Spring News!

Happy Spring!

I haven't been using this format much lately, partly because I have taken up Instagram and started sending out a newsletter, and those are a bit easier to manage. It's so hard to keep up with the marketing that keeps me connected with the world!

The last real post I wrote was about the Chiaroscuro exhibition back in December 2017. A group of NW mosaic artists has formed a collective, and we held our first group show in Lincoln City, OR. The show was a huge success, and we have since hung a new version of the exhibit at Wallow Gallery in Carlton, OR. One member of the group (Jo Braun) has moved away and we have added a new member, Todd Campbell. The artists live throughout Oregon and Washington and the variety of materials, style and technique in this show is stunning.

Throughout 2017, I worked steadily on a big project for the City of Bellingham. It is now in the final stages and will be installed in late spring in the Birchwood neighborhood. I'll post pictures when it is completed.

Another project I've been coordinating all year is the Diversity Mural for Choice High School in Shelton, WA. I work with at-risk teens at the school on Fridays, and we have been making hearts for a mural in class and with local community (Shelton, Olympia and Tacoma.) Through social media, word spread, and at least half of the hearts we have collected are from around the country, plus Canada, Scotland and Australia! This mural is nearly ready to install, now that the weather is warmer and dryer.

Very recently, I teamed up with mosaic artist Cherie Bosela, owner of Luna Mosaic Arts in Orlando, FL. We have launched a second version of the mural, to be installed in Orlando in memory of Pulse Nightclub. Hearts have been arriving at Luna Mosaic Arts, and we are working to secure a wall. We have a fundraiser in progress to pay for installation costs at: https://www.GoFundMe.com/DiversityMural.  Please help us to make this mural a reality!

Another piece of news is that I've been included in a new book about contemporary mosaic called "Creations" curated by Jacqueline Iskander. It is available on Amazon, but it can also be purchased directly from Jacqueline's website: https://www.j-mosaic.com/books/creations

There are upcoming project installations that I'll post about closer to completion. One date is set: April 28th noon to 2pm, people will gather to walk around downtown Olympia to see the new mosaic sidewalk inlays for Music Out Loud. I believe mine will be last on the tour in front of the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Consider joining us!

(I'll also have work on display at Hot Toddy during Arts Walk. And my MOM will be there, so please show up and make me look like a grand success!)

Now, go outside!

Instructions for Making Mosaic Hearts for Diversity Mural:

Here are the detailed instructions for making a mosaic heart to include in the Diversity Mural project:

To participate, you will need a piece of fiberglass mesh, plastic sheet or freezer paper (or similar plastic-coated paper), and a thin board or cardboard.

-With plastic coated paper, draw your heart onto it. Otherwise, place a heart shape under clear plastic. (You can use a plastic bag, contact paper, or similar. I encourage re-use!) Do NOT use saran wrap or wax paper.

-Tape everything in place onto a thin board or piece of cardboard.

-Tape a piece of fiberglass mesh over the plastic with the heart shape showing through. *Fiberglass mesh can be purchased from a mosaic supply store, or in bulk from a hardware store, from the stucco section. Hardware store mesh is thinner and has a sticky side. This can be nice to work on as it stays in place over your design. To be clear, do not use the sticky surface to attach your tesserae. I place the sticky side down onto the plastic.

-THINSET IS THE PREFERRED ADHESIVE to attach mosaic to mesh for an exterior project like this. If you use good thinset, it will be a solid hold that will grab the mortar when we install. Weldbond is a second choice that I usually recommend for beginners, but it results in a thin, water-soluble membrane between tesserae and mortar, which is not ideal. If you use weldbond, please be sparing so that the thinset can grab tesserae - but use enough so that the pieces don't fall off during shipping.

-Tesserae needs to be exterior grade: stained glass, glass tile, sealed mirror, stone, high-fired tile, and other solid material. If your piece is highly textured or has a lot of tiny pieces (beads, ball chain, etc.) these may end up buried in grout. We will be working fast during installation and might not have time to dig out detail work.

-Each heart MUST be done in ONE color of the rainbow. There can be minor elements in other colors, different shades of one color, and adjacent rainbow colors can be mixed. But in order to achieve a rainbow, it is vital that each heart be in one of the following colors: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue or purple. No pink, please. No multi-colored hearts. They will not be included. Please send a message to tell us what color you plan to use. As the project progresses, we will keep track to make sure we get relatively equal numbers of each color. (There is a helpful poll pinned to the top of the group page on fb.)

-Hearts can be varying sizes, from 2" - 10" (or 51mm - .25m). In other words, you can send us a bunch of small fused glass or ceramic hearts, which will fit in spaces between larger hearts. Any heart shape is also acceptable. You can embed messages in the hearts, or images. You can commemorate a person. Please keep all messages positive. Angry and negative messages will not be included. Avoid a message specific to this administration that may not be relevant in 20 years. Statements like "Never Again" "Love Wins" or similar are fine.

Hearts from Marla Franz - Note design elements within monochromatic scheme and large pieces that will be easy to install and grout.

-Again: keep us posted on who is participating, and what you will be sending. This will help us to make sure the outcome is successful. We will post updates as well, letting you know if we need more of a certain color (no one wants to do yellow or orange, as it turns out.)

-Florida folks: Cherie will need volunteers to help prep hearts before installation. This will involve trimming mesh, replacing missing pieces, and sorting by color. Easy and fun!

-Alright, let's get this party started! We are shooting for June as the deadline, but this may change. Life is unpredictable! *Update: after brainstorming in person in Boston, we think fall is a better time to install. Summer will be too hot and wet, and we want to give ourselves enough time for a successful project.

-Pack in something flat. It seems to work well to leave the heart on the cardboard it was made on, then place another piece of cardboard on top, then tape the edges so it's sandwiched between. If you have a group or make hearts with your students, feel free to stack this way and send in one box.
Send to Luna Mosaic Arts, 813 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL, 32803, USA

I can't wait to find out what is in this box from Al Turner in the U.K.!

Please share info about the project with any lists or feeds you think are appropriate, and include a link to our fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/DiversityMural  We need funds to pay for installation costs, including flying me (Jenn) to Orlando for at least the beginning of the process. You can also copy & paste our flyer: