Building a better Lakewood | Learn about our new Welcome Center
Community Celebrations
Midsummer Memory Mandalas
July 29 @ 5:00 pm - July 30 @ 5:00 pm
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Join us for a weekend of art, nature, and reflection
Join Lakewood as we welcome back internationally renowned earth artist Day Schildkret of Morning Altars for our fifth annual Midsummer Memory Mandalas community celebration and artist workshops on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30!
Explore the beauty that can be found through grief and loss as Day uses foraged natural materials like rocks, seeds, and flowers gathered from Lakewood’s sacred grounds to create a brilliant and bright one-of-a-kind artwork. Through the very impermanence of these natural materials, this earth-art beautifully mimics the impermanence of life as it slowly returns to the grounds from which it was sourced. This healing process allows us to reflect on life, loss, and the beauty that can be found throughout this journey.
The community celebration is free and all are welcome to join. The private workshops are ticketed and $45/attendee. Tickets are available by clicking the green button below.
Experience this beautiful practice in two different ways
- Join us on Saturday, July 29 from 5-7pm to view the one-of-a-kind mandala while enjoying music and refreshments, followed by a brief artist talk
- Join us on Sunday, July 30 to create your own mandala in a private workshop with the artist. Two workshops are available starting at 9am and 1:30pm. Tickets are available here
On both Saturday and Sunday, Day will share his 7-step Morning Altars practice of creating impermanent earth altars made from nature, while exploring the importance of ritual in honoring life’s transitions.
Saturday, July 29 | 5 – 7:30pm
Community Celebration and Artist Talk
Talk starts at 5:30pm
Located near the front entrance | Free and open to the public
Meet the artist, listen to his story and view the giant memory mandala in its final shape.
Lakewood’s 250 acres are filled with memorial markers, structures and sculptures built to pass the test of time. On Saturday, July 29, we will welcome a very different kind of creation. Artist Day Schildkret will use natural materials he has gathered from the cemetery and its surroundings over the course of several days to create a large-scale tribute to love and loss, using a hands-on practice that combines mindfulness, creative expression and connection with nature.
Join us to view the final one-of-a-kind artwork, while enjoying music and refreshments, followed by a talk and book signing from the artist.
Chairs will be available on a first-come, first serve basis. Guests are welcome to bring their own chairs, blankets, or mats to sit on during the talk.
Sunday, July 30 | 9:00am – noon; 1:30 – 4:30pm
Hands-on Mandala Making Workshops
Make your own memory mandala to honor someone you’ve lost.
This is a hands-on workshop led by artist Day Schildkret, where you will learn the 7-step Morning Altars process to make beauty out of grief. You will explore and forage Lakewood’s grounds to collect leaves, flowers, stones, bark and feathers as creative materials and use the earth as your canvas. You will make—and deconstruct—your own memory mandala and learn how you can bring this beautiful ritual into your everyday life. Through this mindful practice, you are able to reflect on loss, celebrate life, and transform our grief into beauty.
Meet the Artist: Day Schildkret
Day Schildkret is an award-winning author, artist, ritualist, teacher and is internationally known for Morning Altars, which Buzz Feed calls, “a celebration of nature and life.” Working for over a decade with individuals, communities and organizations, Day is helping to heal the culture through a meaningful and creative response to change. Day is the author of Hello, Goodbye: 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration and Change (Simon Element/Simon & Schuster) publishing in 2022 as well as, Morning Altars: A 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Spirit through Nature, Art and Ritual (The Countryman Press/W.W. Norton). More about Day at morningaltars.com and dayschildkret.com
Books Available
Pickup your copy of Day Schildkret’s books Hello, Goodbye: 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration and Change (Simon Element/Simon & Schuster) and Morning Altars: A 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Spirit through Nature, Art and Ritual (The Countryman Press) at either of these events.
For more information on these books, visit Day’s website: https://www.dayschildkret.com/books
“Nature, art and ritual are three ways that cultures around the world have been transforming grief into beauty for thousands of years. Separately, these three things can open our hearts, bring us back to our center, and connect us back into what’s meaningful. Together, they become a resource and skill so we can feel human again.”
— Day Schildkret, Morning Altars
Parking and Transportation
Driving
Parking is available on any of the roads inside Lakewood’s gates unless otherwise noted with a no parking sign. Handicap parking will be available near event. Lakewood does not have an onsite parking lot – it is street parking only. This means you may have to park a short distance away and walk. We strongly encourage carpooling and taking public transportation.
Bussing
There is a bus that stops right outside of Lakewood’s gates.
Biking
A small bike rack is available just inside of Lakewood’s gates. Please do not lock bikes to any trees or signs. A Nice Ride station available on 34th/Hennepin, and 36th/Bryant. Please do not leave shared bikes or scooters in Lakewood’s gates overnight.
Questions?
Call the Lakewood events line at 612-540-5165 or email to events@lakewoodcemetery.org
