Portals, an exhibition of fine art mosaic by 10 Pacific NW artists May-June 2022

 *Note: I have another post about this show on my website, with links to each artist's website. If you go to this URL you'll find the artist list, and each one is a link: https://jkmosaic.com/jk/cascadia-mosaic-collective-exhibition-in-olympia-may-june/ There is also an art statement on that post.

A group of ten mosaic artists from Oregon and Washington State are exhibiting together for the sixth time. This show is on display at the Washington Center for Performing Arts in Olympia, WA and is viewable by appointment, except while attending performances and during an artist reception to take place on Saturday, May 14, 5-7pm. 

The artists are a group of friends who met mainly through the Society of American Mosaic Artists: Lynn Adamo, Mark Brody, Todd Campbell, Joanne Daschel, Richard Davis, Scott Fitzwater, Kate Jessup, Kelley Knickerbocker, Jennifer Kuhns and Karen Rycheck. Recently renamed the Cascadia Mosaic Collective, the group has shown bodies of work to elevate the awareness of mosaic as a fine art medium, and to demonstrate the wide range of approaches and interpretations mosaic offers. 

Some members of the collective exhibit at local and regional galleries, some are regularly included in international exhibitions, and some work mainly by commission and only display wall art mosaic in the context of the Cascadia Mosaic Collective, and all are full-time artists.

For more information, contact me: Jennifer Kuhns, jennifer@jkmosaic.com, 360.870.0356

Mosaic Mural Making Workshop June 2017

I have just confirmed workshop dates for a Mosaic Mural Making Intensive at Arbutus Folk School in Olympia, WA.

Last November, a 4-day mosaic mural workshop was scheduled near Portland, OR, but due to unfortunate circumstances, the instructor's travel plans fell through.  With only a few days to go and with some students flying from other states to attend, the host called me in a panic.  I hadn't taught this workshop before, but I have a fair amount of experience with exterior installations and mosaic murals, so I agreed to step in.  And it was a great experience!  

Here are a few photos from the workshop:

With months to prepare, the next workshop will be even better.  This time, it will be in lovely Downtown Olympia, WA, where shopping, food, cafes, parks, the port and the farmers market are within walking distance.  The workshop will take place over 4 days, from Friday, June 23 to Monday the 26th.  It will be an action- and information- packed workshop, with the students working hands-on to create a mosaic that will be installed in the school.  Cost is $350 per person, all inclusive.  (Please bring glass and tile cutting tools if you have them, but I will supply a selection as well.)

For more information: www.arbutusfolkschool.org

Installing a mural in Atlanta, GA.

Installing a mural in Walnut Creek, CA.

Installing mosaic embellishments on a pediatric clinic in Olympia, WA.

Coming April 11 & 12: Beyond Basics Mosaic Workshop in Olympia, WA

Looking at the calendar, I just realized how quickly the next workshop is coming up!  This will be my first time teaching this class; "Beyond Basics," which will address some of the steps a beginner mosaic artist can take to get to the next level.  I've noticed that most mosaic workshops are either project based (make a mirror frame, a flower pot, a stepping stone) or are intermediate/advanced technique-based classes that go deeply into one specific method that the instructor has mastered.  I recently took a short version of Kelley Knickerbocker's "Fundamento" workshop, which was fantastic for taking andamento to new, mind-boggling dimensions.  And I just took a workshop in Philadelphia from Lynn Takata on building 3-D substrates for mosaic, which builds on one that I took from Passiflora Mosaics near Santa Barbara last spring, on building sculptures with a styrofoam base.  Each of these is very specific, and only useful if you have some experience under your belt to put it into context.

Over the past 5 years, I finally accepted that there are some mosaic fundamentals that will go a long way toward improving the composition and flow of a mosaic design.  Reluctantly, I wrapped my brain around these concepts, and after a few years, I realized how much my work had changed.  And I like it.  To emphasize and understand my growth, I re-made one of my favorite designs with new information.

I think this was 2009.  (Note: I had been working in mosaic for 9 years!)

This was 2014.

I still have much to learn, but I think this demonstrates a shift from beginner to intermediate, and I plan to break down the information I've gained as well as I can for this class.

There is so much a mosaic artist learns through trial and error, and from spending the time and money to take workshops from other experienced instructors, that I'll be covering the essentials in this 2-day class, but it won't be possible to convey my 15 years of experience within 10-12 hours.  I'm going to do my best, including an overview of the wide variety of applications, materials, substrates, adhesives and setting techniques used in mosaic art on Saturday.  On Sunday, I plan to get into some of the terminology specific to mosaic, and to delve into types and uses of andamento.  Students will have two small substrates of different kinds, with some materials samples and adhesives, and will be invited to play with each of these to get a sense of them.  You may choose to make a small project, or just use the time to gain information for future use.  Bring a notebook and pencil to take notes and sketch ideas.  When we get into andamento, this will be especially helpful.

I know I already have some absolute beginners signed up for the Olympia class, so I will try to start at that point, but I planned this originally for those crafters who have been playing around with mosaic, but would like some tools for taking their work to the next level.  I hope I can meet the needs of all participants, and I'll make every effort.

Details can be found at the Arbutus website: http://www.arbutusfolkschool.org/current-classes/
Scroll down to April  11/12.  Then on the upper left is a button for "register for classes."
I look forward to working with some of you!