This week, the HUB-Robeson Center's Art Alley can provide a relaxing refuge from the stress-ridden hassle that accompanies the first few weeks of classes.

Changing Consciousness with Mandalas by artist A. Charlene Chubb, has been on display since early May but will run until Sept. 7. The exhibit features mandalas, large geometric patterns filled with vibrant colors.

According to the HUB Galleries' Web site, Chubb's art was motivated by numerous religions and cultures, including Hindu, Buddhist and Native American. Chubb used ink, marker, gel pens and glitter to fill in the mandala designs.

Though Chubb is the featured artist for the exhibit, she used basic designs from Susanne F. Fincher.

Fincher, a registered art therapist and licensed professional counselor based in Atlanta, was inspired to create mandalas through her own personal life experiences.

"When I was at a very dark time in my life, I just spontaneously began drawing circular designs," she said. "And it helped me to feel a little bit better. When I got out of that difficulty, I just took hold of that thread and continued to study mandalas."

Besides working in art therapy, Fincher has penned four books on the subject of the healing powers of mandalas. The first book, Creating Mandalas, was published in 1991 and focuses solely on a textual explanation of mandalas and their usefulness.

Fincher's three other books are coloring books with mandala designs. Users can apply paint, colored pencils or crayons to fill in the designs.

Though all of the books focus on mandalas, they discuss different aspects.

"Different coloring books have different themes," Fincher said, adding one book focuses on archetypal forms of mandalas, another on religious forms and the final one on Hindu sacred art, she said.

"Basically, I just grab ideas from wherever I see them," Fincher said.

Though mostly adults purchase her books and complete the coloring pages, everyone can be affected by mandalas, she said.

She added after a tsunami in Indonesia, she had heard of Indonesian children who were comforted by coloring mandalas.

"That's the psychological function of mandalas," she said. "They are calming. In fact, I've heard that a number of teachers, especially in elementary schools, let students color mandalas before they take big tests, which I think is wonderful."