 
The Mandala’s influence on an Artistic Journey
~ By Yvette Stack of The Chemainus Writers
The way to Melanie Circle's home is a bit like the journey from the
circumference of a Mandala winding into the quiet centre. First, the busy island
highway, then a smaller curving road turning onto a still narrower trail and finally
a tree shaded curving lane, ending at the light-filled, peaceful converted barn
housing her home, studio and teaching space.
The Mandala is central to Melanie’s artistic and teaching activities. She has
used Mandala making with troubled teens, children and adults, and finds it an
incredible vehicle for all ages.
She began painting in her thirties, after watching someone sketching faces
and thinking "how nice it would be to be able to do that… I signed up for classes. From the first painting, I knew
I was home!"
Melanie is passionate about sharing her gifts. To her, teaching is as important as making art. "To see people
experiencing peace…when people connect with that experience it is so exciting." She echoes Kurt Vonnegut's
belief that making art is part of being human: "It's as natural as breathing or making love." She firmly believes
that everyone can make art and that the process is as important as the product. "The feast is in making the art:
in a way, the final product is the leftovers!"
Walking the ancient Camino de Santiago across Northern Spain inspired a series of twenty-eight beautiful,
evocative paintings illuminate the walls of her studio along with the Mandala.
Noting that Melanie is deeply involved in social justice issues (she has served as an election observer in other
countries, and will soon travel to Nepal to help coordinate an exciting education project) our discussion turned
to the role of the artist in peace-making.
"I see art making as a way of experiencing peace. To make art allows one to appreciate others: to see what's
happening. To look inside yourself... I have huge appreciation of the healing power of art: painting can be a
path of sanity; a way NOT to run from reality."
"It's all about loving. Day to day, there is so much to enjoy and be grateful for. If I am centered, then I can reach out to what's
happening on the circumference. The ideal is not to lose touch with the centre."
Peace and gratitude: I felt their presence in that space, and came away with both in my heart.
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