UW Art Museum Presents Exhibition, Public Programs by Tibetan

Tibetan-born artist and traditionally trained Tibetan thangka painter Tashi Norbu will be in residence at the University of Wyoming Art Museum Nov. 5-8.

Partnering with local musicians, Norbu will create a large mural in a short time span, as a type of performance art, in the Rotunda Gallery Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 6-8 p.m. The mural will be on display through July 27, 2019, and then will become a part of the UW Art Museum’s permanent collection.

Norbu, as well as faculty, curators and educators from the UW Art Museum; Rolling Tattoo; and other partners, will present several public programs during the week. Events are open to the public and free, unless otherwise noted.

“Lunchtime Conversations with Curators,” an informal gallery walk-through featuring Norbu and led by museum curators, will occur Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 12:10-12:50 p.m. Free lunch will be provided after the in-gallery session.

Norbu will perform a tattoo activation Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 3-8 p.m. at Rolling Tattoo, located at 717 S. First St. in Laramie. Walk-in customers who are interested in receiving a meditative tattoo experience can sign up on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-drawn designs are available, and prices vary.

Drop-in meditation with Norbu will occur Thursday, Nov. 8, from 5:15-5:45 p.m. at the UW Art Museum. Meditations will continue every Friday starting Nov. 9 from 12:15-12:45 p.m. through July 2019. Weekly mindfulness meditations will be guided by UW faculty and staff members on a rotating basis. Meditation cushions and chairs are provided. Whether you are a first-time participant or enjoy a regular practice, all are welcome to unwind and experience a sense of calm, say event organizers.

A Tibetan Buddhist painting workshop with Norbu is planned Thursday, Nov. 8, from 6-8 p.m. Norbu will guide participants in learning how to create a painting of a Buddha, according to the principles of ancient Tibetan iconography. All materials will be provided. The cost is $10 per person and is limited to 25 participants, ages 16 and older. Interested individuals can register at www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum/exhibitions/current/tashi-norbu-live-painting.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share the artwork of an extraordinary international artist with the people of Wyoming through several noteworthy events happening this November,” says Nicole Crawford, chief curator of the UW Art Museum.

For more information, call the UW Art Museum at (307) 766-6622, visit the website at www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum, or follow the museum on Facebook and Instagram.

Through its “Museum as Classroom” approach, the UW Art Museum places art at the center of learning for all ages. Located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 E. Willett Drive in Laramie, the museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday hours are extended to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

About Tashi Norbu

Norbu was educated as a traditional Tibetan thangka painter at the office of the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. Born in Bhutan in exile, Norbu has Belgian citizenship, and he lives and works in Emmen, in the Netherlands. He received his formal Western artistic training at the Saint Lucas Academy of Visual Arts in Ghent, Belgium. As a result of this diverse background, his artwork is an amalgamation of both worlds -- the fundamentals of Tibetan and Buddhist traditions, and the influence of Western art mediums, concepts and icons.