Gunpowder Mandalas / Hair of the Dog

 Richard Keely and Anna O’Cain   2005-2012

Richard Keely and Anna O'Cain use gunpowder to burn symbols, varied patterns and target designs on to geographical and meteorological maps of the world.  This collaborative work is influenced by an experience of watching Buddhists monks over a period of several days create then brush away a mandala made of sand; while during the same time the United States Government was putting its attention/energy towards preparing for war.  Keely and O'Cain work together to create the gunpowder mandalas as a ceremonial act of reflection and awareness; calling attention to how individual, collective, large and small decisions and actions affect our world. 

In the past, this series of work has been presented as performance, performance and exhibition and just exhibition of the completed mandalas.  The artists are open to all possibilities.