers, leaves, and grasses to create concentric circles around that central flower.
Keep adding materials until the water’s surface is covered.
Look closely at your resulting mandala – what new details do you discover? Try meditating with your mandala – how does focusing on its shapes, colors, and patterns make you feel?
Detailed step of floating mandala activity.
Detailed step of floating mandala activity.
Detailed step of floating mandala activity.
Detailed step of floating mandala activity.
Detailed step of floating mandala activity.
Detailed step of floating mandala activity.
Collect flowers, leaves, and grasses of different sizes and colors.
Fill a large bowl or plant pot with water, stopping right before the rim.
Begin to arrange the mandala, start by placing the largest flower in the middle.
Use the other flowers, leaves, and grasses to create concentric circles around that central flower.
Keep adding materials until the water’s surface is covered.
Look closely at your resulting mandala – what new details do you discover? Try meditating with your mandala – how does focusing on its shapes, colors, and patterns make you feel?

Directions:

  1. Collect flowers, leaves, and grasses of different sizes and colors.
  2. Fill a large bowl or plant pot with water, stopping right before the rim.
  3. Begin to arrange the mandala, start by placing the largest flower in the middle.
  4. Use the other flowers, leaves, and grasses to create concentric circles around that central flower.
  5. Keep adding materials until the water’s surface is covered.
  6. Look closely at your resulting mandala – what new details do you discover? Try meditating with your mandala – how does focusing on its shapes, colors, and patterns make you feel?

Related Resources

Activity

Reflection: Inside/Outside

Visible from Hyde Street outside the Asian Art Museum are Chanel Miller’s I was, I am, I will be, Jas Charanjiva’s Don’t Mess With Me, and Jenifer K Wofford’s Pattern Recognition.

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/artists-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/artists-1200x900.jpg 2x

Activity

Mapping Your Special Space

Personal Space (2001), a layered, dreamlike painting by Kolkata-based artist Jayashree Chakravarty, is an imaginary map built up from painted strips of paper. In this activity, create your own map based on your special place.

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/07/Jayashree_Chakravarty_01-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/07/Jayashree_Chakravarty_01-1200x900.jpg 2x

Activity

teamLab-inspired Chigiri-e

Make your own torn-paper collages inspired by the images created in the teamLab experience.

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/07/Crows-are-Chased-Black-in-White-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/07/Crows-are-Chased-Black-in-White-1200x900.jpg 2x

Teacher Packet

Pattern Recognition: Activity Packet

In this packet, you will engage with Wofford’s mural, learn about different Asian cultures and identities, and celebrate Asian American artists from the San Francisco Bay Area. With what you’ve learned and researched, you will then create your own patterns in a digital collage art project. 

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond
Download PDF (Free)
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/05/Pattern_Recognition_square-crop_v2-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/05/Pattern_Recognition_square-crop_v2.jpg 2x

Activity

Make Your Own Cardboard Loom

In this activity, create your own weaving loom with cardboard and then weave your own textile project. As you construct your loom and learn the labor-intensive process of weaving, you might begin to wonder how Sekimachi was able to create her famous three-dimensional structures.

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

Activity

Why the Moon Wanes: Moon Journals

In this activity, observe the different moon phases, learn about the lunar calendar, and research some Hindu traditions and celebrations.

GRADE LEVEL: Early Elementary School (K-3), Elementary School (4-5)
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/04/Ganesha-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/04/Ganesha.jpg 2x

Activity

Odon the Giant - Story Time Draw Along

Students will draw their favorite unlikely, small hero from the Philippine folk tale “Odon the Giant.”

GRADE LEVEL: Early Elementary School (K-3), Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8)