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STAR student Mosaic Project - Finished!






The installation of the 9 stars went pretty smooth. Each piece had finished edges which really cut down on time. The students completed their mosaic stars and then I did a marathon grouting of nine stars and nine hearts.
Students and everyone were excited to see them finally up and each piece is very unique and each star has the students name tag on it.
Students did their personal strength words on their mosaic stars as part of a leadership project. Glass, tile, glass gems, mirror were some of the materials used to fabricate the stars. the mosaic stars are part of a mural for the inner courtyard of the school. Pictures did not come out as well due, I think, to the sun being directly in the camera lens which was facing east into the sun at times. Good part was the shade during the installment!

Reasonably Suspicious (The Arizona Immigration Song)

This spoof was made by a teacher at the school in south Tucson where the mosaic star installations are. The actors are students from the school as a protest to the current law in Arizona where a person can be stopped on appearance if suspected of being illegal in the USA. Notice that they do not question the white european, middle eastern, asian illegal immigrants etc.- just the mexicans because of the border problems. The students I worked with said said that if you are a white mexican instead of brown you don't get harassed. They joked and said they would put up a sign on their cars saying "Stop me - I'm mexican!"
Even the 4th and 5th graders expressed their opinion - pointing out that it is unfair that brown mexicans dressed in popular mexican fashion are targets for harassment. Though the problem is getting worse and everyone is looking for answers, profiling is not a solution. It's like regressing back to the japanese camps during the war.

The Reverse Graffiti Project

Posted this on Facebook, but wanted to put it up here too. A great idea to create environmental awareness even if it is a bit of an advertisement. Hey, sponsors are essential too.

STAR student Mosaic Project






Here are more student pieces for the star mural project. I have been doing a grouting marathon to get these done in time for installation and still have three more to go. Plus the large logo star! All are glued onto 1/4" hardi backer cement board, then cut with an angle head grinder, then grouted. Stars are 3' x 2' approx. and hearts are 10" and done on 1/2" Easy board. Stars will be installed onto a painted brick wall with thin set and anchor bolts. Same for the little hearts. Custom grout was used in Dove Grey. Kind of dark now but on a south west facing wall it will lighten up. Back to work now!

The London Elephant Parade - The Making of Phoolan Part 2

What a fabulous project and how I would have loved to work on it! Will Phoolan's message be heard where it is needed most - in India? Beautiful work.

Graphite Miniatures





This year drawing, mosaic and painting miniatures is what I have been producing. Working small has been very satisfying, but I am starting larger pieces again to break out of this and go for more change. Here are couple more mini graphite studies - African Caracal and Panda. Size: 4 1/2" x 5 1/2 "

Student Mosaic STARS




At times I have the privilege of working with students thru various schools and their focus and work is pretty awesome.
Here are three of eight mosaic stars for a mural that students have finished. Size around 3 feet. They are on Hardi Backer board. I'll be cutting and grouting them for installation, so this is how they look raw and ungrouted!
The grout is a dark grey so colors, mirror and gems will pop for a super cool look.
Each student has a special word on their star. Tile, glass gems and mirror are used.


Blue Coyote Mini mosaic WIP




Still playing with tempered glass in the mini mosaics. Made copy of my painting to for mosaic. No glass on it yet. This one will be sent as a sample when finished. The appeal of the TG is that it allows painting as well as mosaic. Painting, drawing, design is the foundation for my artwork. The visual "comfort food" that always soothes and restores the creative juices.
Think I am drawn to trickster tales in general. A great book on trickster tales I just finished - The Coyote Road Trickster Tales edited by Ellen Datlow. An anthology of tales by popular fiction authors and illustrations of Charles Vess. Introduction and Preface was fascinating and I learned much about the history of trickster folklore in different cultures.

Gila Mosaic & Risa - Watz Up!?



Grouted and Finished! A jewel like Gila Monster. When seen up close the real life Gila reptiles are beautiful with their beaded skin. Slow moving, they are part of the Fragile series I am working on. For the next mosaic class, Coyote the trickster will be featured and students will have the opportunity to interpret coyote folk tales in artful mosaic booklets. Ages 8 - 13. Can't wait to see what they come up with!
And Risa, constant companion doing her Watz Up face.


St. Francis Mosaic & Mosaic book



This is a special commission done with a little kitty and an owl - so cute! It has an amethyst stone, turquoise, beads etc. The painting is very detailed and I loved doing it. Also the work in progress of another mosaic booklet. I wish I had remembered to take pics from the beginning! At this stage the tempered glass is being added. Then I will grout, using two colors this time. It is part of a series I call Fragil, focusing on endangered species. This is a desert Gila Monster.