Mandala Mural For Casita Linda

"If you only have two pennies to your name, buy a loaf of bread with one and a lily with the other"

Dear Creative Partners,

I first heard this Chinese aphorism many years ago and it struck quite a chord since as an artist, I have always understood the absolute need for beauty in my life. Art is not superfluous, or secondary but necessary to our daily bread. Art is a great “leveler” in connecting people from different cultures, economic status, language and experience. Art can begin a dialogue.

As an artist and a mandala painter, I want to bring this source of “food” to people who might not have the opportunity of exposure to art on a daily basis, and so I created The Mandala Project.

The Mandala Project seeks to create partnerships with individuals and businesses, both local and foreign, wherein these partners would fund an original mandala mural for a non-profit institution so that the people they service can benefit from the beauty and healing qualities of this ancient design.

I have chosen Casita Linda as the first recipient of this gift.  Casita Linda has chosen the community of Palo Colorado, near the municipal dump as the site for the mandala. I am seeking donations to provide a mandala mural that will gift this community with beauty as well as shelter. The mural, slated to begin mid-January will be painted in the primary school which serves as a de facto community center, and where Casita Linda holds all of their educational workshops.

Since 2001, Casita Linda's all volunteer crew has been building low-cost homes for the most impoverished of Mexico's families, enabling them to move from dirt-floor shacks to secure homes with real bathrooms.

"Casita Linda creates a dignified, safe and empowering environment that provides a foundation of hope for families living in extreme poverty."

You might believe that there are more practical ways to help a non-profit organization than providing art for its walls. But I believe this is only left brain thinking. Poor or marginalized communities need the basics to be sure. The people that nonprofits serve don’t see themselves as having the luxury of original art at their disposal, and so never understand the powerful ways that art can impact their lives. Here in San Miguel, I spied a mural a few years ago in Valle de Maiz that said “Without poetry, there can be no community”. This speaks to the heart of the matter. Creating a mandala mural for a mini community, such as one that is served by Casita Linda can provide a way to dream and inspire as only art and poetry can. 

A mural of 60" diameter will cost $3500 to execute. This amount includes time spent meeting with key partners on site to discuss the project needs, the design process, revisions, preparation of the wall, transferring the design to the wall, materials: paint, brushes, sealer, execution of the painting, transportation to the site, blog and progress reports in the form of photography, video, and promotion. Any amount of donation is greatly appreciated. Even $10 will buy a tube of paint!

The process for each mandala will be extensively documented so that partners may see updates and progress of our project. When completed and photographed, the mandala design will also be available for purchase as a limited edition Giclee print. 10% of each print sold will be donated back to Casita Linda.

“We’re thrilled by this gift of art for the people we serve,” said Louise Gilliam, President of Casita Linda. “Casita Linda families will have the chance to contribute their ideas, and then they’ll enjoy for many years a gorgeous, meaningful work of art created specifically for their community. We are grateful to Linda and all her donors. Thank you!”


As an added incentive, every donor is automatically entered into a drawing for this limited edition mandala Giclee print, valued at $200 U.S. (the original full painting can be seen here  or currently hanging in Buon Forno).  The print is made by Ri Anderson of San Antonio Editions and is 14" x 14" image size. It is signed and numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

I formed the Mandala Project because I believe in the power of art. Living with beauty is as essential as food. I would like to help more people live with beauty and I would love to start here in San Miguel which I have called home for seven years.
Thanks to all of you who have so generously supported my projects in the past. I hope you will join me and Casita Linda in creating this new project together!

With heartfelt thanks and a strong hug,

Linda