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Journey I wasn't formally trained in the arts, but have always had some creative idea in the works. Over the past 25 years, my family has supported and endured our kitchen table, dining room table, and the backyard picnic table buried under some sort of artistic project. Just recently and much to my husband's dismay, I have officially taken over his beloved garage as well. Only now instead of boring white, it's been painted over in Cayman Blue Mystic Grape and Citrus Lime! My main artistic outlet while raising our two boys was quilting. I found it to be a relatively safe and portable hobby with the occasional exception of losing a needle on the family room floor or sofa. Later, out of a functional need to privatize a window and recycle some old French doors we were replacing, my creative journey morphed into stained glass classes and eventually led to an internet search for a mosaic teacher in the Bay Area. I found Institute of Mosaic Art and met Laurel True when she was still at her little studio on Ford Street in Oakland four years ago.
Mosaics Since I started out in stain glass, I had accumulated a large supply, so most of my early mosaic work was done in glass. Now I'm starting to work in tile too. I love the look of both. The bar top was my first attempt at a large project in tile. It includes piece of broken tile that we found on our family vacation last summer to the British Virgin Islands on the island of Virgin Gorda and a few pieces of tile that we found from another trip washed up on a beach in Positano Italy. The heart with wings on the wall above the bar top was my first piece in IMA's Mosaic 101 class.
One of my favorite classes was Brent Sumner's Darjit class Concrete Garden Sculpture. I wanted to keep it simple, so I ended up with a 6 foot cactus that much to my delight, didn't require any rebar. It has become our standard fill-in for the family Christmas tree. It's fun, funky and easy to decorate. After the holidays are over, it goes back out into the garden. I'm already looking forward agai n this year to our traditional kahlua mudslides as we break out the chili pepper lights and Mexican serape cactus skirt. Another favorite IMA class was Sherry Warner Hunter's Concrete Institute last spring. That class led to a cross country trip in June to transport her solo exhibition from IMA to her studio in Tennessee and the chance to take her week long concrete camp again. I started working on an 8 foot totem pole at IMA and continued working on it back in Tennessee. It's not finished yet, but with the help of my new wet saw, a gift for mother's day this year, I hope to have it housed in it's concrete faux rock base (also from Sherry's class) and out in the side yard by next spring. Who knew styrofoam and concrete could provide such endless hours of fun? Laurel's Mural Making Intensive class was so much fun the first time; I took it again in August. I heard about it while I was taking her Ancient Meets Modern class and luckily there was one opening left in the class. Oops, did I just sign up for another class at IMA? Another favorite was Lillian Sizemore's class Mosaics from the Mind's Eye. The class culminated in a beautiful exhibition at IMA of her present and past Mind's Eye classes. That was my first formal exhibit. From Lillian I learned to relax and enjoy the journey of the creative process. Panic was robbing me of some of the joy. Those big fat creative blanks I've always feared have yet to come to fruition. So far, I have more than enough projects and ideas to keep me going for the next few years. Now, it's just a race against time, and my hands, but I'm going to hold out as long as I can before I have to give this up. I hope to die old with a pair of nippers in one hand and a good glass of wine in the other!
Exterior and Garden Applications Introduction to Glass Mosaics Tempered Glass Mosaics with Ellen Blakeley Business of Mosaics with Laurel True Glass Mosaic Lamp (I love making these for gifts.) Architectural Applications with Laurel True Precision Setting Techniques with Laurel True Playing with Color with Ellen Blakely Indirect Methods with Pippa Murray Lightweight Concrete Sculpture with Tracy Broback 3-D Forms with Tracy Broback (I mosaiced an old toilet that needed to be replaced. Now it's a garden planter.) Mosaicing 3-D Sculptures with Sherry Warner Hunter
Direction
I've always had trouble applying the word "artist" to myself and what I do. It congers up a deep and sacred meaning in my soul, one I haven't felt able to connect to yet. Someday maybe, it won't feel so awkward, but for now "art student" feels more comfortable. I'm an art student. And I'll cut all other classes, mainly housekeeping 101, to work endless hours on my "art" homework. So I'm thankful to my understanding family who has supported me over the years in what can only be described as an insatiable addiction. And I'm so grateful to Laurel and the awesome staff and teachers at IMA for providing such a wonderful environment to keep me inspired and coming back to class!
IMA
IMA is truly a blessing to the Bay Area. I can't tell you how lucky I feel to live only 30 minutes away from the studio. Laurel's dedication to teaching correct methods and industry standards has saved me years of trial and error which has allowed me the freedom to develop my confidence and keep going instead of making a lot of mistakes and having to start over. I really appreciate her open and generous spirit. She's not the kind of person that leaves out that one crucial ingredient that makes the recipe special. She gives you the whole thing and then celebrates your success.
Exhibitions
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Institute of Mosaic Art | Oakland, California | info@instituteofmosaicart.com | 510.437.9899 |
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