Laurel True: True Mosaics Studio

Community Mosaics Class in Brooklyn- Hands-On Workshop March 9-11

2011-12-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

NEW CLASS IN BROOKLYN, NY!

Community Mosaics

Facilitating and Creating Community-Based Public Projects

Hands on Workshop led by Laurel True

Workshop: March 9-11, 2012

Friday Evening 6 - 8:30 and

Saturday and Sunday 9:30 – 5 pm

Cost: $495 includes binder with extensive class handouts

Location: Galazzo Glass/ Sopp Ceramic Studio at Clay Space

http://galazzoglasssoppceramic.com/news.html

For more information or to register please e-mail: gglasssceramic@gmail.com

This weekend intensive workshop lead by community and public artist Laurel True will focus on methodology and techniques for approaching community-based, public mosaic projects. Students will get a chance to experience group mosaic-making processes through the actual creation and installation of a mosaic mural. Students will come away from this information - packed workshop with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead and facilitate successful, permanent projects that engage and inspire community.

Workshop will begin Friday evening with a presentation of successful project models and lecture will include sample pedagogy for including and training community members in the creation of public art. Instructor will cover various approaches to community outreach, design development, sourcing locations and materials and recruiting project participants.

Saturday and Sunday morning will be devoted to lecture and demonstration and the afternoons to practice- hands on training in the creation of a mosaic mural that will be donated to a local non-profit, school or business

Lecture will include step-by-step instructions with complementary images describing multiple approaches to project coordination, management and creation with a focus on creating permanent artworks specific to a host communities’ needs, desires, location and circumstances.

Instructor will present several group mosaic- making techniques that can be employed with groups with any level of training. Specific teacher/ facilitator training will focus on best practices for technical construction methods so that outdoor, public projects are durable, safe and long lasting. Technical resources will be included in class binder.

Additional topics covered will include:

· Defining project goals and objectives

· Project planning, funding and budget creation

· Project and time management techniques for any scale project

· Working in and outside of the classroom

Professional development and entrepreneurial training for participants

This class will be of particular benefit to mosaic artists and public artists who would like to add a community component to their projects, teachers, community organizers and anyone interested in community development and entrepreneurial training through the arts.

Some knowledge of mosaic making techniques is helpful.

Workshop participants should come prepared to work both inside and outside during class. Students will be asked to sign a waiver and photo release.

PLEASE NOTE:

This class must meet it's minimum (6) by February 6th. Students are encouraged to sign up early!

Also: This class is being offered the weekend after the National Association of Art Educators Conference in New York, which runs March 1-4

For more information: http://www.arteducators.org/news/national-convention/national-convention

Photos from top:

Community Mosaic Mural, Nungua Ghana

Participants with Fisherman's Tale Mural, Nungua, Ghana

Twin Thrones Community Mosaic Bench, San Francisco

Community Mosaic Memorial Wall, Jacmel, Haiti

Home Mural, Belle Chase, Louisiana

Mosaics For Mirebalais Hospital Project - Thank You and Project Update

2011-11-24T08:38:00.000-08:00

We did it!
The Mosaics For Mirebalais Hospital Project in Haiti has been funded
through your donations to The Mosaic Artwork Fund and Partners In Health!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to the Mosaic Artwork Fund for Mirebalais Hospital and Partners In Health. Our fundraising efforts have been a success!

Over the last year, it has been humbling and exhilarating to see our community come together in support of the Mosaics for Mirebalais Hospital Project for Partners In Health. Thanks to you, we have reached and surpassed our fundraising goal! This new hospital will include a public art component and Haitian artists and tradespeople will be trained in the creation of architectural mosaics.

130 people have donated online through the Partners In Health/ Mosaic Artwork Fund website, many have donated by sending a check directly to PIH in care of the Mosaic Artwork Fund.

Still others have contributed through personal donations, by attending fundraising events such as my Power of Art lecture, donating or purchasing artwork, blogging, promoting, sharing links, hosting events, donating materials, tile and transport and offering invaluable support and advice.

I would like to especially thank our project sponsors and major donors.
THANK YOU!!!

Project Sponsors

$10,000/ Architect Level

Anonymous donation from national foundation supporting great causes, administered by exemplary human beings

$5000/ Engineer Level

Claire Barnett and Seattle Mosaic Arts

$2500/ Builder Level

Institute of Mosaic Art

Loeks Family Fund at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Major Project Donors

Dr. Jennifer Neff

Tamara Ribas

M.H. San Francisco

J.R. Seattle

Very Special Thanks To

Charles and Denise Bavier

Jane Ford

Jacqueline Barnett

Jody Yelland

Karen Maestas and David Garcia

Mark Malamud

Amy Ratcliff and Family and the Gates Foundation

Mosaic Art Now in honor of Bill Buckingham

Thank you to everyone who made specific project donations including:

John McKenna, Linda Cundiff, Sandra Kipper, Glynnis Kaye, John Dynis, G.H., Mark Oliver, Laura Brodax, Naomi Craig, JoAnn Loctov, Kelley Knickerbocker, Rachel Rodi, Guy Fuerte, Dominick Montabano , Lori Hogan, Rita Rans, Sherri Hunter, Lillian Sizemore, Sonia King, Cynthia Cooley, Gretchen Fuller, Dirk & Chiatania Hain, Jen Hall, Michael McConnell, Steven Ungar, Elizabeth Wall & Debra Smucker, Trish Metzner-Lynch, Jane O'Donnell, Sound Play, Martha Seaver, Nancie Pipgras, Jill Stevenson-Ritter, Bronwen Parker, Nancy Forrest, Stephanie Riger, Melissa Cole, Kristen Monroe Voss, Kira Milanich

Ella Rhoades, Susan Crocenzi, Bart Seldon, Amy Neiman, Megan Cain, Teree Campbell, Randina Casenza, Carole Choucair, Michael Baron & Shari Kaufman, Marina King, Randi Kaufman, Tamara Kikel, Jo Braun, Kathleen Murphy, Jackie Phillips & Diana Thompson, Tai Uhlmann, Bronwen Parker

Joey Jerome, Don Marshall, Penny Jessop, Elizabet Petro, Sharon Plummer, Leah Rigg, Nora Mann, Darcy Potestivo, John Kalinowski, Marcia Kraus, Erich Ludwig, Tom Loeser, Robyn Miller, Kiela Smith-Upton, Karen Byars, Terri Goodwin, Deanna Wallace, Lori Gradinger, Dick Weiss, Susan Barkan, Martine Pierre-Louis, Julia Field, Megan Caddeell, Brad Scelfo & Alan Janish, Terri Goodwin, Anna Ungar, Debra Lee, Kim Word, Dionne Ible, Susan Jeffreys, John Kalinowski, Erich Ludwig, Barbara Ghoshal, Vicky Brent, Katia McGuirk, Linda Holms, Lois and Allen Keller, Jillann Demes , Mariellen Layne, Jan O'Highway

(If I forgot to include anyone, I am mortified- please let me know!)

Major Materials Donors

Heath Ceramics with special thanks to Lisa Bookstein
Thank you so much for the massive tile donation that has now made its way to Haiti. Much gratitude ;)
Laticrete International
True Mosaics Studio

In-Kind Donations

Chef Becky Selengut

Claire Barnett, Seattle Mosaic Arts and Seattle Biomed

Freight Center Shipping

Thank you to Institute of Mosaic Art for organizing and hosting a mosaic art exhibition to benefit the Mosaic Artwork Fund. Special thanks to Celeste Howell and McKenzie Coonsie.

Thank you to artists who donated artwork to the benefit exhibition:

James Connors, Ellen Blakeley, Tara Ballantine, Nadia Khastagir, Branwyn Fearn, Wesley Wong, Carol Compton, Robert Rogers, Sophia Othman, Minal Jeswani, Erin Rogers, M. Caetano, Catherine Ryan, Rachel Rodi, Madeline Behrens Brigham, Yolanda Guitierrez, Sophia Othman, Debbie Callen, Janet Aguilera

Thank you to those who hosted my Power of Art fundraising lecture:

Blake Vonder Harr- New Orleans School of Art and Craft

Pam Goode - Ceil Studio and Gallery

Isaiah and Julia Zagar and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

Claire Barnett, Seattle Mosaic Arts and Seattle Biomed

Celeste Howell and Denise Bavier at Institute of Mosaic Art

Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, Madison

Adam Carruth- Carruth Cellars Winery

Special thanks for spreading the word, PR and magical networking assistance to:

Nancie Pipgras and Mosaic Art Now, Sonia King, Community Built Association, Tile Heritage Foundation, Society of American Mosaic Artists, George Fishman and the Mosaic of Art, Eva Stimson and others who shared the story and got the news around.

Thank you to the amazing team at Partners In Health, Lillian Sizemore, Bridget Cordesman,Claire Barnett and Erin Rogers for advising me and supporting my efforts.

Thank you so much- Mesi Anpil!
- Laurel True

Project Updates

I will be posting project updates on Facebook while we are working on these projects so please check in for images and info as we move into the production phase of this project in the next few weeks!*

Special Note:

During the past year I formalized my community practice into an organization called the Global Mosaic Project. Through this organization, I will continue my work to bring community-based public art, arts education and entrepreneurial training to communities around the globe.

For more information, please visit www.globalmosaicproject.org. Please keep the Global Mosaic Project in mind for end-of the year philanthropic contributions. All donations to the Global Mosaic Project are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas.

Images

Concept drawings for 13' x 9' mosaic mural depicting a swirl of tropical flowers against a backdrop of the Haitian countryside for the main waiting area of the hospital.

Lisa Bookstein of Heath Ceramics and Laurel True

* Photos will be on FB from now on.. "Like" the Global Mosaic Project FB page to get Mirebalais project updates!

Some excellent quotes:

Laurel True's wonderful murals will be part of our new hospital in Mirebalais, a complex designed to be as beautiful as it is functional: to confer dignity alongside the fruits of modern medicine. We are grateful to True Mosaics and to the art community for making possible this important work in Haiti.”
- Paul Farmer, Co-Founder Partners In Health

“Art sends the message to patients that they are valuable and deserve to look at beautiful things. It also says we care about the building itself - and that you are worth that investment.”
- Carole Romm, MPA, RN

“An integral part of healing is caring and comfort. Art is a bridge between those two factors. Inspiring, emotive art helps create a space where a hospital becomes hospitable”
- Agamemnon Otero, former hospital patient

"Original art on the walls is a source of pride and sense of value for clinicians and patients. It can embody the core values of the health care practice, such as cultural diversity, collaboration, quality, integrity, compassion."
- Sally Retecki, Consultant, Art In Healing Spaces

Road to Mirebalais in central Haiti.

The Fabulous World of Contemporary Mosaics: Lecture/ Demo in Madison

2011-09-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

Mosaic class in Madison, Wisconsin

The Fabulous World of Contemporary Mosaics  Lecture and Demonstration with Mini Project

Saturday, October 15th 1- 4 pm

$95

Level: Any

Join longtime mosaic artist and educator Laurel True in this informative and dynamic short class, which gives students a great overview of the varied techniques and processes that mosaic artists are using today.

Laurel will begin the class with a digital presentation, which highlights some of the artists, materials and styles prevalent in contemporary mosaics in the US and beyond, discussing images of sculptural, textural, fine art and public and community- based mosaic works.

Class will include extensive demonstration of mosaic materials, tools and setting techniques employed today. Both traditional and unusual mosaic materials will be presented, with inspiring examples of their use.

Tools presented and demonstrated include tools used for glass and tile mosaics, precision nipping tools and the hammer and hardie, used for millennia to process glass and stone. Students get a first hand look at tricks of the trade and methods of using hand tools to achieve different effects in mosaic artwork, including carving, honing and shaping mosaic tesserae (pieces) with precision.

Demonstration will include a setting lesson, showing a myriad of setting and fitting techniques for different styles of mosaic. Use of correct adhesives, surfaces and their preparation will be covered. Class will conclude with a mini project through which students can explore materials, texture and the setting directly into a tinted mortar bed.

Book recommendations, handouts and resources will be offered to students.

For more info: http://www.vineryglass.com/

To register: please call The Vinery at 608-271-2490

The Vinery Stained Glass Studio

317 West Beltline Highway

Madison, WI 53711

On the frontage road

between Verona Rd. and Seminole Hwy.

[Directions]

Community Mosaic Project and Lecture in Solana Beach, CA

2011-09-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

I'm headed south for another exciting project!

Carruth Cellars Urban Winery will be hosting me in October to facilitate a community mosaic project in the heart of the Cedros Design District in Solana Beach, CA.

We will be creating a multi-part mosaic mural that will span 200' over several days from October 18-22nd.

Carruth Cellars is a boutique winery with terrific wine and a wonderful community spirit!

