Family Sundays

Ages 3 and older with accompanying adults

Family Sundays are in person at the Rubin! Bring your family to the Mandala Lab on the third floor for an afternoon of creativity and self-exploration that both kids and grown-ups will enjoy.

This month we’re exploring the lotus flower, which grows in muddy, murky waters, rises to the surface, and unfolds. In Himalayan art, lotus flowers are a powerful symbol of overcoming hardship. They bloom untainted by the muck—in fact, nourished by it—and serve as a reminder that moments of beauty can emerge even from the toughest conditions. While crafting your own lotus flowers, imagine yourself rising above the murky waters to bloom!

At 2:00 PM, join us for a special book reading and signing with children’s book author, Priya Kumari. Priya will enthrall Family Sunday participants with her newest release, Leaf Talks Peace: Buddha’s Message of Harmony. Spreading a much-needed message of unity and tolerance, this book aims to help children become more mindful and compassionate global citizens.

Story Time will be followed by a guided visit to the second floor of the Museum with Anu Sehgal, the Founder and President of The Culture Tree, to learn more about the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama).

Choose a 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM Family Sunday ticket to reserve your spot for this book reading in the Mandala Lab.

Ongoing, 1:00–3:00 PM, Transcendent Blossoms

About the Author

Priya Kumari is a multi-award-winning children’s author and the founder of Eternal Tree Books. Her mission is to publish uplifting books from underrepresented Indian/Asian cultures—diverse stories promoting peace education, emotional hygiene, science of well-being, and cultural competence. Born and raised in the scenic foothills of the Himalayas, she inherited her love of reading and passion for the written word from her father, who owned a bookstore. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tai Situpa, Sharon Salzberg, Lokesh Chandra, Hema Malini, and Ved Nanda have praised her books. Priya lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two sons.

This book reading is presented in partnership with The Culture Tree. The Culture Tree provides South Asian–themed educational and cultural programs that enrich the lives of children and their families and promote a deeper connection with their roots and the world around them.

Mandala Lab and Family Sundays are made possible with lead support from the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Barbara Bowman, Fred Eychaner, the Estate of Lisina M. Hoch, The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, Rasika and Girish Reddy, Shelley and Donald Rubin, and Tiger Baron Foundation.

Major support is provided by Anonymous, Bob and Lois Baylis, Anne and Albert Chao, Con Edison, Daphne Hoch Cunningham and John Cunningham, Anne E. Delaney, DeWitt Stern, Karen Dorsky, Noah P. Dorsky, Jack Lampl, Max Meehan, Dan Gimbel of NEPC, LLC, The Prospect Hill Foundation, Sarah and Craig Richardson, Basha Frost Rubin and Scott Grinsell, the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Namita and Arun Saraf, Linda Schejola, Eric and Alexandra Schoenberg, Eileen Caulfield Schwab, Tsherin Sherpa, Taipei Cultural Center in New York, and New York Life Insurance Company*, and New York Life.

Public funds are provided by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

We additionally thank the generosity of 223 sponsors and donors who contributed to our 2020 gala, Inside the Mandala: A Virtual Gala.

*“NEW YORK LIFE” and the NEW YORK LIFE Box Logo are trademarks of New York Life Insurance Company. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.