This is almost more for my sake than anything else. I am finding it hard to keep track of everything that is happening this year!

First, a reminder that I am featured in a new book about contemporary mosaic, curated and published by Jacqueline Iskander, called "Creations." You can purchase the book directly from her at this link:
https://www.j-mosaic.com/books/creations

It is also available on Amazon, but please know that far more of the proceeds will go to Jacqueline if the book is purchased through her. It is very well put together, with a wide variety of mosaic artists and lots of color photos.

Music Out Loud in Olympia:

A new set of mosaic sidewalk inlays were installed in downtown Olympia last week. The title of the series is "Music Out Loud" and each mosaic commemorates an influential Olympia musician who is no longer living. My design is in front of the Washington Center for Performing Arts and is a tribute to Verne Eke, who was instrumental in the development of a performing arts scene in Olympia. He was the force behind the opening of Harlequin Productions and the Washington Center, and was an avid musician, both orchestrating musicals and playing piano.

I chose to render Verne in portrait form for my design because he was a behind-the-scenes guy, bringing musicals and performances to life, but not being in the spotlight. I felt it was his turn to be the focus. There is a ribbon behind him that transitions between musical notes and piano keys. This represents his primary instrument, and the fact that he worked with orchestras. The musical notes that I included are a short series from the song, "Hello Dolly," which seems to have been a favorite of Verne's. The notes were pulled from the section of the song that goes, "It's good to have you back where you belong." This felt sentimental and poignant, given that Verne put so much energy into creating a vital performing arts scene, and his likeness will now grace the front of the one venue in our Capital City that brings top-notch music and performance to Thurston County on a regular basis.

The celebration of this series of artworks will take place on Saturday, April 28 (2018) from noon to 2pm. Here is the announcement (which features my design before installation):

Next Up: Diversity Mural!

I've finally been given the go-ahead to start installing the Diversity Mural in Shelton this Friday! I can't wait to see this project becoming a reality. I don't know how long it will take, but I'll post an update when I have something to share.

In the meantime, we continue to collect hearts and donations for the second Diversity Mural in Orlando. Please help us by donating and/or sharing to your contacts: https://www.gofundme.com/DiversityMural

Secret Project:

I've been slowly creating a mural for an Olympia client. But, it's a surprise, so if I tell you about it I'll have to kill you. All will be revealed in Mid- to Late- May. Shhhhh!

Bellingham:

For the past year (plus) I've been working on a multi-part project for the City of Bellingham, and it is DONE. For now, it is stored in my big, old studio, awaiting installation. There have been some construction delays and weather has been a factor, but it looks like everything is lining up for a late-May installation. One part of this project is a set of sidewalk inlays that are mandalas featuring Pacific NW wildlife. The other is a set of vertical mosaics designed by local kids that will be located along the street most of the kids walk between school and home, with the sidewalk inlays on each end of this area. I am really looking forward to seeing these go into place.

This is one of the mandalas, made of matte glass tiles on fiberglass mesh.

Olympia Arts Walk:

Is your head spinning yet? Because mine is.

Olympia's Spring Arts Walk is on April 27 & 28 this year. If you haven't attended, it is one of my favorite events of the year! Downtown is largely closed off to traffic and there is music and performance in the streets. The businesses stay open late hosting local artists, and it is definitely the place to be. I'll be at Hot Toddy, in one of the front windows. Because the only new work I have is on display at Wallow Gallery in Carlton, OR as part of the Chiaroscuro group mosaic exhibit (and I won't make yet another paragraph about that) I am showing my papercut artwork, plus any work by the teens I teach in Shelton, if I can get them to rustle up some courage and let me put it on display! (They are resisting.)

I recently had one of my papercuts transformed into a metal banner for the South Capital neighborhood. When you approach the Capital grounds coming off of I-5, my banner is just to the left, high up on a pole. The original papercut will be for sale during Arts Walk, along with a whole body of this work, which is mostly done using a Polish folk art technique called "Wycinanki" where the paper is folded while cutting, revealing a symmetrical design when unfolded.