They will also be hosting my fundraising lecture:

The Power of Art: Building Creative Capital Through Community Mosaics
Community Projects Facilitated by Laurel True in the US, Africa and Haiti

Lecture will be Friday, October 21st
at Carruth Cellars Urban Winery
320 So. Cedros Ave. #400
Solana Beach, CA 92075

(858) 847-9463

Reception 5:30pm
Program 6-7:30 pm

This lecture will fill up, come early to ensure a seat!

Lecture is a fundraiser for the Mosaic Artwork Fund For Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti and Partners In Health

Additional lecture information on the Partners In Health Website:
http://act.pih.org/page/event/detail/fundraisingevent/wdg

Updates to Fall Class Schedule!

2011-09-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Updates to Fall Class Schedule!

I am teaching in several different locations this fall and have an exciting lineup of classes- from professional development classes to beginner friendly classes.

Please scroll down for for info on classes in:

New Orleans, Madison, San Diego, Seattle, Brooklyn and Oakland

I will post updates and new classes here and on my True Mosaics Studio Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/True-Mosaics-Studio/276758323289

Laurel True: Class Listings for Fall 2011

Madison, Wisconsin Just Added!

The Vinery Stained Glass

To register: http://www.vineryglass.com/

The Fabulous World of Contemporary Mosaics
Lecture and Demonstration with Mini Project

Saturday, October 15th 1-4 pm

$95

Book recommendations, handouts and resources will be offered to students.

Laurel True has been teaching mosaic techniques for 18 years. She works as a professional artist, focusing on studio work and community- based public art. She travels, lectures and teaches extensively in
the US and abroad.

New Orleans, LA

New Orleans School of Art and Craft

http://www.art-restoration.com/school/instructors/ltrue.htm

Introduction to Smalti Mosaics-

Contemporary Mosaics With Ancient Materials

October 1-2

Saturday 10 - 4 and Sunday 10 - 1

Cost: $175

Materials: $60

Level: Any, beginners welcome

For course description and registration information:

http://www.art-restoration.com/school/courses/mosaicsmalti.htm

For images of student work from previous classes:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150327783738290.366818.276758323289&type=1

Mosaics with Recycled Materials

October 8 – 9th

Saturday 10 - 3, Sunday 10 - 1

Cost: $165

Materials included

Level: Any, beginners welcome

Learn to use what’s around you to create imaginative, inspiring mosaic artwork.

In this two- day workshop students will create a beautiful mosaic piece using reclaimed, salvaged, found and recycled materials.

Artists are working more and more with recycled and reclaimed materials, and in this time in our world it is important to find uses for what is around us. Artists are in a wonderful position to forge ahead with creative ideas for using what is available in the surrounding environment.

Using collected materials, cast offs and what many consider to be “waste” is an earth –friendly, green way to approach art making.

Mosaic is a perfect technique through which to explore combinations of different media, and New Orleans is a perfect city for sourcing materials.

Class will begin with a neighborhood walk and visit to the Green Project to source materials. Instructor will give a brief digital presentation showing how artists around the world are creating wonderful artworks using recycled materials.

Lecture will include information about sourcing and gathering materials and how to process and combine materials to achieve interesting effects. Technical construction methods will be covered including how to correctly prepare a surface to receive mosaic, what adhesives to use for specific materials and how to grout and/ or finish a mosaic so it will last!

Each student will design and create a unique piece of mosaic artwork to take home.

(Recycled) substrates will be provided by instructor or students can bring their own.

Students are encouraged to bring additional materials to work with if they would like.

For registration information:

http://www.art-restoration.com/school/instructors/ltrue.htm

Glass Mosaic Eyes- Symbols of Vision and Protection

October 29 - 30th

Saturday 10-3 and Sunday 10-12

Cost: $150

Materials Included

Level: Beginner and continuing students welcome!

The eye has been used around the world for centuries as a symbol of vision, creativity and protection.

People around the world display this image in their homes, in artwork and as a talisman to see into the future and keep safe. The Eye is a universal symbol that is both sacred and secular.

Class will include a digital presentation showing the use of the Eye around the world i

n many different contexts.

Join artist Laurel True for a fun, social weekend workshop in which students design and create their own Mosaic Eye using colored glass, mirror and other beautiful materials.

Bring on the bling!

Instructor will offer two sizes of pre- prepared Eye substrates for students to choose from (9” or 12”) and provide instruction in cutting mirror and glass and setting mosaic pieces using a specific formula.

Students will grout their Eyes on day two. Grouting demo will include the use of mirror flake in grout to achieve light catching effects.

Patterns will be provided, which students can personalize, or students can design their own Eye.

Students are encouraged to bring additional materials to work with if they would like to. (Such as things that might have special meaning to them, glass, mirror, jewelry, stones, crystals, rhinestones, beads, etc…)

For registration information:

http://www.art-restoration.com/school/instructors/ltrue.htm

Beginning Glass Fusing- Holiday Gift Making Class

November 5-6

Saturday 10 – 3, Sunday 10-1

Cost: $150

Materials and Firing Fee: $50

Level: Beginner and continuing students welcome!

Come get your bling on and make your own holiday gifts while learning something new!

Glass fusing is really fun and the technique is easy once you get the hang of it. Create your own unique glass pieces in this fun class.

Instructor will present the basics of glass fusing, which is the melting together of specific types of glass in a kiln to form a new piece.

A whole range of materials for fusing will be presented and their uses explained, including: sheet glass, frits and powders, glass rods, confetti and stringers. Completed pieces will be shown to illustrate how materials look after firing.

Students will learn basic cutting techniques to get started with or further expand their cutting skills with several different types of glass cutting tools.

Instructor will present examples of different effects students can achieve by combining different types, colors and qualities of fusible glass and by adding inclusions such as metal, mica and metal leaf and other exciting techniques. Rigging and hanging mechanisms for decorative gifts and small plaques will be demonstrated as well.

Some examples of gift items that students might make include: hanging icicles, tree ornaments, pendants, coasters, bases for magnets, cabichons, name plates and more.

Lots of great materials will be available including clear and opaque glass in tons of colors, stringers, confetti, frit, rods, and the mysterious and beautiful dichroic glass.

*Several firings will be required to fire all students' work. Completed work can be picked up within about a week.

For registration information:

http://www.art-restoration.com/school/instructors/ltrue.htm

Beginning Glass Mosaics

November 19-20

Saturday 10 - 4, Sunday 10-1

Cost: $175

Materials Included

Level: Beginner and continuing students welcome

For course description and registration information:

http://www.art-restoration.com/school/courses /mosaicintro.htm

Brooklyn, NY

Galazzo Glass/ Sopp Ceramic Studio at Clay Space

http://galazzoglasssoppceramic.com/news.html

Community - Based Public Art:

Facilitating Community Mosaic Projects

This class has been postponed until March 2012.. check back or e-mail for more info!

Level: Any*/ Professional Development

* Some knowledge of mosaic making techniques is helpful, but not necessary. Class will not be creating an actual mosaic project during class time. Instructor can give participants with no mosaic experience suggestions for other classes to take to compliment the information presented in this seminar, which will best fit their goals

For course description and registration information:

http://galazzoglasssoppceramic.com/news.html

Seattle, WA- Seattle Mosaic Arts

http://www.seattlemosaicarts.com/

Please check back for professional development classes in Seattle in spring 2012!

Mosaic Mural Making Intensive

Date TBA, Spring 2012

Monday- Thursday 10 - 4 Saturday and Sunday 10 – 4

Class does not meet on Friday

Level: Intermediate/ Professional Development

Oakland, CA

Please check back for Spring 2012 classes in Oakland at Institute of Mosaic Art!

http://www.instituteofmosaicart.com/index.html

The Power of Art Lecture in Seattle: A Very Special Event

2011-07-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

The Power of Art lecture in Seattle is going to be a wonderful special event! Seattle Mosaics Arts will be hosting this event and has declared July "Global Health Month". SMA has arranged a 100-seat auditorium for the Power of Art lecture at Seattle BioMed, a leading public health research institute. Seattle Mosaic Arts will host a reception before the lecture, which will start at 5:30pm. This is exciting: The reception will be catered by acclaimed Seattle Chef Becky Selengut. Lecture will start at 6 pm. Tickets are $10 and about half of the seats are already reserved! RSVP/purchase tickets in advance at Seattle Mosaic Arts info@seattlemosaicarts.com or 206.402.6642 In addition to hosting this event, Seattle Mosaic Arts is exhibiting photographs of the community mosaic projects I facilitated in Haiti, and of photos of my own studio work. Proceeds from photo sales go to benefit the Mosaic Artwork Fund for the Mosaics For Mirebalais Project in Haiti. Nice! The Power of Art: Building Creative Capital Through Community Mosaics Projects in the US, Africa and Haiti Facilitated by Laurel True This presentation is a fundraiser for Partners In Health / Mosaic Artwork Fund for Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti. During this inspiring presentation, longtime community mosaic artist Laurel True will present images of numerous community mosaic projects she has facilitated nationally and internationally over the last 18 years in the US, Kenya, Ghana and Haiti. This touring presentation showcases the power of art and how community mosaics can transform lives and the environments in which they are sited. Project documentation from a variety of projects will highlight both the community process and resulting public projects. Laurel's process working with community ranges from renegade street art to organized programming through schools and community centers. True partners with non-profit and community organizations to develop unique projects that reflect the individuals who create them as well as the communities that surround them. Through community supported fundraising, Laurel has been able to teach and train hundreds of project participants including youth, adults, trades people and teachers in mosaic techniques. Her efforts have brought arts education and entrepreneurial training to underserved communities in urban and developing areas. These projects foster creative expression, teamwork, neighborhood beautification and community development through public, permanent, community based art. Laurel will talk about the short and long-term effects of projects in public spaces, parks, hospitals and schools and share her development plans for her upcoming project with Partners In Health for the new hospital being built in Mirebalais, Haiti, The "Mosaics at Mirebalais Project" will bring public art to the hospital as well as training Haitian trades people in architectural mosaic making techniques. More info: http://www.seattlemosaicarts.com/index.php/learn/laurel-true-lecture-the-power-of-art/ Make a tax- deductible donation to the Mosaic Artwork Fund For Mirebalais Hospital: http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/LTrueMosaics
Time:		Friday, July 22, 2011 5:30 pm - 8 pm PDT
Host:		Seattle Mosaic Arts
Location:		Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (Seattle, WA) 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500 Seattle, WA 98109 See this event listing on the Partners In Health website: http://act.pih.org/page/event/detail/fundraisingevent/wdd Photo credits: PIH, Elizabeth Whelan and True Mosaics Studio I have no idea why this post looks like this- smashed to one side.. If I was handier on the computer I might be able to fix it but alas, I can't.

2011 Lecture Dates - The Power of Art: Building Creative Capital Through Commuity Mosaics

2011-07-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

Nationally Touring Lecture:

The Power of Art:
Building Creative Capital Through Community Mosaics
Community Mosaic Projects in the US, Africa and Haiti  
Presented by Laurel True

Dates and locations listed below

This lecture is a fundraiser for the Mosaic Artwork Fund for Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti. Mirebalais Hospital is being built by Partners In Health and will bring much needed healthcare to Haiti’s central region.

“Not all places and people have ﬁnancial capital, but everyone has creative capital.”

During this inspiring presentation, longtime community mosaic artist Laurel True will talk abut and present images of some of the numerous community mosaic projects she has facilitated nationally and internationally over the last 18 years in the US, Kenya, Ghana and Haiti. This lecture presentation showcases the power of art and how community mosaic making can transform lives and environments.

Project documentation from a variety of projects will highlight both the community process and resulting projects. Laurel's process working with community ranges from renegade street art to organized programming through schools and community centers. She partners with organizations to develop unique projects that reflect the individuals who create them as well as the communities that surround them.

Through community supported fundraising, Laurel has been able to teach and train hundreds of project participants including youth, adults, trades people and teachers in mosaic techniques.

Her efforts have brought arts education and entrepreneurial training to under-served communities in urban and developing areas. These projects foster creative expression, teamwork, neighborhood beautification and community development through community - based art.

Laurel will talk about the short and long-term effects of projects in public spaces and share her development plans for her upcoming projects with Partners In Health which include the creation of a series of mosaic installations for a new hospital they are building in Haiti.

These projects will bring mosaic public art to the hospital and train Haitian trades people in architectural mosaic making techniques.

