St. Thomas students, alumni and professors came together to de-stress at a mandala-making event Tuesday afternoon.

The event was part of St. Thomas’ 36th annual Sacred Arts Festival, which spans 30 days and focuses on contemplation in music, dance, literature, film and visual arts.

“The theme is one that many religious traditions celebrate and advocate,” Angela Broeker, festival committee member and professor of music and director of choral activities, said. “It’s a way for us to interact with the world in a deeper way… All of us need to slow down and get unplugged and re-centered.”

The festival was created to provide an opportunity to celebrate what is sacred through the arts.

Broeker facilitated the mandala-making event with Carol Tomers, who got her masters degree at St. Thomas and has been an art teacher in the Twin Cities for many years. Broeker said the mandalas come from a tradition of contemplation.

“Theologically and spiritually, some people believe that it’s representing the center of the universe and its expansion outside,” she said. “Others believe that the center of the mandala represents the center of each of us and how we are connected.”

St. Thomas junior Isabel Braga-Henebry attended the event and agreed that creating this type of art is relaxing.

“It’s just really calming, and the whole point of mandalas is kind of like a meditative practice,” Braga-Henebry said. “I really enjoy that aspect of it.”

Participants created the circular mandalas with paper and adhesive jewels, though that isn’t the only available medium. According to Broeker, some cultures make mandalas out of colored sand, and Braga-Henebry knows her sister uses paint.

“My sister actually lives in Morocco, so she paints them a lot. It’s kind of her stress reliever that she does,” she said.

Check the St. Thomas events schedule for upcoming Sacred Arts events this month.

Marissa Groechel can be reached at groe5630@stthomas.edu.