Introducing Reham Aarti - Idaho Mosaic Artist

I am lucky to know so many amazing people! I'm going to start finding time to write a little bit about each of them here. Most of them are doing interesting, wonderful projects, and I want to help spread the word.

Today, let me introduce you to Reham Aarti:

In 2016, I was attending the annual American Mosaic Summit in San Diego, and a friend who works for the Washington State Arts Commission sent me a facebook message saying to keep an eye out for Reham. She thought we would hit it off. The only information I had was that she has blue hair. I mentioned it to my roommate, Krystie Rose.

Later that evening, when I returned to the room, Krystie Rose said, "Look who I found." And there was this adorable woman with blue hair sitting on the bed! A group of us were planning to head out for dinner. Reham had her own plans, to meet a family friend for a Mediterranean dinner. Reham was born and raised in Kuwait, and is an American citizen (no trace of an accent, even) living in Boise. The group was going to join forces with Reham and her friend, and we were all on our way to a Lebanese restaurant in two cars, when something came up for the other group and they turned back. I found myself out with two people I had only just met, and I felt a bit like a third wheel.

For about 10 minutes.

Reham and her friend spent the car ride talking about their experiences living through the Gulf War, and I learned that Reham had been active in the resistance, against her father's wishes. Conversationally, I had absolutely nothing to contribute, but it was fascinating to listen and learn. And by the time we were eating a humongous dinner (Reham's friend knew the owner, and we were served a lavish meal) I felt completely welcome. Reham is outgoing, warm, and hilarious. I felt extreme gratitude that I had gotten into her car so that I had a reason to get to know her better.

Wonder Wall, public art mosaic by Reham Aarti

As we shared pictures of our work, there was an immediate kinship. Our approaches are similar. We both love folk-arty aesthetics with bright, dynamic colors. We work in similar arenas, mixing private commissions with public art, and are just doing our best to keep finding and making mosaic to support our families, doing something we love. However, I have a partner who supports me. Reham is flying solo, raising two boys on an artist's income.

Reham has started using the Patreon platform to help fund more public art projects for Boise schools. Her particular focus is creating "buddy benches." Read more and consider contributing here: Reham Aarti on Patreon

If you love mosaic and/or public art and art for kids, keep an eye out for future projects by Reham!

Empowerment Through Community Mosaic Projects

JK Mosaic
Community Mosaic Projects

While I spend most of my time on commissioned mosaic for private, corporate and public spaces, I try to find time to engage communities in mosaic projects to help bring art and beauty to neighborhoods and public spaces. This is very challenging work, as there is very little funding available outside of King and Pierce counties (in my State: WA.) For areas like Shelton, WA, there is virtually no funding for public art, no PTA to raise money for art supplies in schools, and very few programs to engage underserved communities. And it can be hard to convince people that art is important when so many vital needs are not being met.

Above: Olympia, WA community making mosaic fish for a beloved downtown fountain. Over 200 people participated in this project over 6 weeks.

During my first community project, I was moved by the reactions of participants. They were overjoyed to have the opportunity to contribute to a permanent public project. Those who helped throughout the whole process were impacted by the experience in positive ways. It engaged those who felt otherwise ignored and disenfranchised, and it brought unlikely people together, working and chatting side by side.

Top pic: A volunteer helps participants in Les Gove Park, Auburn, add to a mosaic panel.
Bottom pic: The completed panel lives in Auburn's Parks & Rec Building.

Many children, especially in less affluent school districts, have little to no art in school. For them, being invited to help create art for their community is very empowering. They may stay for a few minutes or a few hours to work on a panel, and later, they can visit the artwork and know that they helped to make something beautiful that is enjoyed by others. When there is only a small budget for public art, this is a way to stretch that budget much farther, and the participants feel a sense of ownership. There is more respect and appreciation for the artwork going forward.

Young people at a public event in Shelton, WA helping to complete a small mural for Choice High School.

Usually, I am able to facilitate a community project because I was selected due to my ability to make the most of a limited budget, and my reward is far more personal than financial. Recently, I launched a project out of frustration with the divisiveness in our country, with no financial backing of any kind. I call it the Diversity Mural, and it will be a wall of hearts that form a huge rainbow. Teens that I work with in Shelton, WA have been making hearts for the mural every week on Fridays, and I've been receiving heart contributions from mosaic artists around the globe. Still, we have about 950 hearts to go, and I have zero budget to buy supplies and to hold heart-making events with other groups through summer. I hope to install in the fall. (You can follow the project on facebook:  

https://www.facebook.com/HeartMosaicMural)

I am determined to complete this mural, one way or another, and I'm exploring fundraising options. I'm not a non-profit, so many organizations and corporations won't donate to my cause. When other mosaic artists send hearts, it is a wonderful gift because it reduces the amount of supplies I need to generate. However, I still want to find ways to engage more people who also want to send the message of inclusiveness and solidarity, and I can't do it with good intentions alone. I welcome any ideas or assistance with this. 

These are children in Scotland making hearts for the Diversity Mural!

Please contact me if you want to contribute to this project in any way. Do you have a group or organization that would like to make some hearts? Do you have fundraising skills and spare time? Are you a socially responsible corporation that would like to work together to create a program to bring public art to underserved communities? Get in touch! (jennifer@jkmosaic.com)

*This summer, I'll also be working with a community in Bellingham to add some whimsical mosaic to their neighborhood.

Thanks!

Mosaic Murals by JK Mosaic

Custom Murals by Jennifer Kuhns at JK Mosaic, LLC

Photorealistic mural in Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, CA

Panels are assembled in my studio, and transported to the mural location to be installed.  Installation typically takes under 3 days.

Each piece of glass is hand-cut and placed into the composition.

This lavender farm photo was printed to scale, then mapped out in my studio.

Completed panels being installed on location in Alpharetta, GA by me and my trusty assistant, Krystie Rose Millich.

Installation completed within a day and a half.

The finished mosaic, made of stained glass, sparkles in the sun.

This project, from 2009, was created for the Federal Way Senior Center in Federal Way, WA to celebrate their community garden and food bank.

Here is the project, installed by a carpenter.

This project was completed by young children at Les Gove Park in Auburn, WA in one day.

Most of the children were from local preschools, and a few older kids joined in as well.

Completed glass mosaic community mural.