Upcoming Dates:

Thursday, October 13, 2011 - Madison, WI

Hosted by The Wil- Mar Neighborhood Center

Lecture at 7 pm

Free and open to the public

Photo:Laurel with youth at Steiner School in Mbagathi, Kenya

Friday, October 21, 2011 - Solana Beach, CA
Hosted by Carruth Cellars Urban Winery
Reception 5:30
Lecture: 6 pm

Photo:Laurel with students from Mosaic Mural Making intensive, Institute of Mosaic Art

Photo:Laurel with young artists from Art Creation Foundation For Children in Jacmel, Haiti

Past dates:

May 20, 2011 - New Orleans, LA

June 10, 2011 - Charlotte, NC

June 22, 2011 - Philadelphia, PA

July 22, 2011- Seattle, WA

July 29, 2011 - Oakland, CA

Photo:Laurel working with community at

Sycamore Park, Mill Valley, CA

* Laurel True is a public artist, educator and community organizer specializing in large-scale and site- specific mosaic projects. Her projects are focused mainly in urban and developing areas and she is committed to fostering arts education and entrepreneurship both in and out of the classroom. True is co-founder of the Institute of Mosaic Art in California and has lectured and taught internationally. Her work has been featured in independent and mainstream media, books and publications. She has created and facilitated over a hundred projects over the last 20 years. She is a member of the Community Built Association, the Society of American Mosaic Artists and Americans for the Arts.

The Power of Art: Building Creative Capital Through Comunity Mosaics. Lecture by Laurel True at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - June 22nd

2011-06-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Please join us Wednesday evening June 22nd at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens 1020 South Street, for this inspiring presentation.
Quick Link: http://www.philadelphiasmagicgardens.org/pages.php?ContentID=3&SubContentID=27#530

My mentor, former teacher and great inspiration Isaiah Zagar and Philadelphia's Magic Gardens will be hosting this event. Please come out and support mosaics, art in healing spaces and the work of Partners In Health and True Mosaics Studio!

The Power of Art: Fundraiser for Partners In Health/ Mosaics at Mirebalais Hospital Project in Haiti.

The Power of Art: Building Creative Capital Through Community Mosaics Community Mosaic Projects Facilitated by Laurel True in the US, Africa, and Haiti Wednesday, June 22, 2011 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
$10

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens hosts a fundraiser for the Mosaic Artwork Fund for Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti. This hospital is being built by Partners in Health and will bring much needed healthcare to Haiti's central region.

During this inspiring presentation, longtime community mosaic artist and former apprentice to PMG founder Isaiah Zagar, Laurel True will present images of numerous community mosaic projects she has facilitated nationally and internationally over the last 18 years in the US, Kenya, Ghana, and Haiti. This inspiring lecture/ presentation showcases the power of art and how community mosaics can transform lives and the environments in which they are sited.

Project documentation from a variety of projects will highlight both the community process and resulting projects and long- term community impact. Laurel's process working with community ranges from renegade street art to organized programming through schools and community centers. She partners with non-profit and community organizations to develop unique projects that reflect the individuals who create them as well as the communities the surround them.

Through community-supported fundraising, Laurel has been able to teach and train hundreds of project participants including youth, adults, tradespeople, and teachers in mosaic techniques. Her efforts have brought arts education and entrepreneurial training to under-served communities in urban and developing areas. These projects foster creative expression, teamwork, neighborhood beautification and community development through public, permanent, community-based art.

Laurel will talk about the short and long-term effects of projects in public spaces, parks, hospitals and schools and share her development plans for her upcoming projects with Partners In Health for a new hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti, which will bring mosaic public art to the hospital as well as train Haitian tradespeople in architectural mosaic-making techniques.

To become a sponsor or make a tax-deductible donation to this project pleae go to:
http://www.truemosaics.com/pih.html

or
http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/LTrueMosaics

Fe Tout Byen Ou Kapab

(Do All That You Can)

Spring Mosaic Classes in New Orleans 2011

2011-03-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Spring Mosaic Classes in New Orleans 2011

Hello All,

I am teaching some great mosaic classes this Spring at New Orleans School of Art and Craft. Please scroll down and take a look at classes for all levels.

This is the last set of classes I will be offering in New Orleans before next fall.

Please forward to anyone you think might be interested!

Happy Spring,

Laurel

To register or for more information please go to:

http://www.art-restoration.com/school/instructors/ltrue.htm

BEGINNING GLASS MOSAICS

March 26 - 27th, 2011

Saturday 10 am - 4 pm, Sunday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

A great introduction to glass mosaics!

Glass is a beautiful medium for mosaics. In this beginner friendly class, students will design and create their own glass mosaic piece. Class will focus on designing for glass mosaics, introduction to different types of glass tesserae used by contemporary mosaic artists and surfaces suitable for glass mosaic projects.

Instructor will demonstrate the proper use of glass cutting tools for mosaic, cutting and shaping techniques, different types of lay patterns and adhesives for glass and their appropriate applications. Instructor will present a literal visual encyclopedia of glass mosaic materials available to mosaic artists today - from low-end recycled materials to high-end specialty materials.

Students will have plenty of colorful glass to work with for their projects. Sample designs will also be offered for student use. Students will create a 12" x 12" glass mosaic to take home for interior display. No experience necessary, beginning and returning students welcome. Discount available for students who have previously taken this class.

Level: Any

Class price: $175

Materials: All materials and tools provided

Class size: Minimum 6, Maximum 10

MOSAICS FOR THE GARDEN

April 2-3, 2011

Saturday 10 am – 4 pm, Sunday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Beautify your garden with colorful mosaic art the Spring!

This class will cover the basics and beyond for exterior and garden mosaics including basic mosaic design, introduction of materials, information on substrates appropriate for exterior use and their preparation as well as adhesives, setting, grouting and sealing.

Instructor will present information on ceramic clay bodies and glazes for exterior use as well as other materials appropriate for outside display. We will have lots of materials to play with during class.

This class is great for the beginner as we will be covering tools, cutting techniques, mosaic design and tricks for setting both tile mosaic... and is also appropriate for the student who has already experimented with interior or craft mosaics and would like to expand their knowledge to include exterior, garden or permanent installations.

Students will create a 12" x 12" mosaic stepping stone to take home.

Returning students may bring their own substrate to mosaic for the garden within size parameters - please check with instructor. Discount available for students who have previously taken this class.

Level: Any

Class price: $175

Materials fee: All materials and tools provided

Class size: Minimum 6, Maximum 10

GLASS FUSING FOR MOSAICS

Monday Evenings

April 4,11 and 18th, 2011

Glass fusing is an exciting technique to add to ones repertoire of mosaic and glass skills and, fused pieces look wonderful in a mosaic. And it is easy to learn!

In this three- session class, instructor will present the basics of fusing individual tesserae and tiles and art pieces up to 4". Fusing materials such as compatible sheet glass, frits and powders, glass rods, confetti and stringers and even millefiore will be presented and their effects in completed pieces shown.

Students will learn both basic and trickier glass cutting techniques to get started with or further expand their cutting skills with a myriad of glass tools, including scoring tools, breakers and cutters.

Instructor will present examples of many different effects students can achieve combining different types, colors and qualities of fusible glass, inclusions such as metal, mica and gold and silver leaf and other exciting techniques. Rigging and hanging mechanisms for decorations and small plaques will be demonstrated as well.

Lecture will include information on fusing history, chemistry and glass characteristics and limitations. Students will be amazed at what glass can do.Lots of great materials will be available including clear and opaque glass in tons of colors, stringers, confetti, frit, rods, and dichroic glass.

Students take home what they learn and absorb on day one and get to experiment further in the second and third class, putting even more creative ideas in to action. There will be a firing between class one and two and at the end of class three. Resources for "warm glass" and fusing will be offered for further study. Students will get ample time to make lots of work in this weekend extravaganza class!

Level: Any

Class price: $150

Materials: $60

Class size: Minimum 6, Maximum 10

INTRO TO ITALIAN SMALTI MOSAICS — CONTEMPORARY MOSAICS WITH ANCIENT MATERIALS

April 16-17, 2011

Saturday 10 am - 4 pm, Sunday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Longtime professional mosaic artist Laurel True will introduce students to this wonderful, surprisingly easy to use material. As seen in the Vatican Mosaics exhibit in New Orleans, smalti is a beautiful, rich and reflective materials made from poured glass.

This exciting course will introduce students to the history of this exquisite glass material that has been used since the Byzantine Era and its uses in today's mosaic world. Class will begin with a slide presentation showing historical applications of smalti in architectural settings as well as how smalti is made in small batches by artisans today in Europe and beyond.

Class will explore the unique light catching and reflecting qualities of smalti and how this material can be combined with other mosaic materials for exciting and rich effects. Class will cover basic design, layout and visual understanding of a smalti piece as well as both ancient and contemporary cutting techniques.

Each student will learn how to work with the hammer and hardie to process smalti, as well as gain an understanding of how to use modern tools with this material with as little waste as possible. Students will set smalti directly into a mortar bed for their project and will receive information on how to approach future smalti projects.

Students will use Italian and Mexican smalti to create an 8 x 8 mosaic wall hanging to take home. Smalti starter pack and custom-made framed substrate provided.

Level: Any

Class price: $175

Materials: $60

Class size: Minimum 6, Maximum 10

TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR MOSAIC

May 14-15, 2011

Saturday 10 am – 4 pm, Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

This is a perfect "next step" for students with a beginning mosaic class already under their belt.

In this class students will learn how to work with a variety of materials and with different types of tools to get differing effects with their materials. Lecture and demonstration will cover specialty cutting techniques such as carving and honing, precision cutting and refinement of shapes for varied effects. Students will try their hand at specialty cutting with glass, tile and stone and gain a deeper understanding of how each tool can be used for desired effects.

Tools presented include: sidebiter and rotary nippers, micro-cutters, strip cutters, scoring and breaking tools, honing and marking tools, Starrett nippers and Platinum nippers.

Texture, flow (andamento) and use of color and shape will be addressed, as well as how to get the most out of your materials- whatever they are. Students will use clear adhesives or a tinted mortar bed for their project and will be able to decide whether to create a grouted or non-grouted piece (there will be no grouting in class). A variety of different setting techniques will be presented and students will create studies and set a series of small exercises to better understand ancient setting techniques and lay patterns as well as modern methods and techniques.

Materials presented will include marble and stone, vitreous glass, recycled and other types of thick glass, mirror, smalti and smalti- like materials and ceramic.

Students will take home several small exercises and a medium sized project.

Level: Intermediate, intro class suggested.

Class price: $195

Materials fee: All materials and tools provided

Class size: Minimum 6, Maximum 10

Nationally Touring Lecture Presentation

THE POWER OF ART:

BUILDING CREATIVE CAPITAL THROUGH COMMUNITY MOSAICS: Laurel True’s Community Mosaic Projects in the US, Africa and Haiti

Friday, May 20, 2011

6-8 pm

Sliding scale $10-40

This is a fundraiser for the Mosaic Artwork Fund for Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti. This hospital is being built by Partners in Health and will bring much needed healthcare to Haiti’s central region.

During this inspiring presentation, longtime community mosaic artist Laurel True will present images of numerous community mosaic projects she has facilitated nationally and internationally over the last 18 years in the US, Kenya, Ghana and Haiti. This first- time offered lecture presentation showcases the power of art and how community mosaics can transform lives and the environments in which they are sited.

Project documentation from a variety of projects will highlight both the community process and resulting public projects. Laurel's process working with community ranges from renegade street art to organized programming through schools and community centers. She partners with non-profit and community organizations to develop unique projects that reflect the individuals who create them as well as the communities that surround them.

Through community supported fundraising, Laurel has been able to teach and train hundreds of project participants including youth, adults, trades people and teachers in mosaic techniques.

Her efforts have brought arts education and entrepreneurial training to underserved communities in urban and developing areas. These projects foster creative expression, teamwork, neighborhood beautification and community development through public, permanent, community based art.

Laurel will talk about the short and long-term effects of projects in public spaces, parks, hospitals and schools and share her development plans for her upcoming projects in partnership with Partners In Health for a new hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti, which will bring mosaic public art to the hospital as well as training Haitian trades people in architectural mosaic making techniques.

FACILITATING COMMUNITY MOSAIC PROJECTS LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY

Seminar/Workshop with Laurel True

May 21 - 22, 2011

Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 4pm

This two-day seminar lead by community and public mosaic artist Laure True will focus on methodology and techniques for approaching community mosaic projects.

Students will come away from the workshop armed with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead and facilitate successful community mosaic projects.

Class will cover different approaches to community outreach, sourcing locations, materials and volunteers locally and abroad and group mosaic making techniques that can be employed with groups with any level of training.

Participants will be taken through multiple scenarios for designing and facilitating community mosaic projects using actual case studies from various communities and environments. Presentation will include step-by-step instructions with complementary images and detailed instruction to describe multiple approaches to project coordination, management and creation.

This course is heavy on the nuts and bolts issues. Class will be introduced to a host of variables and project approaches, therefore expanding the possibilities for community mosaic project creation specific to a particular communities’ needs, unique location and circumstances. Class will include several breakout sessions and some group work.