Project to honor my Sister-in-Law:

This is a harder project to announce. Last month, my dear sister-in-law passed away very unexpectedly due to complications from a very simple, usually minor infection. She was a beloved kindergarten teacher in Palmdale, CA for 3 decades, and will be awarded Teacher of the Year posthumously. The school library is being dedicated to her, and when I learned of this, it occurred to me that I can create a mosaic portrait of her to be hung in the library. My idea was received enthusiastically and immediately, so as soon as I complete my current (secret) project, I will get started on this portrait, which will be part of my own healing process.

Oh, and one more:

Years ago, I had a foyer framed out onto my old, big studio to help keep rain and cold out. But it has been sitting unfinished and ugly, right in the driveway. I promised that I would make it pretty this year, finally, so I have mesh sections with a folk-art inspired mosaic in progress. I work on it now and then, between other tasks. I am determined to get it finished by fall.

*There is a whole separate list of other types of events, like workshops and travel coming up this summer, but I think I've probably lost most readers by now and I don't want to make this any longer than I have. If you made it this far, thank you for reading! You can follow my progress on Instagram: @jenn.kuhns or on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferKuhnsMosaicI'm even trying to do Twitter: @jkmosaic
I hope to see you at one of the upcoming events!

City of Bellingham Project

In recent emails, I've highlighted some of the smaller projects I've been working in this year. But this is my largest public art project to date!

Last March, I was selected for a public art project by the City of Bellingham. They are improving the Birchwood neighborhood, adding sidewalks and lights to create a safer, nicer environment, and they needed some artwork that would engage local residents, but had not chosen a specific location, theme, or type of project. I had a unique opportunity to work with the committee from the very beginning, creating a proposal from scratch.

Mandala Sidewalk Inlays

The first stage of the project will be two 4'-8" sidewalk inlays. I created several design proposals, which were voted on during a community event and finalized by the Arts Commission. I've been fabricating the designs using matte glass tile on mesh, which temporarily holds the mosaic together until it can be set into mortar on site. Each design is a mandala featuring Pacific NW species. One includes blue herons, salmon, skunk cabbage and birch trees, and will be located on or near Birchwood Ave. The other includes otters, eagles, sword ferns and maple trees, and will be located on Maplewood Ave. I began work on the mandalas in August, and I expect to have them ready for installation in December, though construction schedules and weather will determine when they are installed. It is likely to be spring of 2018.

"Kid Garden" Light Post Bases

Part two of the project is a community engagement component. For two days in June, I rolled out giant craft paper at Squalicum Creek Park and invited local kids to help design a garden with their faces on the flowers. They did a great job and I returned to my studio with the three 9' x 3' designs that I needed to create vertical installations that will go on concrete light post bases along Maplewood Ave, between the two sidewalk inlays. My goal was for kids in the neighborhood to see themselves in the artwork and to feel a direct connection to it. Through summer, I fabricated the drawings in mosaic, and I've been slowly filling in the backgrounds between other projects. I expect to have this component ready for installation in January, but again, it will depend on construction and weather.

To follow my progress:

Last year, I learned how to use Instagram, and I really like it. It's easy to upload images from my phone, so I use it regularly to post progress pictures, shots of the studio, snippets from my life, etc. You can find me at jenn.kuhns.

I also have a business page on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferKuhnsMosaic
I'm even on twitter! Honestly, I haven't gotten comfortable with twitter. It's just too much. Usually, I just let my posts on other platforms share automatically on twitter. But if that's your preferred way to get updates: https://twitter.com/jkmosaic

And if you're more of an in-person person, feel free to schedule a studio visit. Be warned that I work in chaos, but I have an eclectic house, full of mosaic projects, and a lot of available work on my walls and stashed in suitcases. I live about 30 miles from the Westside of Olympia, WA. 360-482-8024

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Jennifer Kuhns Mosaic · 261 Porter Creek Rd · ELMA, WA 98541 · USA

Monday, April 16, 2018

Spring Events for JK Mosaic