Top Secret Mosaic Mission

RISING TO THE OCCASSION

I got a call on Saturday from local stylist Diane McGauley wanting a mosaic for a top secret client for a top secret photo shoot - by Tuesday morning! That's so soon! Yet so mysterious and intriguing. Top secret sounded pretty good to me. So I decided to rise to the occasion, pause my projects for a day, and make them one.

The request was for an 18"x18" all mirror mosaic in random shaped triangles between 1" - 5". Very specific! I never work in all triangles (they're a little pointy for me) yet always have a thing for mirror. Here is the end result, whisked off this morning.

Mirror Triangles.jpg

CA Wildflower Mosaics Are Up and Awesome! A community project with Edna Brewer Middle School

We've been working hard with Edna Brewer Middle School students to create these fabulous 16 large native California wildflower mosaics for the courtyard of their school. Now the flowers are installed and we are all thrilled with the results! Over 300 students participated in making the mosaics. The project integrates lessons in science, art, ecology, sustainability, hands-on skill development, landscaping, and campus beautification. 

Last weekend was the big installation and parents, teachers, families and fellow mosaics artists came from all over to help. We seriously couldn't have done it without them! Now the dreary side of the courtyard sings with color and the students are asking for more!

Special thanks to Kathy DeRosas (project spearhead and organizer), Jeri Schnieder (teacher extraordinaire), Tracy Davis (mosaic artist volunteer), Kathy Law (mosaic artist volunteer), the PTSA and all the students and volunteers who helped make this project!

Mosaic Flowers Community Installation This Week!

Students at Edna Brewer Middle School did a super job creating 16 big flower mosaics! Over 300 students participated in the project, and we've been working with them over four days in the classroom to create the mosaics. It has been a whirlwind and a blast! Each panel depicts a California native wildflower and will be installed on walls of the school's inner courtyard this week.
Volunteers are invited to participate in the installation. If you would like to join us for a day or even an hour email Rachel here. The schedule is posted below. It's going to be great to get the mosaics up and see them on the wall! For more info on the project check out my last  blog post.  Hope to see you soon!

Nov 8  Friday - Install Sections   10:00a - 1:30p /  1:30p - 5:00p    
Nov 9  Saturday - Install Sections    10:00a - 1:30p /  1:30p - 5:00p   
Nov 10  Sunday - Grout    10:00a - 1:30p /  1:30p - 5:00p 

Community Mosaic at Edna Brewer Middle School

I am very excited to be leading a large community mosaic with Edna Brewer Middle School students in Oakland this month! We will be making 14-16 large glass mosaic panels, each depicting a native California flower. 6th-8th grade art students will learn how to work with glass, use glass tools and create the mosaics in the classroom on mesh (a total of 130+ square feet!). Then we will install the panels in the school's inner courtyard with parent and teacher volunteers. It's going to be a fast paced and fun time! 

This project is part of a collaborative effort at Edna Brewer that integrates lessons in science, math, ecology, hands-on skill development, visual arts, design, landscaping, and campus beautification. I am so grateful to be a part of this movement. This is the second year I am creating mosaics with the students. Last year we made an incredible Panther sculpture! Be sure to check out the pictures. 

If you are interested in volunteering with this project, please contact me via email. There is limited space available.

Work with Students in the Classroom   8:30 - 2:45 each day
Monday, October 21 
Thursday, October 24 
Monday, October 28 
Thursday, October 31 (tentative)

Installation    10:00 - 5:00 each day
Friday-Sunday, November 8 - 10   

Project spearheaded by artist Kathy DeRosas, funded by the school PTSA. A special thanks to lead teacher on the project Jeri Schnieder for all her great help!

Flowers and Fruits

Our mosaic insets were just installed we wanted to share them! The designs depict flowers, fruits and vegetables from the client's garden and are created to-scale of the actual objects. So they appear to be bowls filled with displays of things picked that day. The inset brickwork was created 17 years ago and the clients have been waiting that long to fill them with mosaics! I must say this is the most idyllic and beautiful installation site I have worked on. The garden was simply stunning and felt like it was loved - cared for yet relaxed and enjoyed. The weather a steady mid 70's, and the clients were wonderfully kind, gracious and even offered me lunch. Life just keeps getting better and better. 

Production assistance by Randi Casenza, Elizabeth Grindon and Carol Bevilacqua.