Topics and issues covered in class will include:

· Defining project goals and objectives

· Project planning, development, funding and budget creation

· Agreements and contracts with host organizations

· Design development appropriate to host community and location

· Project and time management techniques for small to large-scale projects

· Working in and outside of the classroom

· Environmental and climate issues and their effects on project planning and management

Class will address working in urban and rural environments, working with both youth and adults, other artists and trades people and how community mosaic training interfaces with entrepreneurial development. Special considerations for international projects in developing countries will be discussed.

This class will be of particular benefit to mosaic artists, teachers, community organizers and anyone interested in community development and entrepreneurial training through the arts.

Note: Some knowledge of mosaic making techniques is helpful, but not necessary. Class will not be creating an actual mosaic project during class time. Instructor can give participants with no mosaic experience suggestions for other classes to take to compliment the information presented in this seminar, which will best fit their goals.

Level: Any, some mosaic experience helpful

Class price: $325

Materials fee: NA

Class size: Minimum 6, Maximum 10

Instructor Bio:

Laurel True is a public artist, educator and community organizer specializing in large-scale and site- specific mosaic projects. Her projects are focused mainly in urban and developing areas and she is committed to fostering arts education and entrepreneurship both in and out of the classroom. True is co-founder of the Institute of Mosaic Art in California and has lectured and taught internationally. Her work has been featured in independent and mainstream media, books and publications. She has created and facilitated over a hundred projects over the last 20 years. She is a member of the Community Built Association, the Society of American Mosaic Artists and Americans for the Arts.

The Power of Art: Building Creative Capitol Through Community Mosaics

2011-03-09T10:58:00.000-08:00

Community Mosaic Projects in the US, Africa and Haiti  
Presented by Laurel True

Dates and locations listed below.

“Not all places and people have ﬁnancial capital, but everyone has creative capital.”

Through community supported fundraising, Laurel has been able to teach and train hundreds of project participants including youth, adults, trades people and teachers in mosaic techniques.

These projects will bring mosaic public art to the hospital and train Haitian trades people in architectural mosaic making techniques.

Upcoming Dates:

Friday, July 22, 2011 - Seattle

Hosted by Seattle Mosaic Arts at Seattle Biomed

Reception 5:30
Lecture 6 pm
To pre-register and more info:
http://www.seattlemosaicarts.com/index.php/learn/laurel-true-lecture-the-power-of-art/

This will be a wonderful event, catered by local chef Becky Selengut.
* Workshop/ seminar Facilitating Community Projects Locally and Internationally will be offered at Seattle Mosaic Arts this weekend

Friday, July 29, 2011 - Oakland, CA

6-8 pm

Institute of Mosaic Art

To pre-register and more info: http://www.instituteofmosaicart.com/lecture.html

* Workshop/ seminar Facilitating Community Projects- Hands on Workshop will be offered at Institute of Mosaic Art the following weekend, August 6-7

Friday, September 16, 2011 - Brooklyn, NY

6-8 pm

Galazzo Glass and Sopp Ceramics are hosting
this event at Clay Space 1205 Ceramic Studios in Brooklyn

To pre-register and more info: gglasssceramic@gmail.com

* Workshop/ seminar Community- Based Public Art: Facilitating Community Mosaic Projects will be offered at Clay Space this weekend

Friday, October 14, 2011- St. Paul, MN
Mosaic On A Stick To pre-register and form more info: info@mosaiconastick.com

Watch for upcoming dates in Tucson and LA Past dates:

May 20, 2011 - New Orleans, LA

June 10, 2011 - Charlotte, NC

June 22, 2011 - Philadelphia, PA

Thank You for Supporting the Mosaic Artwork Fund for Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti

2011-02-21T08:28:00.001-08:00

Mosaic Artwork Fund for

Mosaic Public Art at Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti

Laurel True/ True Mosaics Studio are Partnering with Partners in Health to bring public mosaic artwork for all to enjoy to PIH's newest hospital in Haiti. Please consider supporting this fund with a tax- deductible donation of any amount through Partners in Health. Donate now: https://donate.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/LTrueMosaics For more information: http://www.truemosaics.com/pih.html For information on sponsorship opportunities and benefits, please see below:

Mosaic Artwork at Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti

Hello from Laurel True and thank you for your interest in my public and community mosaic projects.

I hope you will consider supporting my upcoming project in Haiti by becoming a sponsor at the Architect, Engineer or Builder Donor Levels. There are unique benefits for each sponsorship level.

I have been creating public art and community mosaic projects for twenty years and have worked in the United States, Africa and Haiti.

This year I am launching into an exciting artistic partnership with Partners in Health to develop a series of large -scale architectural and sculptural mosaic projects in a new hospital being built by PIH while training Haitian trades people in these techniques.

Your donations make these projects happen!

Art and healing environments go hand in hand and I am excited to work with PIH and their sister organization in Haiti, Zanmi Lasante to create mosaic artwork that will inspire, sooth and provide joy to hospital patients, visitors and staff.

*********************************************************

To become a sponsor and make a tax-deductible donation to this project please contact me at Laurel@TrueMosaics.com or visit www.TrueMosaics.com and click on International Projects.

Thank you for supporting mosaic public art and healing

- Laurel True

Mosaic Artwork at Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti

“Laurel True's wonderful murals will be part of our new hospital in Mirebalais, a complex designed to be as beautiful as it is functional: to confer dignity alongside the fruits of modern medicine. The people who will seek and offer care at Mirebalais will share a built environment created to transform the community it serves. We are grateful to True Mosaics and to the art community for making possible this important work in Haiti.”

-Dr. Paul Farmer, Co-Founder Partners in Health

Partners in Health (PIH) is a non-profit public health organization dedicated to providing free and ongoing health care to patients living in poverty. They have been working in Haiti for almost 25 years and now work in 11 other countries.

Partners in Health is currently in the process of responding to the current healthcare crisis in Haiti by building a state -of- the- art teaching hospital in Mirebalais, located about 35 miles north of Port au Prince.

Mirebalais Hospital will be the largest hospital in Haiti, serving hundreds of patients a day in one of Haiti's poorest regions, with it’s opening planned for 2012.

For more information on PIH, please visit the Partners in Health Website: www.pih.org

https://donate.pih.org/page/outreach/view/personal/TrueMosaics

Fe Tout Byen Ou Kapab (Do All That You Can)

Nick News Profiles Our Mosaic Project in Jacmel

2011-02-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

This is just a wonderful piece put together by Lucky Duck Productions for Nick News on Nickelodeon. It aired on January 9th, 2011 and focuses on the effects of the earthquake from the perspective of Haitian kids.

It is 22 minutes long and well worth it. The piece ends with a profile on the Memorial Mosaic Wall Project I facilitated on in Jacmel in partnership with Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) and several of the kids are interviewed.

It is a true testimony of the healing power of art and the metaphors inherent in community mosaic making.

http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/nick-news-haiti-rising-full.html

Nick News
Tags: Nick News Episodes,Nick News,Nick News Games

Jacmel Memorial Mosaic Wall- Haiti through January 2011

2011-02-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

Some of the ACFFC kids, George Metellus (Director) and myself.

Although I have not been keeping up well with the blog, there has been a lot going on with the Jacmel Mosaic Project. Since my last post I spent time again in Jacmel in October 2010 to work with the kids of Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) and returned again in January 2011 for the anniversary of the earthquake.

ACFFC hosted a beautiful dedication ceremony and we worked on a huge chunk of the 200+ foot wall we started in October. (We did two other murals in June and August, see post below).

I have posted photos from the June, August, October and January chunks of the project on my True Mosaics Studio Facebook page and will list links below.

Jacmel Memorial Mosaic Wall Project June 2010: Tree of Life
http://www.facebook.com/pages/True-Mosaics-Studio/276758323289?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=185811&id=276758323289

Jacmel Memorial Mosaic Wall Project August 2010: Sea Spirits:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/True-Mosaics-Studio/276758323289?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=207013&id=276758323289

Jacmel Memorial Mosaic Wall Project October 2010: Flora and Fauna of Haiti:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/True-Mosaics-Studio/276758323289?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=250731&id=276758323289

Jacmel Memorial Mosaic Wall Project January t 2011: Jacmel Karnival:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?aid=281211&id=276758323289

Plenty of images with descriptions on FB ;)

In Jacmel this January, our goal was to finish the 1750 sq ft project by January 12th (the anniversary of the earthquake) but we ran out of colored tile as four large boxes that I sent were lost/ delayed (now found!).

So the kids will finish the last chunk of the wall as soon as the colors arrive. I have a whole host of people to thank for tile, materials and for their generous donations which have made it possible for me to facilitate these projects in Haiti.

Will do so in next post.

What's next for the Mosaic Program at ACFFC in Jacmel?

I will be working with the kids (either virtually or physically, depending on funding) to train them further in professional setting techniques and guide them into the world of mosaics as a business. We are hoping to have the kids do several starter/ practice projects in Jacmel first.

ACFFC board member and fellow artist, and I organized a "Pro Team" of about 12-13 of the older teens/ young adults to move forwards into this next phase.

We are still accepting colored tile donations (ceramic tile) and if you are interested in sending colored tile to the ACFFC Miami office in a flat rate box, please do so to this address:

http://www.artforhaitianchildren.org/contact.html

Haiti Mosaic Project Update

2010-09-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

Jacmel Mosaic Mural Project Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Future

Tree of Life Memorial Mural and proud artists.

I recently returned from my second trip to Haiti, where I have been working on a large community mosaic project with Haitian youth in the city of Jacmel. I am working in partnership with Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) in Jacmel.

Jacmel is a historic town about 30 miles south of Port au Prince, known for its architecture and vibrant artistic culture. Jacmel was damaged badly by the tragic earthquake in January- lives were lost as well as many homes and businesses. Tent cities abound and many people are lacking basic resources, jobs and the means to support their families.

Jacmel streets.

ACFFC has been working in Jacmel for almost ten years to provide youth with arts education, a food program, health care, family support and entrepreneurial training in the arts.

ACFFC gate and paper mache artworks by ACFFC youth.

In June of this year, I traveled to Haiti to work with ACFFC youth to design and create a large- scale mosaic mural project on a public wall which was donated for the project by the Mayor of Jacmel. I was accompanied and assisted by Erin Rogers a friend and fellow mosaic artist. ACFFC board member Nancy Josephson co- conceptualized the project.

In 8 days we worked with over 50 youth and adults to create a beautiful 17' x 8' mosaic mural depicting an ancestral tree with birds, musical instruments and a sun/ moon which wraps around the corner to the adjacent wall.

Tree of Life Mural in progress. Shells being laid into a crack caused by the earthquake. Photos: Erin Rogers and L True.

The mural is meant to serve as a memorial for the lives lost as a result of the earthquake as well as an affirmation for growth and future rebuilding in Haiti. There are a dozen little shelves for candles embedded in in the mosaic, which were lit up on the evening we completed the mural.

The mural was created from mostly gathered and locally sourced materials including broken tile donated from Mosaic Gardere in Port au Prince, shells, stones, mirror, sea glass and salvaged materials.

Detail of mosaic eye- Photo Erin Rogers. Me setting mosaic with ACFFC artist.

The project focused on skill- building and mosaic training for youth and young adults so that they may use these skills for future entrepreneurial development and will serve as the beginning of a sustainable mosaic art program at ACFFC- as well as potential job training for teachers and trades people. In addition to the above, it was a really fun project and literally hundreds of people came to watch the mural come to life over the course of the week. It was very special and the kids on the project, already artists themselves, were so cool and took right to the mosaic medium. They were so proud of what they had created for their town.

Crowd forming around mural. This pic shows the long, 200+ wall mentioned below very well!

The Jacmel Mayor Edwin Zenny is in support of the continuing project to help affirm Jacmel as the artistic center and tourist destination it has historically been. He showed this support by offering two large walls on which to continue the mosaic mural project. One of the walls turns the corner along the beach, where fisherman are stationed, kids play soccer and merchants sell food and drinks. The other wall extends 212' feet down the road towards the center of town.

Mayor Edwin Zenny setting mosaic piece and with me and ACFFC director Georges Metellus.

By mid- summer there were murmurings in town of having the project participants do other projects around town, at the houses of other people, hotels, etc.. Very exciting.

In August, I returned to Jacmel to do another portion of the mosaic wall and the kids were ready!

They already knew what they were doing so they got right to it. The kids created designs for a second mural- facing the beach- that was over twice the size of the first mural and we completed it in less time! The Sea Spirits mural is 42' x 9' and depicts sea life and an image of Lasiren, a spirit of the sea. We created upwards of 30 mosaic fish on mesh, which we applied "applique style" to the wall. The rest was set directly onto the concrete.

Sea Spirits mural center detail.

The mural includes broken tile, beautiful blues donated by Mosaique Gardere as well as aqua and other accent colors donated by Heath Ceramics in California (and carried in our luggage to Haiti!), mirror (or course) and glass. Several American ceramic artists also donated fish tiles after I put out a last-minute call for donations and these fish tiles really looked great in the "sea". (A special thank you to Carol Belevaqua, Niki Glen, Helen Hewig ad Robin Indar and also to Tricia Huffman for her donation of half glass marbles, which we have used in both murals and will keep using!)

