A Culminating Project from the
University of Colorado at Boulder
2002
SAND PAINTING
An Art Project that Emphasized
Cultural and Historical Appreciation
ArtsBridge Scholar: Pamela Olson
Host School: University Hill Elementary
Classroom Teacher: Mona Estrada
Grade Levels: 2 and 3
The Project
ArtsBridge Scholar Pamela Olson taught sand painting to second and third grade
students as a way to teach elements of art and cultural appreciation and
historical understanding. Through the development of both individual permanent
small paintings and a large-scale outdoor collaborative installation, students
learned about color, process, materials, design and how these can direct visual
communication.
The Lessons
Pamela presented a series of lectures and slide-presentations, and took the
children on a field trip to a student gallery showing at the University of Colorado.
She focused on three cultures that use sand painting for purposes of celebration
and ritual healing.
1. Native American Indian Sand Painting– ritual healing and prayer
2. Tibetan Mandela Sand Painting– ritual healing and celebration with
emphasis on temporality and detachment
3. Indian (India) Kolams – sand and rice powder paintings/Mandelas for
celebration of life’s events (birth, marriage, etc.)
While looking at these examples of sand painting, the students examined the use
of color, design and communication through symbolism. (Example: Tibetan
Mandalas are bright in color with symbolic meaning while Native American
Indians use earth-tone colors for their symbolic images.)
The children were also given several new vocabulary terms: symmetry, pattern
(simple and complex), repetition, color-wheel, primary colors, secondary colors,
complementary colors, shape, texture, Mandala, form, preparation, design,
rhythm, symbolism, poetry, techniques, process, balance and collaboration.
The Artwork
There were three major hands-on art experiences that the children were
introduced to:
1. The process of coloring sand (and learning about blending colors to
make a specific color)
2. The development and design of one’s own personal painting
3. The production of a large-scale collaborative installation sand painting
The Outcome
The final project collaboration installation was a large sand Mandala painting
(pictured below). The children worked in teams to color and apply sand in a
design that communicated peace.
The children’s Mandala sand painting.
The children had a showing for friends and family at University Hills Elementary
School. On the last day of classes the children dismantled the Mandala and
ceremoniously scattered the sand around the playground – each child making a
wish.
Comments written by family and friends about the children’s Mandala sand painting.