This presentation of Community Mosaics was complied for NCECA 2017 and emphasizes collaboration and accessibility for artists and communitites

1. COMMUNITY MOSAICS
Ariel Edwards and Clay Art Center
Changing How We Engage Our Communities

2. ME!

3. Mosaic Image 1

11. Mosaic Image 2

21. Shepard Fairey
“The Stamp of Incarceration” Collaboration with Mural Arts Philadelphia
Restorative Justice Program and a call to action for prison reform

22. Laurel True
“Magic Archway” Lined
with bricks like those of the
Lafitte Public Housing
Development and mosaics
from residents it honors the
strength of communities
that were formed here and
demolished after hurricane
Katrina.

23. Laurel True
The Urban Eyes Project explores awareness, vision, protection and the
interaction between community well-being and creative expression, urging us
to See Differently and examine things from various perspectives

24. Laurel True
Based on conversations
with project
stakeholders, I created
a design that included a
bridge (based on those
that span the
Bosphorus) as a symbol
of bridging cultures and
unity, and natural
elements inspired by
the decorative arts of
Turkey.

25. Joshua Winer
The city of Lynn, Massachusetts has a rich industrial history and a diverse
population and this work of public art honor’s the city's cultural heritage.

26. Network Arts
“Environmental Heroes” at the Franklin Institute Science Museum

27. Network Arts
“Clean Water Depends on us All” at the Math, Science
and Technology Charter School in Philadelphia

28. Network Arts
Barnegat Bay Ecology Stewardship Ocean County Library in New Jersey

29. Chicago Public Arts Group
“From Contemplation to Pride” The central image is Dr. Margaret Burroughs
with excerpts from her poem, “What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black?
To the right an image of Jane Addams, displays prominent African American
women of the past who influenced Dr. Burroughs. To the left displays
women who were influenced by Dr. Burroughs.

30. Chicago Public Art Group
Chinese American Museum and the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
to create a mural to commemorate the 100th year of Chinatown with a
mix of painted Chinese traditional painting techniques and mosaic.

31. Chicago Public Arts Group
Artists worked with students to create hundreds of porcelain tiles that make this
balanced design outside the entrance of the school depicting indigenous
narratives and symbols as identified by the students.

53. Isaiah Zagar Guide

54. Baltimore Clayworks
Artist Herb Massie At
Dunbar Middle school
depicting history of
Baltimore with mosaic tile
and sculptural elements

55. Baltimore Clayworks
Jubilee Arts Satellite
Mosaic and Mural

56. The Visionary Art Museum
A museum for “Outsider Art” the mosaic is a collaboration between
the museum’s artists and incarcerated youth in Baltimore

57. Stan Bitters
Environmental Ceramics book published in 1976 with
huge industrial and residential ceramic installations

58. Stan Bitters
Mandala Mosaics with Installation at Duncan
Ceramics shown to scale in lower left

59. WHAT YOU NEED IN YOUR TOOLBOX
• PARTNERS
• PLAN AND TIMELINE
• FUNDING
• CREATION AND MATERIALS
• INSTALLATION
• CELEBRATION

60. PARTNERS!
Of all shapes and sizes

61. Picture of partners standing in front of
mural

62. Partnerships
• AIM FOR DIVERSITY
• BOTH GRASSROOTS AND
BIG PICTURE PARTNERS

63. Big Picture:
Grassroots:
PTA, RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY NETWORKS, LOCAL
BUSINESSES, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SCHOOL DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION, CORPORATIONS, HOUSING
AUTHORITIES, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS,
MEDIA

64. Grassroots Partners Bring:
ENTHUSIASM, MANPOWER, COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS

65. Big Picture Partners Bring:
FINANCIAL BACKING, IN-KIND DONATIONS, PUBLICITY

66. Partners Should Agree …Right?

67. Partnership Agreement Should
Include:
PARTNER ME AND PARTNER YOU
AGREE TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
BLAH BLAH BLAH…

69. PLANNING!
And don’t forget the timeline

70. Obviously it’s about MONEY
• Equipment & Materials
• Artists Fees (that’s you)
• Installation Supplies
• Advertisement
• Celebration
• Volunteer Appreciation

71. It’s also about TIME

72. Estimate the Number of Tiles and Makers

73. Installation Timeline

74. FUNDRAISING!
Everyone’s favorite part

75. Diversify Fundraising
Art Councils/Local
Government
In-Kind Donations
Private/Corporate
Foundations

76. INVITE THEM TO THE PROCESS
FUNDER TILES
CELEBRATION
Thank them

80. CREATE IT!
No Seriously this is the best
part

81. Mosaic Design
•COMMUNITY INPUT
•THINK ABOUT THE TRANSFER
•INDOOR VS. OUTDOOR SITE

90. Exterior Mosaics
•Freeze Thaw is the
BOSS!
•Found Objects
•Ceramic Materials

91. My Recommendation
•420 and 547 from
Standard
•Amaco Velvet
Underglazes
•Cone 6 everything

92. • Less than 3% water absorption
• The Genius of Nancy Selvage

94. Create Image

100. Pitfalls of Creating Tiles
•Smooth those edges
•Score the backs
•Relief of ½” or less
•Keep it small(ish)

102. Large Format Tiles- If You
Must
•Custom Building
Products.com
•Large Format Mortars,
Rapid Set etc
•Contact Distributor

105. Found Objects
•Always test compatibility
•Avoid porous objects
•There is no golden rule

106. Interior Mosaics
•Any clay body any glaze
•Same rules for creation
•Safety is the first priority in
highly trafficked areas

107. INSTALLATION!
Get Messy and Get It Done

112. Be DIRECT!
• APPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE
WALL
• TILES ARE APPLIED FACE-UP
• LARGE TRANSFERS CAN BE
DIFFICULT

126. Using a Substrate!
• CEMENT BOARD, MARINE
PLYWOOD, HARDI
BACKER(NOTHING POROUS)
• SMALLER SECTIONS
• YOU CAN WORK INDOORS

135. Indirect Installation
• REGULAR AND STANDARDIZED
TILES
• ADHESIVE SHEETS, TAPES,
FILMS
• TILES CAN BE APPLIED FACE
DOWN

138. Sealant and Silicon
• PROTECTS FROM WEATHER,
MOLD AND LITTLE HANDS
• SILICON ON 3 SIDES
• EVERY FIVE YEARS

139. MANPOWER!
The Thrilling Lives of Volunteers

140. They Just Don’t Pay Enough For This
Stuff
• Think dedicated, passionate and
free labor!
• Recruit Local Schools, Universities
and Community Networks
• Appreciate them
• Feed them

146. CELEBRATE!
Now This One is Easy

147. Hopefully the First of Many
•Invite Partners and
Funders
•Public Art on a Public
Stage

150. Recption 3

155. Resources
True Mosaics Studio in Louisiana-The Global Mosaic Project www.truemosaics.com
Mural Arts Philadelphia www.muralarts.org Restorative Justice Program
Coyote Central in Seattle www.coyotecentral.org great teen and youth engagement
Joshua Winer, Artist and Teacher www.schoolmosaics.net Schools in Boston
Network Arts in Philadelphia www.networkarts.org fascinating case studies
Chicago Public Art Group www.cpag.net Great Guide Available
Pedro P Silva Grant’s Tomb
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/30/nyregion/mosaic-benches-face-unseating-
at-grant-s-tomb.html Galvanizing a community around preservation in Manhattan’s
Upper West Side
Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Gardens www.phillymagicgardens.org Guide Available
Baltimore Clayworks www.baltimoreclayworks.org
Stan Bitters www.stanbitters.com Environmental Ceramics Book 1976