One of the local art scene’s most popular events is making a big return from its multi-year hiatus. The Tibetan Buddhist monks of the Drepung Gomang Monastery are returning to the Florida CraftArt gallery January 8-14 for the Tibetan Monks Sacred Arts Tour.

The highlight of the visit will be eight monks creating a stunning sand mandala, “painstakingly placing millions of colorful grains of sand to form an intricate diagram that represents the enlightened mind and the ideal world.” That process begins with an opening ceremony on Monday, January 8 that is open to the public.

The popular annual arts exhibition was put on hold for several years due to the pandemic, and to mark its return, the Florida CraftArt gallery has planned a bigger celebration than ever, including a full week of events. There will be workshops, meditation, and more, all culminating in the “Dissolution Ceremony” where all of the work is swept away and taken to the sea. Learn more at FloridaCraftArt.org, and see the full schedule of events below. Florida CraftArt is located 501 Central Avenue.

Tibetan Monks Sacred Arts Tour calendar:

• Creation of the Wisdom Sand Mandala, Monday, January 8 – Saturday, January 14
• Opening Ceremony, Monday, January 8, 10:30 am
• Morning Meditation, Wednesday January 10, 10:00 am
• Tibetan Cultural Pageant, Thursday, January 11, 6:00 pm*
• Rock Painting, 11:00 am, and Mala Making, 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 13*
• Dissolution Ceremony, Sunday, January 14, 12:00 pm
• *Ticketed event, all events take place at Florida CraftArt