A little video plug about our Diversity Mural Project:

*One correction: We won't be installing on the wall of Luna Mosaic Arts. Cherie is working on securing the perfect wall; something prominently located, in the area, with the right structural integrity and size, and collaborating with a business that is excited about the project.

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:

Chiaroscuro; Casting Shadows in Mosaic Exhibit

In 2012, a group of Pacific NW mosaic artists gathered at the home of Richard Davis on Whidbey Island to discuss hosting one of the conferences for the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) in our area. Over the weekend, we brainstormed, ate, drank and worked on mosaic projects that we had brought along. This was the first time SAMA members in WA and OR coalesced as a regional group, and it was the beginning of a great friendship.

We did host the American Mosaic Summit in Tacoma in 2013, which was a huge undertaking headed by Richard Davis and Kelley Knickerbocker, but others were involved and the group began to take shape. Additionally, we held our first regional mosaic art exhibit to coincide with the conference.

Over the years, each of us has collaborated and intersected with others in this community, which spans both Pacific NW states, and last year, a few of us began planning a group exhibition with the theme: Chiaroscuro; Casting Shadows in Mosaic. Having worked together and knowing that each of us is committed to our work at a professional level, we trusted each other to submit the size and number of pieces that felt appropriate and fitting to the theme, without setting parameters.

Everyone except for Jo Braun.

Joanne Daschel

Karen Rycheck

Kate Jessup

Kelley Knickerbocker

Lynn Adamo

Jennifer Kuhns

Scott Fitzwater

December 8th was the opening reception for the first exhibit of the Northwest Mosaic Art Alliance (NMAA) at the Chessman Gallery in Lincoln City, OR. The show was hung perfectly by the gallery director, Krista Eddy and everyone brought their A-game to the show. The work was so compatible, yet varied, it was remarkable to me how well it came together. The turnout for the opening was huge! All but one of the artists (Jo Braun) was able to attend and the energy in the room was so enthusiastic!

If you are near the central coast of Oregon, go visit the show, which will be on display through January 9, 2018. But if you miss it, we have another show scheduled in March that I'll announce closer to the dates. For the moment, my head is still spinning from this weekend.

*All of the individual photos above were taken by Deane Ingram.

My current public art project:

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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 Copyright © *|2017|* *|JK Mosaic, LLC|*, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

This email was sent to <<Email Address>> why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Jennifer Kuhns Mosaic · 261 Porter Creek Rd · ELMA, WA 98541 · USA

A few projects from 2017

So much has been happening this year, my head is spinning. 2017 has been a great year, full of rewarding projects, and most are still in progress. I now have a newsletter to let you know when I'm part of an exhibit, when a public art project is being unveiled, or other significant events. To subscribe, follow this link:JK Mosaic Newsletter Mosaic Memorial Panel installed in Port Orchard in June I have yet to get a high-quality photo of the skatepark mosaic in Port Orchard, but I do love that I caught the young man shredding in the upper left corner. The lettering is made of opalescent black glass, so it reflects light to the camera, but is very visible in person and reads "VANDENBERGH PLAZA" after Mike Vandenbergh, who was instrumental in the expansion of this heavily used skatepark. The mosaic was commissioned by the South Kitsap Skatepark Association and the family of Mike Vandenbergh. Read More Banner for South Capital Neighborhood in Olympia I'm very excited that I was one of six artists who designed banners that are being installed on Capital Way to delineate the South Capital neighborhood from the State capital campus. Mine is just past the walking bridge to the visitors' center. I've been working in papercuts for a few years, and I'm very excited to see one of them turned into public art. The Diversity Mural You might know that this is my 5th year leading a weekly glass art class for at-risk teens in Shelton, WA. In January, we launched a mural project where we've been creating mosaic hearts, along with the community, which will form a huge rainbow when installed on the exterior wall of the school. Through social media, word has spread, and we have been receiving hearts from all over the world! Follow the project on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HeartMosaicMural CHIAROSCURO: CASTING SHADOWS IN MOSAIC” GROUP MOSAIC SHOW presented by: Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Highway 101 Lincoln City, Oregon 97367 Friday, December 08, 2017  through Monday, January 08, 2018   The ancient art of mosaic is enjoying a renaissance in the world today. Artists are using traditional tools and materials and combining them with other materials and a contemporary sensibility to create astonishing new work. This group of artists from Oregon and Washington all work in the broad medium of mosaic, and will explore the nature of light and dark, how shadows are cast by materials in their work, or how mosaic materials either reflect or absorb light. Artists include: Lynn Adamo, Joanne Daschel, Scott Fitzwater, Jennifer Kuhns, Karen Rycheck, Richard Davis, Jo Braun, Kelley Knickerbocker, Kate Jessup and Mark Brody. Opening reception: Friday, Dec. 8th   5pm-7pm *The image featured is a work-in-progress mosaic that is nearly finished, and will be included in this exhibition. I'll post more about this piece when it's finished.

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!