An Ancient Art Form Comes to Fredericksburg

This weekend experience a new and unique type of art in the beauty and symmetry of the mandala. Kandra Orr will display her work in an exhibition titled “Mystical Mandalas” at . 

The mandala is an ancient art form that translated from sanskrit means “container of sacred essence.” This is Orr’s first show where she will exhibit her mandala art. Some will be shown as giclée prints and others in their original oil. 

A self-taught artist, Orr has been painting on and off for about 40 years. For the past 8 years she has been painting professionally, and has taken several art classes to help her pursue a career as an art therapist. Through art, Orr uses the creative process to help people fight depression and other diseases. 

“The art will reveal what is going inside and bring out the nature of what’s troubling someone,” Orr says. 

The mandalas are also used to reveal an emotional well being of a person and can help restore mental health. Orr is influenced by the work of Carl Jung, who used mandalas to identify emotional disorders in people and used mandala art to make them whole and well. 

“I want the viewer to enjoy the beauty, the symmetry and the calming effect of the mandala,” Orr says. “I paint them because they’re beautiful.” 

One painting can take up to three weeks to complete. Orr will have 14 paintings in her exhibit. 

“There’s a spiritual component of my work that I hope people will tap into,” she says. “I want people to see the circle as a symbol of eternity and for my work to have a calming effect.” 

The exhibit will open March 23, with a reception from 6-9 p.m.