Detail of mosaic and handmade tiles. LT and Erin working with kids and in progress shots.

It was a huge project and by that time we were already looking towards tackling the next phase of the project (the 200+ foot wall).

Completed mural and proud artists.

My role this time was not only to lead and facilitate the creation of the mural project (with Erin assisting once again) and arrange the design elements, but also to work specifically with a core group of team leaders and train them so that eventually they will take over more and more project leadership, management and implementation. This is key in entrepreneurial training for larger projects.

I am showing the team leaders how to lead a grouting session and also how to deal with the scale designs for Phase Three of project.

The kids are up for the challenge and I was so impressed at how they stepped forwards and took different roles. I was/ am super proud of them.

The Sea Spirits mural set the groundwork for forging ahead to the third phase of the project, the long wall, (212 ' long and roughly 1300 sq ft) which will be executed in multiple parts through the end of the year, depicting scenes of historic Jacmel, a karnival procession (which Jacmel is famous for) and stylized flora and fauna of the region. It will be a true celebration of Jacmel and Haiti in the form of a wonderful piece of public art, viewable to everyone.

When I departed at the end of last month, the kids had created design resource material for a section of the wall that will depict flora and fauna of Haiti. We had specific meetings and lessons about design transfer, scale and composition and the kids assignment was to transfer the scale design onto the next chunk of wall, which they are currently working on.

Wall for the Karnival mural (Phase Three) and ACFFC artists working on preliminary designs for first section of this wall.

I will return to Jacmel in October to continue to guide ACFFC youth through the next phases of this challenging and amazing project. They are excited and up for it. Their goal is to finish the mosaic wall project before the anniversary of the earthquake in January 2011, when. The mural will be gifted to the city of Jacmel.

Scroll down to the bottom of this post for more photo links!

How you can help:

Back this project by making a pledge on Kickstarter!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/LaurelTrue/mosaic-mural-project-with-youth-in-haiti-rememberi

Donate materials:

One of the main things we are trying to collect is brightly colored tile. We carry close to 100# in our luggage and I have been sending boxes of tile from my studio to Miami to be carried as luggage one by one as friends and colleagues of ACFFC travel to Haiti.

We are also putting out a call to handmade tile makers who would like to donate colorful flower tiles for the mural.

(Low relief, 1/4" max thickness, low or high fire glazes).

If you or anyone you know is interested in making a donation of the above materials, please contact me through my website at www.Truemosaics.com.

To view more photos and read a wonderful online article chronicling my first trip to Haiti for the Tree of Life Mural, follow the links below:

Photos of Tree of Life Mural:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?aid=185811&id=276758323289&ref=mf   

Photos of Sea Spirits Mural:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?aid=207013&id=276758323289&ref=mf

Article that Nancie Ppgrass wrote: http://thedecoratingdiva.com/art-with-a-mission-piecing-together-hearts-souls-in-haiti-via-mosaics/

Mesi Anpil!

Memorial Mosaic Mural Project in Jacmel, Haiti with Youth Using Salvaged Materials

2010-03-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Laurel True will be traveling to Haiti in June to work with local youth and adults and collaborate with Haitian and American artists to design and create a mosaic mural in partnership with the Art Creation Foundation For Children in Jacmel, Haiti.

Youth will collect materials salvaged from the devastation of the earthquake in January, which will be repurposed with love into a memorial mosaic mural commemorating the loss of life and homes and celebrating the healing and rebuilding in Haiti.

The project will focus on skill building and mosaic training for youth and young adults so that they may use these skills for future entrepreneurial development.

The mural will be centrally located in the coastal town of Jacmel, Less then 20 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake. Subsequent phases of the project may include development of a seating area and gathering space for residents and visitors which will invite introspection and reverence for those lost as well as providing for a hopeful, inspirational and life affirming vision for the future.

http://www.artforhaitianchildren.org/index.htm

Paradise, New Heart for SF General Hospital Foundation

2010-02-09T23:53:00.000-08:00

Paradise 2009
Laurel True
Asphalt, glass, gold smalti, fused glass and mirror

Eight new large hearts and six tabletop hearts will be unveiled this Thursday, February 11th, at Union Square in San Francisco.

I was invited to create one of the large hearts this year, my fourth heart for the Heroes and Hearts Project since it's inception in 2004, which I completed last December.

I utilized asphalt, which I have been exploring as a medium for mosaics for about two years now, combined with glass, gold and mirror.

What I am exploring here is, I suppose, a quest for beauty in ugliness. Searching out the grace embedded in the grit. Of life, of experience, of reality.

I am working with the idea of deconstructing the concrete jungle, the street, the urban environment, to create something completely new, but that has a memory of where it came from.

There is a symbol in Ghana called Sankofa, which looks like a stylized heart. One of the meanings of this symbol is, in order to move forwards, we must recognize our past, and that we bring our experience with us into the future. The proverb that goes with this symbol says "return and fetch it".

I feel that the use of asphalt, set in a traditional Italianate style, forming a ribbon that wraps the heart, speaks to this motif.

Paradise is a concept, not a place. There is no destination. Only the journey. So the road is really where its at- metaphorically speaking. The inner and outer landscapes this road meanders through are what the journey is all about. We hope to find beauty along the way.

In Paradise, the ribbon of asphalt dotted with gold reminds one to look closely at the world and at situations for hidden beauty.

The juxtaposition of rough materials with beautiful, light catching materials highlights that grace and grit can coexist, and may actually rely on one another.

The large pod like shapes symbolize growth and life to me. There is something so beautiful and non- specific about this form to me- they feel fulfilling and universal and satisfying. I used a specific number of these pod shapes on Paradise to directly correlate with a symbol which is part of an ancient divination system, which speaks of inner and outer happiness.

More info:

http://www.sfghf.net/hh/true.html

I started a fan page for True Mosaics Studio on Facebook, where I will be posting more photos that on this blog.

Here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/True-Mosaics-Studio/276758323289?ref=ts

Photo by Russ Osterweil

Facebook photo album of this project:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=148224&id=276758323289&saved#!/album.php?aid=148224&id=276758323289&ref=mf

Help Fund a Community Mosaic Mural Project in Nairobi, Kenya this Fall!

2009-08-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/LaurelTrue/community-mosaic-mural-project-with-youth-in-narobi-0

Hello All!

I will be doing an artist's residency this fall at a glass workshop in Nairobi, Kenya during which I will be facilitating a community mosaic mural project with school children. I am very excited about this project!

I am funding this project in part through a really cool website called Kickstarter, which helps to facilitate funding for creative/ alternative projects.

Please consider supporting my project by following this link for more info:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/LaurelTrue/community-mosaic-mural-project-with-youth-in-narobi-0

If you know anyone who might be interested in making a micro-investment and supporting this project, please forward this e-mail to them!
My goal is to raise $3200 by September.

There are kickbacks for funders ;)

Thanks so much!

Laurel

More complete info:

Project:
Facilitation and creation of a community mosaic mural with Kenyan youth at a Rudolph Steiner school outside of Nairobi as part of an artist residency.

My name is Laurel True. I am a mosaic artist and educator seeking funding to support a community mosaic mural project in Nairobi, Kenya as part of a youth project series called "Woven Stories".

I have been creating site-specific public and community based artworks for almost 20 years. Since 2006, I have been creating mosaic projects that highlight collaboration between youth in Africa and the US. I focus specifically in under-served areas of Oakland, CA and New Orleans, where I divide my residency. I have been facilitating community mosaic mural projects in Ghana, West Africa for the past 8 years.

This September, I have been invited to Nairobi, Kenya to do an artist's residency at a renowned glass studio called Kitengela Glass that also operates an alternative school primarily for Masai children. I will be working with the school children to design and create a large glass mosaic mural for the facade of the school.

The school where the mural with be sited serves as a model for similar schools across East Africa.
The philosophy at Kitengela is "recycling everything, paying fair wages, protecting our environment." In this vein, we will be using all recycled glass materials from the studio for the mosaic mural project.

In the community projects I facilitate, I value fostering creative expression while including viable job training. I believe everyone has endless resources of "creative capital" — an enthusiasm to learn coupled with new skills can often transfer into economic opportunity. One example is a pair of my young students in Ghana, who have gone on to start their own small business as mosaic artists to help contribute to their own school fees and their families’ economies.

I will use your generous pledges towards this project for travel expenses, art materials and supplies for a mural both at the school in Nairobi and a partner project in the US. Your contributions will also assist with transportation, local support, a small stipend for myself and and local assistants, and project documentation.

As part of the Woven Stories Project, I will bring back design feedback from youth as well as glass elements from Kitengela Glass in Nairobi that will inspire and be used the creation of a future community mosaic mural with youth at a school in Oakland or New Orleans.

I am excited about this and other projects in Africa and in the US.
Thank you for your support!

For more information, please visit my website:
www.Truemosaics.com
http://www.truemosaics.com/ghana.html

Kitengela Glass website:
www.Kitengela-glass.com

For information on my next project in Ghana please visit:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/LaurelTrue/design-for-mosaic-sculpture-playground-and-training

MORE PICTURES TO COME!

Mosaic Art Now Blog

2009-06-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

I got blogged! Cool:

http://mosaicartnow.blogspot.com/

True Mosaics On the Road!

2009-06-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

Please check out the True Mosaics Studio Website for a list of upcoming mosaic classes in Oakland, CA, New Orleans, LA and in Austin, TX this summer!

New Orleans, LA:

July 18 - 19th
Mosaics for the Garden — Tile and Glass
August 1 - 2nd
Tools and Techniques for Mosaics

Austin, TX:

August 8 - 9th
The Business of Mosaics

Oakland, CA:
June 13 - 14
Introduction to Glass Mosaics
June 20 - 21
Architectural Applications for Mosaic
July 4 - 5
Intro to Smalti
July 6 - 10
Mosaic Summer Camp for Adults FULL! Wait list available
August 15 - 16
Glass Fusing Extravaganza
August 22 - 23
The Business of Mosaics

http://www.truemosaics.com/classes.html

See you this summer!

Mosaic Class in Austin, Texas

2009-05-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

I will be teaching a one- day intensive Architectural Applications for Mosaics class in Austin, Texas on May 31st, 2009.
There are currently 3 spaces left.

Architectural Applications for Mosaics- Floors and Walls
Instructor: Laurel True

Please see class description on the IMA website:
http://www.instituteofmosaicart.com/class_arch.html

Please note: This is a lecture and demonstration format class.
Bring a notebook to take notes please. Handouts provided.

CLASS DATE AND TIME:
Sunday, May 31st, 2009
One -day intensive format
9 am - 5 pm
Cost: $185
Limit 18 students

Location:
Bohemian Riot Mosaic Studio
(Tamara Kikel)
email bohemianriotTX@aol.com for directions

There will be a 30 minute lunch break. Please bring a lunch with you.

CLASS REGISTRATION INFO:
You must pre- register for class by e-mailing me with your information:
Name, address, e-mail, phone #

LaurelTrue at gmail dot com

Please indicate how you will be paying, check, cash or cc.
Please note: there will be a $10 service charge for cc payments.

If paying by check please contact me and I will give you the correct address to send your check.
Pay by cc: Use pay pal (add on $10 to registration fee)

Cancellation Policy:
Sorry, due to the short turnaround time for this class, there will be no refunds for class cancellation given after May 20th.

Laurel True
True Mosaics Studio

New Work 2009

2009-02-18T08:49:00.000-08:00

New Studio Work 2009- Laurel True

Current Exhibitions:

Visions/ Journeys, Solo Exhibition
Institute of Mosaic Art, Oakland

2009 Mosaic International, Group Exhibition
Museum of Man, San Diego

Please contact Laurel True for pricing information.
LaurelTrue@mac.com

Emergence 2009
(After Klimt)
Copper and gold smalti, glass, handmade fused glass tesserae and tiles
Gold leaf frame
45" x 34"
$9500

Detail

Detail

Invisible 2009
Glass tile, smalti, mirror, dichroic glass, recycled glass from Ghana, stones
Silver frame
42" x 20"
SOLD

Detail

Ten, Earth 2009
Mirror, stained glass, antique gold smalti, African clay, dichroic glass, cabochons
Bronze frame
24" x 16"
SOLD

Two, Water 2009
Mirror, stained glass, glass tile, dichroic glass, antique glasscabochons
Pewter frame
24" x 16"
$1900

Rajasthan 2009
Copper and gold smalti, glass, mirror, antique cabochons
Copper frame
SOLD

New Orleans Shotgun House 2008
Vitreous, dichroic and stained glass, mirror, antique cabochons
Pewter frame
9" x 9"
SOLD

Magic Door 2008
Vitreous, dichroic and stained glass, beads from New Orleans, mirror, antique cabochons
Pewter frame
9" x 9"
SOLD

Lancaster 400 2008
Asphalt, concrete, mirror, glass
24” x 18”
Charcoal metal frame
$2900

Crack/Peterson at Chapman 2008
Asphalt, concrete, gold smalti
Charcoal metal frame
24” x 18”
On display at Mosaic International Exhibit, Museum of Man
$2900

Skidmark/ E. 7th at Derby 2008
Asphalt, concrete, dichroic and antique glass
24” x 18”
Charcoal metal frame
$2900

Crack/ Lancaster 9846 2008
Asphalt, concrete, diamonds
Charcoal metal frame
24” x 18”
$2900

2009 Spring Classes In New Orleans

2009-02-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

Time to get down to Beautiful New Orleans!
Spring is one of the best times to be there and there are lots of ways to combine business/ education with fun

Here's the info :

MOSAICS in NEW ORLEANS

I will be returning to New Orleans for April and May and have a pretty extensive line- up of mosaic class offerings lined up, hosted by NOCG. Jump in, it's going to be a fun couple of months.

