Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Mosaic Unveiled!

Done and dusted- feels great to have completed this collaborative project- two years in the making from conception to completion!  In the two years span we-
- brainstormed the theme with the kids-
- researched different materials and structures
- came up with free standing undulating wall design with the help of Party By Design
- had the students submit drawings that we compiled onto the full scale "cartoon"
- cut up a ton of stained glass
- had a "mosaic palooza" during a blizzard ( 2015) and it didn't stop snowing!
- consulted with Mosaic artist Josh Weiner who gave us a  thinset lessons and switched our method to the tape technique eliminating any kind of glue and wood in the fabrication.
- Many meetings in Avon with the fabricator Marcus
- The students and tart teacher Mary Ellen Olson worked over the two academic years assembling the panels
- we switched from a free standing wall to a flat panel hanging on the building with a french cleat system
- I cut up the taped mosaics, adhered and grouted the 6 panels in my studio 
- the mosaics were sealed
- installed on wall and unveiled yesterday!
the cleats ready for the mosaics






( this is a panoramic shot I tried to unwarp on photoshop)




I know that kids liked it!
If you are local and want to see it- you can drive up to the building- it's the first entrance to the school on the right on Burditt Ave off rt 3A . You can also park in the main lot and walk across campus- its on the new "Innovation center" building.


Thursday, September 8, 2016

Finished Mosaic install for Derby Academy


I finished setting the glass in mortar and grouted it- it really looks amazing. It is to be installed on the building soon and there will be an unveiling - the middle school age students worked with their art teacher for two years so its been a long time coming!
Here is me lifting up a chunk of the taped glass. It had to be taken apart and reassembled on the panels. It came together seamlessly with very few pieces needing to be reglued.! (whew!)
The entire mural when installed is about 3 1/2' high by 26' long.