Womanspace presents Rockford debut of Creating Buddhas

Documentary film event celebrates rare Tibetan art

Womanspace presents Creating Buddhas: The Making and Meaning of Fabric Thangkas with filmmaker Isadora Gabrielle Leidenfrost on Saturday, March 13 from 9:00am-Noon at Anderson Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road in Rockford. Admission is $20 and includes the film screening, Q&A with the filmmaker, a Thangka art exhibit, and a Tibetan Prayer Flag make and take craft. Advance purchase is recommended at Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Drive in Rockford, 815-877-0118, or www.womanspace-rockford.org. Limited seats may be available at the door. Watch the three-minute trailer at www.creatingbuddhas.com.

Guests of all ages are invited to spend a delightful morning in the Art Gallery in the lower level of the Visitor Center at Anderson Gardens as we welcome filmmaker Isadora Gabrielle Leidenfrost to Rockford for the local debut of her one-hour film, Creating Buddhas: The Making and Meaning of Fabric Thangkas. This is the story of Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo, a fabric thangka maker skilled in this Tibetan art form, and features scenes with the Dalai Lama. Fabric thangkas are embroidered and appliquéd silk, so rare that in some places they are only seen once a year, and then only for a few hours. Trained in Dharamsala, India for nine years, Rinchen-Wongmo is one of the few female thangka makers in the world and one of the only fabric thangka makers in the west. Now, with great love and devotion, she brings the gift and beauty of fabric thangkas to our culture.

Locally-owned painted and fabric thangkas will be on exhibit at this event. Before the film, and following a Q&A session with filmmaker Leidenfrost, guests will be invited to make and decorate Tibetan Prayer Flags to take home. DVDs of the film will also be available for purchase. You are then invited to visit Anderson Gardens Restaurant for a delicious lunch (price not included in admission). This event is presented in partnership with Rockford Interfaith Council, of which Womanspace is a proud member. Businesses may email gale@womanspace-rockford.org for information on sponsorships.

About Womanspace: Situated on a seven-acre campus with art studios, galleries, Gallery2Go gift shop, beautiful gardens and a labyrinth, Womanspace has touched the lives of more than 20,000 men, women and children since its founding in Rockford, Illinois in 1975. Womanspace seeks to inspire individuals to discover new talents, interests and friendships, and is dedicated to helping people live their best lives through programs that enhance mind, body and spirit. Womanspace operates as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.