New Orleans is quickly becoming a very hot art destination with many up and coming galleries, public and renegade installations, art markets and of course music and food.

April and May are chocked full of festivals as well, including the (free) French Quarter Festival (http://www.fqfi.org/ )
and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (http://www.nojazzfest.com/)

Classes I will be teaching by list.. see below for descriptions.

Mosaic For Three Dimensional Forms- Mosaic Sculpture
Architectural Applications for Mosaics- Floors, Walls and More
The Business of Mosaics - Doing What You Love and Making a Living at It
Beginning Glass Mosaics
Intro to Italian Smalti Mosaics- Contemporary Mosaics with Ancient Materials

All courses given at New Orleans Conservation Guild in the historic Bywater neighborhood.
For more information or to register please go to:
http://www.art-restoration.com/workshop.html
or call 504-944-7900

Info on True Mosaics Site:
http://www.truemosaics.com/road.html#3d

Mosaic For Three Dimensional Forms- Mosaic Sculpture
6- week class
Thursday Evenings 6 - 8:30
April 9- May 21st
(Class skips April 30th)
$250
$25 Materials fee (for piece the size of a 3 gallon bucket)
Students must bring own form to mosaic.

This exciting class focuses on issues related to covering three-dimensional, sculptural forms with mosaic. Class will cover appropriate substrates and adhesives, prepping three- dimensional forms to receive mosaic, types of materials appropriate for different surfaces, cutting, shaping and setting mosaic tesserae, correct spacing and laying of tesserae for a professional finish, safety considerations, grouting and finishing 3-D work.

Discussion will include important issues to consider when creating small and larger scale sculptural work as well as a discussion of various ways in which sculptural substrates can be created for both fine art and utilitarian work.

Students should bring in their own three-dimensional form to mosaic to the first day of class that is about the size of a 3-gallon bucket or smaller to complete in the 6-week course. Students may bring larger pieces and continue on their own at the end of the course with their own materials. Forms can be for interior or exterior use.

Some ideas for three-dimensional forms: Concrete birdbath or fountain (unsealed concrete only), large flowerpot or urn, sculptural piece or concrete form.

Students will have access to ceramic tile, glass, mirror and mixed media to use for their mosaic. Students are also welcome to bring materials from home. Lecture and demo will include information on tool use for a variety of materials.

Beginners and continuing students welcome. Minimum 4- Max 8 students.

Please note: this is not a sculpture class. We will be covering already made forms in this class and lecture, demonstration and technique will focus on mosaic setting. As stated above, there will be discussion about the creation of sculptural forms and different methods will be described by instructor and resources will be given for these types of projects.

Recommended reading for students interested in making their own concrete forms to cover before the start of class:

Making Concrete Garden Ornaments by Sherri Werner Hunter
Available online at Mosaic Studio Supply

http://www.mosaicstudiosupply.com/books_online.html

Architectural Applications for Mosaics- Floors, Walls and More
Saturday 10 - 3
Sunday 11- 2
$175
All materials included

Thinking about making a mosaic for your home? This is the perfect class for you. Instructor Laurel True has 18 years experience in the field of mosaics and has completed hundreds of permanent installations in homes, businesses, hotels, schools, parks and more across the United States.

This is a lecture and demonstration format course that focuses on wall and floor applications as well as other permanent installations.

Class will begin with a digital presentation of instructor's architectural work including floors, walls, back splashes, fireplace surrounds, floor and pavement insets, large scale mosaic murals and other site specific work in residential and commercial spaces.

Using a mock-up of a kitchen backsplash and an example of a mosaic floor installation, students are taken through the steps required to complete a successful and durable mosaic application.

Class will cover issues involving choosing the proper substrate, dealing with existing substrates, prepping surfaces, work styles and preparing the area to do a project, correct setting materials, choosing the right type of tile or other tesserae, designing for an architectural application, transfer techniques, methods of setting, including use of fiberglass mesh and other face and back mounted off - site construction methods , mixing thin-set and concrete based fixatives, grouting, caulking and finishing a permanent application.

Special focus will be given to dealing with architectural issues such as thresholds, trims, pipes, plumbing, fixtures and appliances, baseboards, expansion joints, sub flooring and more. Students should expect to take notes and will receive handouts with technical and resource information.

This is an important technical class for those who want to experiment with more permanent mosaic applications and do them right!

Students will see the process of creating a permanent mosaic installation with some hands-on opportunity. (Students do not make an individual project in this class).

Please note: This is not a setting class. It is expected that students will be able to combine this information with basic setting and mosaic skills they already have.

For more information or to register for this course please contact New Orleans Conservation Guild:

NOGUILD@aol.com
or 504-944-7900

The Business of Mosaics - Doing What You Love and Making a Living at It
April 28-30
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Evening 5:30 - 8:30 pm
$195
Includes binder/ materials

This unique course is designed for mosaic artists who are considering formalizing their practice into a business and/ or moving into the professional realm with their work. This three- day course will explore how doing what you love and making a living can coincide successfully, and will focus on the nuts and bolts of having a mosaic business.

Seminar will include lecture, discussion, personal exercises, visual presentations and question and answer sessions.

Topics covered in lecture will include: developing, visualizing and manifesting personal, business and creative goals; establishing a market identity and specialization; pricing and marketing work; building an effective resume and portfolio; documenting, presenting and exhibiting mosaic work; contracts and commissions and applying for public projects.

Students will understand how to present their work and experience accurately and effectively, how to write design and production contracts and create proposals for architectural and public commissions, register a business and understand the basics of business structures, taxes and insurance.

This session would particularly benefit those who are considering going after or starting to receive commissioned projects, want to exhibit their artwork professionally, or are looking for information about how to proceed in the business aspects of mosaics. Class will include a discussion on how to market work in today's economic climate.

Please note: This class is in between the two weekends of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Another great reason to come to New Orleans!
http://www.nojazzfest.com/

Beginning Glass Mosaics
May 9-10
Saturday 10 - 4
Sunday 11-1
$160
All materials included

A great introduction to glass mosaics! Perfect for beginners or continuing students.

Glass is a beautiful medium for mosaics! In this beginner friendly class, students will design and create their own glass mosaic piece.

Class will focus on designing for glass mosaics, introduction to different types of glass tesserae, surfaces suitable for glass mosaic, glass cutting tools, cutting and shaping techniques, lay patterns, fixatives for glass and appropriate applications.

Lecture will include a digital presentation of contemporary glass mosaics and instructor will present a literal visual encyclopedia of glass mosaic materials available to mosaic artists today- from low end recycled materials to high end specialty materials.

Students will design and create a 12" x 12" glass mosaic for interior display using stained glass and other glass media . No experience necessary, beginning and returning students welcome.

Mosaics for the Garden
May 16-17
Saturday 11 - 4
Sunday 11-1
$160
All materials included

Beautify your garden with colorful mosaic art!
This class will cover the basics and beyond for exterior and garden mosaics.

Lecture will include info on substrates appropriate for exterior use and their preparation, fixatives, setting, grouting and sealing. Information on clay bodies and glazes for exterior use. Ceramic tile for exterior use will be used, which is a bit more challenging to cut than tile intended for indoor use.

This class is great for the beginner as we will be covering tools, cutting techniques, mosaic design and lay patterns...and is also appropriate for the student who has already experimented with interior or craft mosaics and would like to expand their knowledge to include exterior, garden or permanent installations.

Students will create a 12 ' x 12" mosaic stepping stone or flower pot to take home.

Intro to Italian Smalti Mosaics- Contemporary Mosaics with Ancient Materials
May 23-24th
Saturday 10 - 4
Sunday 10-1
$175
$50 materials fee for smalti starter pack

Longtime professional mosaic artist Laurel True will introduce students to this wonderful, surprisingly easy to use material. As seen in the Vatican Mosaics exhibit this year in New Orleans, smalti is a beautiful, rich and reflective materials made from poured glass.

This exciting course will introduce students to the history of this exquisite glass material that has been used since the Byzantine Era and its uses in today's mosaic world. Class will begin with a slide presentation showing historical applications of smalti in architectural settings as well as how smalti is made in small batches by artisans today in Europe and beyond. Class will explore the unique light catching and reflecting qualities of smalti and how this material can be combined with other mosaic materials for exciting and rich effects.

Class will cover basic design, layout and visual understanding of a smalti piece as well as both ancient and contemporary cutting techniques. Each student will learn how to work with the hammer and hardie to process smalti, as well as gain an understanding of how to use modern tools with this material with as little waste as possible. Students will set smalti directly into a mortar bed for their project and will receive information on how to approach future smalti projects.

Class will finish with a digital presentation of contemporary smalti projects, both as fine art pieces and as integrated into an architectural setting.

Students will use Italian and Mexican smalti to create an 8 x8 mosaic wall hanging to take home. Smalti starter pack provided.

No mosaic experience necessary. This technique is significantly different from more contemporary styles of mosaic setting.

****************

For more information or to register for these courses please contact New Orleans Conservation Guild:

NOGUILD@aol.com
or 504-944-7900

Mardi Gras Indian smalti mosaic by New Orleans student
Smalti Class

Glass Mosaic Fler de Lis by New Orleans student
Intro to Glass Mosaics Class

Sculptural mosaic heart by Laurel True
3-D Mosaics Class

Mosaic backsplash by Laurel True
Architectural Applications Class

Mosaic garden bench by Laurel True
Garden Mosaics

Smalti mosaic by Randy Sanders, New Orleans
Smalti Class

Recent Projects for TMS

2008-11-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

Gaudi- Inspired Lizard for client in Nola. More to come...

Wow.. Ok.. a frequent blogger I guess I am not. It's hard to keep up here, but I am going to make an attempt because there is so much great stuff happening all the time and I am missing out on the opportunity to share what is going on and give kudos to those who participated in projects with me.

I am in New Orleans now (October/ November), and will have a separate entry for all that is happening here shortly (new studio, great classes, huge community/ corporate team building project, giant lizard sculpture and more).

Intro to Smalti Student- New Orleans class. More to come...

One of 125 mosaic benches created during corporate team building event in conjunction with Crescent City Art Project in New Orleans. More to come...

I fell off on the updates a couple of months ago but wanted to do a few posts with pics about the summer projects we did in True Mosaics Studio before I left for New Orleans.

I am officially spending about a third of the year now in New Orleans, where I have a studio and home. I am equally excited about projects here as in Oakland and have lots of cool stuff coming down the pipe in both locations.

I return to the Bay Area in early December and will commence designs on the facade for the new Firehouse 18 in East Oakland, a project I was awarded through the Oakland Cultural Arts Department last summer. This project will include community involvement on the design level and will be an exciting one to work on I am sure.

I will be traveling to Ghana in January with a fellow mosaic artist and IMA student Erin Rogers to do some project development there as well as visit friends who have become family. In February I will be traveling to India with my dear friends and teachers, Isaiah and Julia Zagar. Rumor has it that Isaiah and I will be leading a mosaic workshop in Madras, but no deets on that yet. I am just happy to be going to India for the first time in my life and I have always wanted to go.

Both the above trips are short- two weeks each- and I will also have a pretty full teaching schedule this winter, which I am looking forward to.

Here is a rundown of classes I will be teaching at Institute of Mosaic Art this December/ January:

December 6-7 th and January 3-4
The old favorite: Mosaic 101- Intro to Ceramic Tile Mosaics
I have been teaching this class for 14 years and I love it.

December 13-14th
Architectural Applications for Mosaic- Floors and Walls
We talk about all kinds of permanent applications in this class. Lecture/ demo

December 20-21st
Glass Fusing Extravaganza!
This class is awesome. Come take it and make tons of fused glass stuff in one weekend.
(No experience necessary)

January 10 -11th
Business of Mosaics
Probably the last chance before next summer to take this one. Lots of helpful info about aligning your creative and business goals and making it work.

