Mosaic Travelogue, Part 1

Mosaic Is the Shizz

Many of you know me as a musician. I also dabble as a visual artist (are you considered a professional when you’re 66 years old and had only one show in a real “art” gallery? A subject for another blog), working with found objects for many years making what I call assemblages. It wasn’t until around 2008 I started to develop an interest in the possibilities of mosaic tile. Not knowing anything about it (As Ruth Langmore in Ozark so succinctly put it, “I Don't Know Shit About Fuck!”) I watched a few ‘craft’ videos, bought some supplies, and started sticking tiles on things. Most of that early work was experimental and design-eee. I mostly just wanted to learn technique.

I’ve seen some truly amazing mosaic work in my travels over the years. One standout is the Chagall Four Season’s mosaic in Chicago. It was commissioned as a public art piece and is awe inspiring. I also have a vague memory of seeing quirky tile buildings in Philadelphia’s South Street during my band touring years in the 90s. It turns out they were the work of Isaiah Zagar. (As an aside, here is a win for the arts in Philadelphia)

I was fortunate to work alongside Zagar, and some other lovely humans from here in Tucson, for a brief period in 2009 when Jeannette Maré (who was the founder of Ben’s Bells) brought him to Tucson for a mosaic workshop. When I first got word he was coming I rushed into Jeannette’s office and breathlessly proclaimed “I need to be in that workshop!!!” I had not met her before but I think she was impressed with my enthusiasm. I paid my workshop fee and waited as patiently as I could for his arrival to town. And, as it turns out, he was very approachable, amazing as a human, and fearless in his work – don’t think, just do! South Philly is lucky to have him and his family.

Photo of Isaiah and the crew on the yet unfinished mural (finished 2 days later) in an alley off University and Tyndall.

This led to other work with the Ben’s Bells group, including designs for two murals in Tucson. Both murals are now history, as they say. They were made on panels so perhaps the panels are in storage somewhere.

The first one was in 2010 and was fabricated on the backdrop of the Winset Park stage on 4th Avenue. For this one I borrowed Zagar’s use of line and mirror which I still incorporate sparingly today. Also, Gail Robert’s studio was used to create the birds and other creatures floating around the bicyclists. Quite the fun project and with all the help it only took about four days to complete (my pre-beard period).

The second one was in 2012 and was about 40’ long by 20’ high. These flying figures also used line and mirror which makes them pop. To do the initial drawing on the panels I ventured out after dark and used an opaque projector set back about half a football field to get the image in the right place. I used black acrylic paint and brush to do the sketch. This one took over a week to complete but considering the size, it went up fairly quickly.

I was then fortunate to have had two private commissions after the Ben’s Bells work. One was a project trimming out two doors to a patio and the other was indoors (pre-covid) adding my touch to a kitchen backsplash area. I’m leaving the names out for privacy purposes but both were in Tucson.

Next up, part 2: Miracle Mile

And now for your moment of philosophy.

Thanks again for reading and feel free to share if you think someone you know might be interested in my ramblings!