The Interconnectedness of Life

The Interconnectedness of Life, Mandala by Swati Rastogi was painted by the community and visitors at the July 2025 Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival sponsored by the Los Altos Village Association (LAVA). Volunteers for Arts Los Altos recently installed the mural on the side of State Street Market facing Third Street.

This colorful Mandala mural was painted in two sections, one panel on Saturday and the other panel on Sunday. The Arts Los Altos booth was organized to allow several painters to work simultaneously, completing small, predesignated shapes. It was exciting to observe brilliant color emerging on the panels as painters of all ages participated. At the end of Sunday’s session, the two panels were ready for Rastogi’s embellishment and finishing touches. This will be a temporary mural location at the State Street Market.

The mural’s designer, Swati Rastogi, describes herself as a multi-media artist. She has been highly influenced by the tribal and folk arts traditions of her native India. Her art is elegant, boldly colored and enhanced by fine detail. Rastogi’s art mediums range from murals, to mandala canvases, chalk mandalas, henna body art, arts & craft projects, and food art. Rastogi’s particular interest in mandalas began with her sophisticated henna designs. She sees the mandala as a motif of completeness and integrity. She begins with a central circle which then radiates out to form larger and fuller patterns. For the Interconnectedness of Life mandala mural, Rastogi chose a palette that relates to the quaint charm of downtown Los Altos with its tree lined streets and brick buildings punctuated with the buzz of colorful restaurants and store fronts. The mural’s bold outlines, enhanced by small mirrors, shimmers with light and reflection from the street.