January 17-18th
Intro to Smalti
People love this class. I love this class. A great intro to an inspiring material.

So.. that's a brief overview.
Project visuals and descriptions to follow soon starting back in August 08.

One last thing..

YAY OBAMA!!!!!!!

Laurel

Tiki Tom's Mural for Mosaic Mural Making Intensive

2008-08-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

Tiki Tom's Mural laid out on floor before installation:

I am teaching a Mosaic Mural Making Intensive (week-long) at Institute of Mosaic Art this week and we have completed a neat mural for a local restaurant and bar in our neighborhood- Jingletown- in Oakland.

Mural Dimensions 3.5' x 7.5 ft.
Materials: High- fire ceramic tile and mirror with handmade tiles.

There are 11 (!) students in this class and we set the mural in four days. I designed and coded the mural before class started using Tiki Tom's logo and business card as starting points/ inspiration. Also researched Tiki themed designs and riffed off some Tiki fabric for the design of handmade border tiles. My neighbors Saundra Warren and Cynthia Elliot helped make the tiles.

Students came from as far afield as Indiana and Wisconsin to participate in the class, which is geared towards intermediate/ advanced students and teaches them how to create a permanent large scale- mural on a mesh backing (in the studio) and install as a team on site.

We install this Saturday/ Sunday and then hope to celebrate with some Tiki themed beverages.

Mural design and facilitation by Laurel True and True Mosaics Studio. Mural production by students of Mosaic Mural Making Intensive at IMA, August 2008- all names to follow in next post with pics of installed mural.

Cartoon and coding for Tiki head and flowers.

Completed section.

Cartoon and coding for hut and palm tree/ flowers.

Completed sections put together with border tiles mocked up.

Students Diana White, Megan Cain and Malu Wu working on flowers.

Students Judy Toupin and Estelle Akamine working on Tiki head.

Day two, mural in progress. Students are working hard.

More pictures of students and in progress shots to be posted on the IMA flickr site soon.

Note: Tiki Tom's is not yet open and is located on 29th St. right on the Oakland side of the esturay at the foot of the Park St. bridge (going to Alameda). They say they will be opening in mid- September!

Lots of New Projects in True Mosaics Studio

2008-07-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

Kefa- Coffee from Ethiopia to Jingletown 2008
Ceramic tile, glass and mirror
Kefa Coffeehouse, Oakland, CA
4’ x 10’ Mosaic Mural

Mosaic mural by True Mosaics Studio and students of Mosaic Mural Making Intensive at Institute of Mosaic Art. Design and facilitation by Laurel True. Production and installation by Kim Grant, Pam Goode, Jill Montgomery , Renata Kolarova, Karla Silva-Ruiz, Susannne Takehara, Laurel True and Carol Waldren

Additional production assistance by Deborah Block, Debbie Callen, Kara Graves, Delaine Hackney, Celeste Howell and Rachel Rodi and Lillian Sizemore. Handmade ceramic tile accents by Saundra Warren.

More pics at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imamosaic/sets/72157605600212523/

and on Kim Grant's Blog: http://kimgrantmosaics.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/mosaic-mural-my-1st-group-project/

I have been working in the studio and on some cool side projects in the last several months but haven't had a chance to post...

Here are some photos of some of the posts to come profiling my latest projects:

The Wedding Cake Project July 08
aka Operation Gay Cake

6 ft x 4 ft Mosaic Wedding Cake Interactive Sculpture

Project conceived by Santiago Rodriguez.

Design and creation by Santiago Rodriguez, Madeline Behrens- Brigham, Lillian Sizemore and Laurel True
Production assistance by Randi Casenza, Jack Dynis and Ben Otis Dugger.

The Wedding Cake Project was created at the 580 Hayes Market Gallery in San Francisco as a performance art piece. The final product, a giant, 6 foot diameter, double layer, sculptural mosaic cake, will be sited at City Hall in San Francisco to celebrate marriage and all unions of love.

Couples are invited to stand on the cake and become part of the artwork, as the artwork becomes part of the celebration of marriage.

The Cake is headed to City Hall in August. More info/ photos:
www.weddingcakeproject.org

Mosaic wall element for HGTV backyard makeover show June 08
More pics soon
(I did this in one day as a sting operation)

Nola WOW Mural- detail

Community Mosaic Mural done in New Orleans Bywater neighborhood in May 08.
More pics to come
Meanwhile check out a blogger who is really a true blogger: Kim Grant
http://kimgrantmosaics.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/nola-wow-mural-laurels-renegade-mosaic-mural-part-ii/

Mosaic Suns are DONE! Finally.
Lots more pics to come.

Completed July 08

With a New Wind At Our Backs

2008-06-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

Yes We Can

Obama for President

http://www.dipdive.com/dip-politics/wato/

Sun Series... Making Progress...

2008-03-30T15:06:00.001-07:00

Above: Smallest (Red Sun) all set and ready to be grouted.

My trusty assistant Jack.

Medium (Orange Sun) in progress. We ran out of orange tile and had to order more.. it's on the way!

Essential refueling process. Lots of squares to cut by hand.

My assistant taking a break.

It's hard to get good help these days.

New Exploration: Asphalt Mosaics

2008-03-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

The Grace and the Grit - Asphalt Mosaics

This new series has been in the (conceptual) works for more than a year and I had the opportunity to explore this idea through participation in a group exhibit that is currently hanging at Pro Arts Gallery in Oakland.

The exhibit showcases the work of 10 artists living and working in the Jingletown Junction of East Oakland and how they/ we interact with, record, respond to living in an urban, industrial neighborhood. It is a great show.. go see it! (Info below)

The designs for the mosaics I am exhibiting are based on markings in the roads and were
created using asphalt, concrete and other detritus collected from the streets. The whole series is really an exploration of the inward and outward journey, and, ugliness. And the inherent beauty found within. And uncovering this.

I do a lot of work inspired by the urban landscape.. But this actually is LITERALLY the urban landscape. I have been collecting asphalt (I am calling it harvesting) for awhile and from different locations to use in my work, but all of the materials used in the work I am exhibiting in this show came from Jingletown Junction.. all of it. I walked around like a crazy lady with a "wagon" I McGyvered up and collected huge dirty chunks of asphalt, concrete, brick and some other crap that made its way into an installation I did on the floor of the gallery.

Asphalt is a tough medium to work with, you can't use traditional cutting tools so cutting is very labor intensive. And I used traditional Italianate setting styles in the works.. so it was time consuming and also rewarding to be simultaneously turned off by the material and also intrigued by it and finally seeing its unique and inherent beauty. A giant metaphor for life.

As I explore the concept of ugliness in many of it's forms, I am actually constantly reminded of the grace that resonates in the ugliest of places (even in asphalt).

The exhibit includes a series of works for the wall and temporary mosaic floor installation inspired by a circular sideshow (car spinout) skid mark.

Here is the blurb my art reviewer friend wrote about my work:

In her new series of mosaic relief panels, artist Laurel True turns away from more traditional mosaic materials such as ceramic, glass and stone, instead creating her works from asphalt, concrete and other roadway detritus collected from her East Oakland neighborhood.

True bases her works' designs on random and intentional road markings such as tar lines, cracks and skid marks made from sideshows and car spinouts. True's series is a visual and conceptual investigation of what beauty might be found in urban landscapes, exploring the ugliness, grit, solidity and underlying grace in both her materials and surroundings.

More About the Exhibit:

"Jingletown Junction" Jingletown is a migratory, semi-industrial zone located on the estuary of Oakland and Alameda. Ten artists, all who live and/or work here, all members of the Jingletown Arts and Business Community (JABC) have created artwork for this show, as it stems from our individual experience of living and working in an artists' neighborhood. Each artist uses his/her own medium and creative ideas to make pieces that concern the collaborative experience of this area. In a time when our neighborhood is undergoing rapid change, growing by leaps and bounds, it is our goal to stimulate awareness of and support for the rich and diverse population of working, exhibiting and performing artists, and other creative members of Jingletown.

The exhibit features the work of:

Alison McLennan, Fernando Reyes, Jill McLennan, Heather Whitehead, Russ Osterweil, Jan Watten, Jon Zax, Kathy Cronin, Bill Silveira and Laurel True. www.jingletown.org.

PRO ARTS GALLERY 550 Second Street Oakland, CA www.proartsgallery.org 510-763-4361 Dates: March 18 - April 25, 2008 Artists' Talk: Saturday, April 5, 1 - 3 pm

Above: Crack/ Lancaster 9846 Asphalt, concrete,
diamonds 24” x 18” x 1”, 2008
Laurel True

Above: Crack/Peterson at Chapman Asphalt, concrete,
gold smalti 24” x 18” x 1”, 2008
Laurel True

Above: Skidmark/ E. 7th at Derby Asphalt, concrete, dichroic
and antique glass 24” x 18” x 1”, 2008
Laurel True

Above: Lancaster 400 Asphalt, concrete, mirror, glass
24” x 18” x 1”, 2008
Laurel True

Asphalt in it's natural habitat
Jingletown Junction, USA

Sideshow skidmark Derby at Chapman Sts.
Jingeltown Junction

Sideshow Installation/ Derby at Chapman
Asphalt, concrete, brick, metal, found objects
4’ x 4’ x 3” 2008
Laurel True

Detail Sideshow Installation

True Mosaics On the Road! May in New Orleans

2008-03-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

True Mosaics on the Road: May in New Orleans... The rebuilding effort continues and New Orleans marches on in true survivor fashion.

Jazz Fest happens the last weekend in April - 24-27th and the first weekend in May - 1-4th this year and the lineup is great.
http://www.nojazzfest.com/

Bywater Art Market is a wonderful artists market in the heart of the Bywater District, full of artists and musicians on Saturday May 17th (and every 3rd Saturday of the month).
http://www.art-restoration.com/bam/bam-photos.htm I will be teaching a couple of mosaic classes in Nola during the month of May.. come join us!

At New Orleans School of Glass and Printmaking in the Gallery District
Fine Art Mosaics in Glass: May 10-11, 2008

At New Orleans Conservation Guild in the heart of the Bywater
Mosaics For the Garden: Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25th, 2008

For more information on these classes please visit my home page www.TrueMosaics.com

Photo above by Fine Art Mosaics in Glass Student 2006

True Mosaics and Institute of Mosaic Art on TV!

2008-03-01T13:38:00.001-08:00

What is going on I do not know..

February seemed to be a very big press month for our mosaic businesses and I am not complaining one bit. Here are the details:

Institute of Mosaic Art (with a visit into True Mosaics Studio in same location) was on Channel 7 ABC yesterday on a show called View From the Bay.

The show is like a daytime talk show and they did a 4 and half minute deal on IMA. It turned out very well. The spot will be viewable for 90 days on the ABC website.. link below:

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=view_from_the_bay/home_garden&id=5990969

Sun Sculpture Series for Ocean Avenue in San Francisco Underway!

2008-02-19T22:05:00.000-08:00

Sun Sculpture Series Underway!

To be sited on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco.

Wow has this been a long time coming. A little walk down memory lane below as we actually were selected for this project in 2004 and contracted with the San Francisco Arts Commission in 2005. I am not kidding. This is officially the longest running single (commissioned) project I have ever worked on.

This is/ was a percent for art project using Muni (public transportation system) funds in conjunction with an upgrade to the system along Ocean Ave. in the southern part of San Francisco. I was asked to propose a project and a location along Ocean Avenue. I had originally proposed two 10 ft tall sort of obelisk shaped sculptures with spheres on top, covered in mosaic. Something about the location was not going to work and after I was awarded the project I was asked to redesign and propose a different location for the artwork.

This morphed into a completely different proposal on my part and changed into three spherical shapes to symbolize suns. Ocean Avenue is really NOT sunny and very windy and pretty gray all around so I thought it would be good to get some sun down there in the form of art. So I designed three spherical sculptural forms to be covered in swirling warm colors.

One of the suns is 5' diameter, one is 4' diameter and one 3' diameter and they will sit on the crossroads of Ocean and Grenada (Grenada cuts in at an angle, making kind of a triangle). One Sun on each corner.

My final designs for the mosaic patterning on the surface of the sculptures were in an Italianate style, but funked up. I am now (lovingly) calling this style Nouveau Roman. Or maybe I should call it Roman Super Funk. That sounds a lot better- more professional.
Just kidding.

Anyway...
My designs were approved in early 2005. I am not kidding. And we are just doing these now. Talk about red tape - Jesus. You name it and it has happened.. permitting issues, insurance, the footings weren't right, engineering stuff, staff changes at the commissioning agency.. on and on.

