Tibetan Buddhist monk artists from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta started work on a sand mandala at the Oxford College Library Monday.

Dr. Eve Mullen, associate professor of religion at Oxford College, described a mandala as a “painting with colored sand.” Dr. Mullen is an expert in Asian religious traditions.

After the opening ceremony at noon, the monks carefully laid out the design for the work. They then began meticulously applying the colored sands. Work on the mandala will continue throughout the week on the library’s first floor.

According to a press release from Oxford College the closing ceremony and ritualistic destruction of the mandala is scheduled for noon Friday, Feb. 24. All events are free and open to the public.

A livestream of the artists at work is available via the library link on the Oxford College website.