A fabric Thangka of Buddah.

The Mabel Tainter Theater will transform into an oasis of Tibetan culture on Sept. 11. The evening will begin with a showing of the critically acclaimed documentary film Creating Buddhas: The Making and Meaning of Fabric Thangkas, the story of a western woman who became a maker of fabric thangka, an art form that incorporates silk embroidery and appliqué. Fabric thangka is so rare that in some places it is only seen once a year, and then for only for a few hours. This film explores Leslie’s life-changing journey of discovering fabric thangka, her apprenticeship in Dharmasala, India, the step-by-step by process of producing a fabric thangka, and thangka’s history and spiritual importance. After the film, the director/producer will take questions, and a Tibetan master artist will demonstrate the technique. Following the film there will be a short talk by Lama Khenpo Kalsang Gyaltsen, a widely recognized and accomplished teacher and translator of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in Tibet, he is learned in sutra and tantra and has spent long periods in meditative retreat. For the past three decades, he has taught the Dharma widely in the United States and Southeast Asia. Tibetan art will be on display and for sale. Proceeds from the evening will go towards the Tibetan Earthquake Relief Fund, which aids survivors of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Tibet on April 14.

    Creating Buddhas • Sept. 11 • Mabel Tainter Theater, 205 Main St • 7:30pm • $20 adults, $8 children • 235-7696