The Movies

Post production and production has begun on the Giant Thangka Film

The Giant Thangka

Guestbook

Giant Tsurphu Thangka

When the Tsurphu Monastery commissioned the unique, historical art projects from Leslie and Terris Nguyen Temple in 1992-97, the artists were able to record the progress of the work on videotape. Originally they produced a 27 minute video

This videotape was used to raise funds from in Asia for the second project, the Giant Mahakala Thangka. Two thirds of these project funds were then raised from showing this video in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan. That thangka was completed in 1997.

Feature Documentary

The artists are presently seeking funding for editing a feature documentary with the expressed purpose of making this wonderful project available to a wider audience. The film includes:

a brief background of Tsurphu Monastery and the Karmapas
the Tibetan tradition of giant appliqué thangka displays
the process of building this sacred Tibetan Buddhist image from design to assembly
the team of Western artists and Tibetan craftspersons in action
rare footage of H.H. the 17th Karmapa at a young age
Updated interviews, with His Holiness, the artists, tailors and observers
Guru Rinpoche Lama Dances
The original showing and the current event
The completion of the rebuilding of the Monastary
Rare footage of the late Drupon Dechen Rinpoche, and other Tsurphu Lamas

If you are interested in supporting the making of this documentary or have any other interest or information, please send an email to: templeart@tibetcolor.com

Excerpt from the proposal

A feature documentary video of the making and displaying of a l08 ft x 75 ft silk brocade appliqué thangka by two westerners for His Holiness the 17^th Karmapa 's 900 year old Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet. Which was successfully completed in 1994. This is an historic arts and culture film.

For a full copy of the film proposal: click here

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS

Phoenix Karma Thegsum Choling (KTC) , a non-profit organization affiliated to Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD), the official north American seat of HH Karmapa is sponsoring this project. Contributions made to Phoenix KTC are tax deductible

For the film budget email to: templeart@tibetcolor.com

It is with great gratitude that we note that we have already received $50,000 of the Total Estimate cited above.

Because of the above funding we filmed in India Dec.2004, interviewing His Holiness and other senior Lamas of the Karma Kagyu Tradion.

In May-June 2005 Tsurphu Monastery Tibet, and we were greeted at the Temple with great joy and lots of snow. We took great shots of the Temple, lama dancing, and interviews with Lamas as well as the White Conch Factory workers.

Regrettably the 2005 thangka hanging was cancelled due to snow. So we shall be present to film the thangka at the 2006 Sagadawa festival.

Fund raising continues and the editing will begin soon, depending on funds.

PAYPAL

Donations are tax deductible

New 2005 Tibet photos click here

Film Clips

Assembling in the Gymnasium

White Conch Workshop

Jamgon Khamtrul

Tsurphu thangka 1996

Assembling Buddha

Pilgrams 1994

The artists w/ HH the 17th Karmapa
Sarnath 2005

First showing of the Mahakala Thangka

H. H. Karmapa welcoming the Mahakala Thangka

The workshop courtyard

Return of Mahakala

The artists continued to record the process of producing the 30' by 30' Mahakala image in 1995. They have 12 hours of unedited footage in BetacamSP PAL awaiting editing. The videotape documents all stages of the work including rare footage of H.H. the 17th Karmapa welcoming the protector image with ritual dancing. It includes footage of masked ritual dances and pilgrims celebrating on ceremonial Purification Day when the image was first displayed at dusk after 40 years absence.

With the completion of the Giant Tsurphu Thangka Video, assistance and funding is needed for post-production, copying and distribution of this historical videotape. For information, please send an email to: templeart@tibetcolor

Sonam Dorje watching the Karmapa dancing

*There are many spellings for thangka: tangka,tangkha,thangkha
applique thangka, applique thangkas, applique thangkha, applique thangkhas

leslie art...terris art...applique thangkas...tibetan iconography...past projects...tsurphu ...
stupa...the movie...to order...white conch...tibet projects...aboutus...home

To contact Temple Art Studios
Write: Temple Art Studios
P. O. Box 747
Haiku, HI 96708
USA
Tel. (623) 748-4603