But the good news is that we are on schedule to finish by the end of March (I hope) and have them installed. Exciting. These spheres have been sitting in our studio for literally years and thank God we have a big studio. They almost became invisible (if you can imagine) or like some giant gray furniture or a giant pile of laundry until the green light went back on and we were able to jump back onto this project.

Left: Naked spheres waiting in line

As with most of our projects, these designs are being built up in layers. First went on the mirrored swirls (essential) and then the cool color accent lines and then the "pods" of "flying saucers" as I like to call them. Now were onto the backgrounds. I am way into setting these squares. I am cutting them down using hand tools and a wet saw and they are not perfect squares. I an not really into working with prefabricated square tessserae. I like irregularity in my squares.

Below: Original design drawings and Right: Large Sun in progress

The forms were fabricated in a top secret location and are made of foam with steel and concrete and fiberglass. No I didn't make them myself - I hired this part out. Almost all of the tile being used is McIntyre (see next post for McIntyre commercial).

Below left: Concrete sphere with mirror swirls only
Below right: Here comes the sun

Below left: Detail of flying saucer pod shape
Below right: Medium sun ready for background.

Lafayette Mercantile Fountain Installed!

2008-02-19T09:10:00.001-08:00

The rains finally gave us a window of time to get our mosaic fountain project fully installed the week before last. The install went very smoothly with only two of us. Awesome teamwork and thanks to IMA instructor Tracy Broback for her help during install!

We installed the bottom part one day and the sides and trim the second day and grouted the third day.
The ball on top I had already completed before the holidays.

Grout color was midnight blue (Custom) and we used Kerabond/ Kerolastic (Mapei) thin-set. The inside of the fountain had already been waterproofed before our install. The fountain is situated in a walkway area in Lafayette Mercantile and next to a new restaurant called Yankee Pier. They will evidently eventually have outdoor seating there right next to the fountain. I hope they have mojitos. (Speaking of mojitos, I have a recommendation for a great Cuban restaurant- but that is on my other blog..)

Anyway, it was a good project. Very fishy. Boy do people love an underwater scene. That is probably the theme I have worked with the most (for commissions) over the years. Water. Well who doesn't like water? I might put together a little book of underwater mosaics.

Left: Detail of side fishies and copper lights. Looking forward to seeing it underwater and lit up.

Below: Starfish cutting up side. I decided not to continue the background lay patterning from bottom sections to side sections, but it kind of looks like I did. Neat trick.

I can't really figure out how to get these photos to line up like I want (blogging is boggeling) so the rest are:

Full view from walkway above and detail of green fishy with swirling colors - oops where did that go? Oh well. it takes a lot of time to blog and I need to move on to the Project du Jour- which are a set of color drawings for some murals we are going to do downtown Oakland.

Production or installation assistance for this project by Nicole Bertoline, Tracy Broback, Joe Decker and Kim Larson.

***Next time I'll post our Sun Series sculptures in progress in the studio.***

All tile (ok 95%) for above project was high- fire, exterior grade made by McIntyre Tile. Sorry for the commercial, but our retail store, Mosaic Studio Supply (.com) at the Institute of Mosaic Art (.com) reps this line of tile. It is by far my favorite to work with and it has an amazing color range. And they created a purple especially for me that is my favorite color tile. I am using it as a background for one of my next projects.

My dog is bugging me for a walk. Over and out.

Article in Diablo Magazine

2008-01-29T16:20:00.000-08:00

Neat! An article just came out about Institute of Mosaic Art and my work in Diablo Magazine, February Issue:

http://www.diablomag.com/Diablo-Magazine/February-2008/Pieces-of-A-Dream/

Kind of a weird coincidence that the title of the article is the same as the documentary about Isaiah Zagar by his son Jerimiah....

Pieces of A Dream

By Tina Barseghian

Photograph by Gabriela Hasbun

For those of us who can barely scratch out a stick figure on paper and are intimidated by any art form, mosaic might be the ideal medium. Even for beginners, the process of creating order (a pattern) out of chaos (broken shards) can be incredibly gratifying.

So says Laurel True, a mosaic artist who teaches this ancient art to students of all levels. In 2005, after 14 years of teaching increasing numbers of students privately, True opened the Institute of Mosaic Art—one of very few such centers in the United States—in Oakland. She found a dilapidated building in the Jingletown arts district and, with the help of her students, transformed it into a neighborhood jewel, covering the walls, inside and out, with colorful mosaic murals and fresh sweeps of bright paint.

Since opening two years ago, the school has welcomed more than 4,000 students and visitors from such far-flung places as Australia, Chile, Germany, and Japan to be taught by True and visiting instructors. The art of mosaic has a kind of universal appeal, according to True. “It’s accessible, it’s appealing, it’s tactile, and people love the idea of putting pieces together,” True says. “I see people coming to it from both the right side of the brain and the left. Some projects require a particular format, a set of rules, and a lot of measurement and order, while other approaches can involve much more spontaneity.”

Courtesy of Laurel True

In her own pieces, True prefers to mix her media, using fused glass, ceramic, and other materials that fit her intended theme. Take, for example, her signature form, the shotgun-style house—a one-room structure with no halls. One of many that she’s created stands near the entry of the institute. At a height of about five feet, it’s covered in shards of reflective glass inside and out, with 32 eyeballs (a recurrent image in her work), representing her age when she created the work. The words know thyself (uttered by an ancient Greek oracle) are spelled out in colored letters across the structure’s doorway. “The house itself is a metaphor for the mind,” she says. “This piece, to me, is about self-reflection.”

True’s own self-exploration has taken her to the other side of the world—Ghana, in West Africa—where she teaches mosaic art to students of all ages. Over the years, she and 50 pupils there have completed seven mosaic murals and sculptures that depict traditional symbols and folkloric themes passed down through oral historians. A few of her most devoted students, who started with her as children, have parlayed their skills into a viable trade and now receive commissions for their work. “I’m so proud of these kids,” True says. “And I don’t have this view that I came in and gave them this giant gift. It’s more the other way around. I feel really woven in and attached to a lot of people there.”

Courtesy of Laurel True

True’s approach to life is much like her chosen medium. “I don’t make decisions based on anything logical,” she says. “I move through the world in an intuitive way, and the pieces somehow end up fitting together in the end.”

The Institute of Mosaic Art (www.instituteofmosaicart.com) offers daylong, weekend, and weeklong classes for students of all levels. To see a map of Laurel True’s 22 mosaic installations in the Bay Area, go to www.truemosaics.com.
This article appears in the February 2008 issue of Diablo Magazine

Our Latest Installation: Lafayette Mercantile

2007-12-31T11:53:00.001-08:00

In honor of the fact that we were supposed to install this project this week (and the second week of December) I will post pics of latest project: A mosaic fountain for Lafayette Mercantile, a new upscale shopping plaza in downtown Lafayette. (Is there a downtown Lafayette?) Anyway..

Left is me with sample board that was submitted to design firm and client. We are on job site here in November to take a template of inside of fountain so we can create an exact scale drawing to use a a guide for mosaic creation.

We were approached by a design firm in San Francisco to develop designs for the inside of a fountain with a sea theme. They wanted starfish, fish, swirls (no mirror) and they wanted Roman. I proposed a what I have been calling a "Nouveau Italian" style.. meaning a contemporary riff on Roman style using ceramic tile cut in square (and other geometric) shapes. The style is more organic for me and I like it better than a straight Roman style. I follow traditional setting "rules" but then I "embellish" them. And use larger tesserae than the tiny squares, adding accents in a contemporary carved/ fitted style.

We have completed and installed the ball at the top of the fountain. The rest is sitting in the studio waiting to be installed. I had to do the ball on site because it couldn't come to the studio. I actually enjoyed being out on the job site because I rarely do projects outside of the studio anymore (unless community projects) and I enjoy talking to passerby and the other people on the job site.

Here are some in progress shots. Design was made in sections on fiberglass mesh backing. We use a temporary, water soluble glue to affix the tesserae to the mesh, which becomes part of the installation.The sections get installed in to a mortar bed at one time like a giant puzzle.

To left is the ball at the top of the fountain. This part is finished, grouted and sealed. We used midnight blue grout.

More pictures of this project later in the month. We are hopefully going to install the inside sections (bottom and inside walls) next week.

Then we move onto a set of murals for downtown Oakland and a set of sphere shaped sun sculptures for an SF Arts Commission.

First Entry for True Mosaics Studio Blog

2007-12-28T11:43:00.002-08:00

Welcome to the blog for my studio, True Mosaics Studio, in Oakland.

Here is where I'll be posting photos and commentary on projects we are working on in the studio- public art, architectural commissions and community projects and classes I teach around the country. I will be posting about my personal artwork on my other blog: laurel true: food art adventure. Nothing about sandwiches here.. mostly professional art stuff. Enjoy.

Since I am behind by 18 years in my postings, I will be using this blog to recap projects we have already worked on as well as putting up new and in progress projects.

To the left is a photo of an series of sculptural benches we installed in September 2007 in a park in Brentwood, CA.

Rainbow's End Benches c) True Mosaics Studio Inc.
Ceramic tile, mirror, glass on sculptural concrete base.

Here are some detail shots. In progress shots in studio to follow.

Above is a 24" diameter "sun" in between the rainbow benches. The science tie in is that the sun shines on the raindrops- executed in clear glass half marbles- to form the rainbow.

Detail of back in studio yard.

We installed a second set of benches in a nearby park at the same time, Kaleidoscope Park.
We did the mosaic for both sets of benches in the studio and then they were picked up and installed on site. More on that next.

Laurel True: True Mosaics Studio

Community Mosaics Class in Brooklyn- Hands-On Workshop March 9-11

Mosaics For Mirebalais Hospital Project - Thank You and Project Update

The Fabulous World of Contemporary Mosaics: Lecture/ Demo in Madison

Community Mosaic Project and Lecture in Solana Beach, CA

Updates to Fall Class Schedule!

The Power of Art Lecture in Seattle: A Very Special Event

2011 Lecture Dates - The Power of Art: Building Creative Capital Through Commuity Mosaics

The Power of Art: Building Creative Capital Through Comunity Mosaics. Lecture by Laurel True at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - June 22nd

Spring Mosaic Classes in New Orleans 2011

The Power of Art: Building Creative Capitol Through Community Mosaics

Thank You for Supporting the Mosaic Artwork Fund for Mirebalais Hospital, Haiti

Nick News Profiles Our Mosaic Project in Jacmel

Jacmel Memorial Mosaic Wall- Haiti through January 2011

Haiti Mosaic Project Update

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/LaurelTrue/mosaic-mural-project-with-youth-in-haiti-rememberi

Memorial Mosaic Mural Project in Jacmel, Haiti with Youth Using Salvaged Materials

Laurel True will be traveling to Haiti in June to work with local youth and adults and collaborate with Haitian and American artists to design and create a mosaic mural in partnership with the Art Creation Foundation For Children in Jacmel, Haiti.

Youth will collect materials salvaged from the devastation of the earthquake in January, which will be repurposed with love into a memorial mosaic mural commemorating the loss of life and homes and celebrating the healing and rebuilding in Haiti.

The project will focus on skill building and mosaic training for youth and young adults so that they may use these skills for future entrepreneurial development.

http://www.artforhaitianchildren.org/index.htm

Paradise, New Heart for SF General Hospital Foundation

Help Fund a Community Mosaic Mural Project in Nairobi, Kenya this Fall!

Mosaic Art Now Blog

True Mosaics On the Road!

Mosaic Class in Austin, Texas

New Work 2009

2009 Spring Classes In New Orleans

Recent Projects for TMS

Tiki Tom's Mural for Mosaic Mural Making Intensive

Lots of New Projects in True Mosaics Studio

With a New Wind At Our Backs

Sun Series... Making Progress...

New Exploration: Asphalt Mosaics

Alison McLennan, Fernando Reyes, Jill McLennan, Heather Whitehead, Russ Osterweil, Jan Watten, Jon Zax, Kathy Cronin, Bill Silveira and Laurel True. www.jingletown.org.

True Mosaics On the Road! May in New Orleans

At New Orleans School of Glass and Printmaking in the Gallery DistrictFine Art Mosaics in Glass: May 10-11, 2008

At New Orleans Conservation Guild in the heart of the BywaterMosaics For the Garden: Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25th, 2008

True Mosaics and Institute of Mosaic Art on TV!

Sun Sculpture Series for Ocean Avenue in San Francisco Underway!

Lafayette Mercantile Fountain Installed!

Article in Diablo Magazine

Neat! An article just came out about Institute of Mosaic Art and my work in Diablo Magazine, February Issue:

Pieces of A Dream

Our Latest Installation: Lafayette Mercantile

First Entry for True Mosaics Studio Blog

At New Orleans School of Glass and Printmaking in the Gallery District
Fine Art Mosaics in Glass: May 10-11, 2008

At New Orleans Conservation Guild in the heart of the Bywater
Mosaics For the Garden: Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25th, 2008