Editor’s welcome
Welcome to Issue 5 of Mosaic & Glass. A big thank you to all the contributors involved in putting it together for you to enjoy. We’re now creating a magazine primarily focused on mosaic art and its artists, and we’ll include one long read (and sometimes a short read too) on glass art in each issue so that you can continue to get inspired by that art form too. We’ll also have longer, in-depth features on mosaic art with more writing by artists. By mosaic art, we mean mosaic in its traditional forms, along with mosaics created with glass as well as mixed media mosaics that incorporate glass elements. We also cover stories about artists working in what might be considered assemblage or collage. Plus you’ll notice lots more technical tips from the artists featured in the magazine. There’s a lot of great writing about inspirational artists to enjoy in the coming pages. We hope you enjoy reading the stories behind the artists and their art as much as we enjoy telling them.
COVER STORY
Seven questions for… Valerie McGarry
Reading Time: 6 minutes
Rhona Duffy talks to Canadian mosaicist Valerie McGarry about her mosaic journey, influences, techniques, plans for the future, and more.
Keep readingFEATURES and INTERVIEWS
Reinventing life through mosaic
Reading Time: 10 minutes
Creativity is Italian mosaicist Dino Maccini’s way to communicate; his way to escape the norms of a uniform society. Dino talks to Anabella Wewer about how he has used mosaic to reinvent his life.
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New mosaic adorns Burnham’s seawall
Reading Time: 9 minutes
After reaching the shortlist of applicants to enhance Burham-on-Sea’s seawall, Edinburgh-based Russian artist Svetlana Kondakova Muir won the final stage of a public vote – and, along with it, the commission. Rhona Duffy asks Svetlana about this project and talks to her about her other mosaic work too.
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Meditation in motion
Reading Time: 10 minutes
For Australian mosaicist Jaky Pinnock, creating mosaics is like meditation in motion. She uses distinctive flow lines and vibrant glass to depict wildlife and oceanic themes in her mosaics. Here, Rhona Duffy catches up with her to find out about her techniques, inspiration and plans for the future. Rhona also narrates the article.
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Fabulous fusion
Reading Time: 13 minutes
Fused glass is the heat bonding of separate pieces of glass in a kiln – a technique believed to be over 4,000 years old. More accessible than hot glass, there are hundreds of ways an artist can create diverse pieces using this method. Small wonder that it has become so popular. Catherine Rose meets two experts. (This article is also narrated by Catherine.)
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The grammar of mosaic
Reading Time: 11 minutes
Venezuela-born mosaicist Anabella Wewer has recently embraced the life of a nomad, working from wherever she is in the world, drawing inspiration from different cultures and geographies. Rhona Duffy talks to Anabella about her travels and how she finds the right balance between her work as a graphic designer, travelling and mosaic.
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Revitalizing Ukraine’s mosaic art history (part 2)
Reading Time: 9 minutes
At the end of November 2022, Zhanna Kadyrova, one of Ukraine’s leading contemporary artists, prepared to enter the eye of the storm as she traveled home to Kyiv. In a shelled landscape, void of utilities in the frigid weather, she reached for her phone. The call was about her art, particularly a project that she started in 2013 called Monumental Propaganda, writes Matt Hanson.
Keep readingARTISTS WRITE
Talking to Birds
Reading Time: 11 minutes
Helga Maribel Sanchez found her way to The Ruins Project by making three tiny filati-filled rings. And then ten more rings. She became utterly obsessed with the act of pulling filati for the little circles of The Ring Wall at The Ruins, writes Rachel Sager.
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Wanderlust
Reading Time: 8 minutes
Virginia-based Bonnie Fitzgerald has been dedicated to creating and teaching mosaics since the mid 2000s. The concept of ‘wanderlust’ perfectly describes her artistic journey and she writes about it all here.
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African Homestead
Reading Time: 3 minutes
African Homestead hangs at Kenyatta Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Created by Kenyan artist Avni Shah with help from her local community, and under the tuteledge of mosaicist Jim Anderson, it depicts an African village scene. Avni writes about its creation.
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Drama, color and light in mosaic
Reading Time: 9 minutes
Former professional dancer Michael Kruzich brought the skills he’d learned while dancing – discipline, repetition and a strong work ethic – with him to his mosaic practice. Working primarily in the Ravenna method, Michael creates mosaics to express and fulfil his talents. Lynn Jones asks him about his journey so far.
Keep readingREGULAR FEATURES
Planning a successful exhibition
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Tracey Cartledge, Vice Chair of the British Association for Modern Mosaic (BAMM), and Aleta Doran, Artist in Residence at Chester Cathedral, organised and curated the Constellations exhibition for BAMM, which took place last year. Rhona Duffy asks Tracey and Aleta what they learned along the way.
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One to Watch: Meet Jen French
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Jen French, from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, has recently completed the London School of Mosaic’s diploma course. With some great experience already under her belt, Rhona Duffy talks to Jen about her journey so far and what’s coming next.
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Meet Dee Ruff
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Arizona-based mosaicist Dee Ruff’s art brings together color, texture, space and light, to convey her love of the natural world. Here, Rhona Duffy asks Dee to give us a glimpse into her art and what drives it.
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Keep your customers satisfied
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Oliver Budd shares his wisdom and advice about working for clients and doing collaborations with other artists.
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Ads & discount codes (Issue 5)
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Check out all our advertisers in Issue 5, who offer a range of brilliant services and products for mosaic and glass artists…