Anthropologist to Screen Documentary on Tibetan Paintings at Waterford Library

26 minutes. That is the length of the documentary that will open a special program at the Waterford Public Library on Saturday, Nov. 7. The film, titled “A Woman Who Paints Thangkas,” was released in 2019 and documents the work of the first Tibetan woman to establish her own painting studio in the region.

The library will host the screening from 3 to 4 p.m. in its Meeting Room. The event is labeled as an adult program and focuses on traditional Tibetan Buddhist paintings, known locally and globally as thangkas. The library lists the event on its website for public viewing.

Anthropologist Ming Xue will lead the discussion following the film. She holds a doctorate in anthropology from UCLA and currently serves as a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Her upcoming presentation draws directly from her 2025 book, “Painting Thangkas on the Tibetan Plateau.”

Xue’s work centers on the creation of these religious images in the modern era. The documentary she selected for the screening follows a female artist who trains both male and female apprentices, a practice that challenges historical norms in the field. The library describes the session as a look into stories from Tibet regarding the making of Buddhist images.

The event is scheduled for the afternoon of Nov. 7. No advance registration details were listed in the initial announcement, though the library encourages interested residents to check the event page for specific instructions on attendance. The program is part of the library’s ongoing efforts to host cultural and educational talks for its local community.