Connect the dots

Students in Valley create colourful mandalas

Students at a middle school in Valley learned to connect the dots using mandala art.

Lisa Morgan’s Grade 5 class at Redcliff Middle School in Valley practised the mindful art of placing layers of different-sized colourful dots of paint on paper or rocks.

Callaghan Burgess says the art is relaxing and calming.

“You don’t have to think too much and it’s a good way to represent your personality, feelings, beliefs – you can take it to whatever level you want,” said the Grade 5 student.

Callaghan was applying a pattern of dots to a rock he said represented his life and his loved ones.

“The blue represents the ocean which I have always loved; red is one of my brothers; he is very active, hyper; the pale green is my other brother, he is active too but more calm; the bright colours, the yellow and orange, are my parents,” he said.

Callaghan says the painting helps focus his thoughts

“This art is calming and it makes me think, it makes me think deeper about everyday things,” he says.

On a practical level, the budding artist was impressed with the ease and power of that art.

“It makes you realize what simple dots can do,” he said. “When people think of great art, they think of Mona Lisa, but with these dots, they eventually add up and you’ve got something just as great as a Mona Lisa.”

Classmate Keira Mackay also enjoyed the experience.

“It’s fun to do, making the tiniest little things with these super small dots,” she said. “It’s easy to do once you learn how.”

Keira happened to be at the beach on the weekend before and brought in 22 extra rocks in case some students didn’t have one to paint on. The instructor showed them all how to make a special Canada 150 mandala.

“The various colours represent the diversity that is Canada,” says Keira.

Ginger LeBoutillier was the guest instructor for the day. She is also a teacher in the Annapolis Valley School Board and designed her mandala art classes to teach the students language arts skills, social studies and, of course, art.

Originally Hindis and Buddhists used mandalas as spiritual

symbols representing the universe; today the term generally means any diagram, chart or geometric pattern representing the cosmos.

JoNaThaN riley/ Truro Daily News Keira Mackay, a Grade 5 student at Redcliff Middle School in Valley, shows off a dot mandala in progress.

JoNaThaN riley/ Truro Daily News Callaghan Burgess, a Grade 5 student at Redcliff Middle School in Valley, shows off a dot mandala in progress he says represents him and his family.