Teal Mandala 1969

Clarence Holbrook Carter created ‘Teal Mandala’, and looking at this, I can only imagine the focus and precision involved in layering those colors and shapes. It makes me think about how we create our own sense of balance and harmony—searching for that center, adjusting the layers around it to make something whole. Carter was probably thinking of mandalas as maps of the psyche. The teal feels so calm, like deep water, and then that center point of light, like a little spark of hope. I like how the shapes aren't perfect; they wobble slightly. It’s like the artist is showing us that it’s okay to be a little off, a little wobbly, because that's where the real stuff happens. I think about the other artists doing similar things, like Agnes Martin, and the way they make space for contemplation. The way he embraces imperfection really speaks to me because it reminds us that painting, like life, is more about the journey than the destination.