We did it Corvallis! Installation took about 8 days of concentrated focus. They look great!

One final communication on the subject of the Mosaic Collaborations Project and then it’s on to new endeavors!

It is with deepest gratitude that I express my appreciation for the following people…

Tribe Rhoades You have my heart forever and for always for riding the waves of the Isabella through a sea of mosaic panels, volunteers, public events and curiosity seekers during this past year…

Karen Lee Thompson who saw the wheels turning and oiled them during our time together at the 2012 Community Built Association conference

Wendy Brewer my Arts Care associate who shared in this dream and is now beautifying Santa Barbara

Lynn Adamo for graciously responding to technical questions and offering encouragement through the years

Dianne Sonnenberg Spark person for mandalas and sacred geometry in the world of mosaics.

Laurel Skye Innovator of mosaics on concrete trash receptacles in the town square of Arcata, CA

Laurel True whose community mosaic work throughout the world inspires hope in everyone.

Those who rippled enthusiastically when I first mentioned the idea publicly during a placemaking and community art talk at the Art Center May of 2012.

Chris Neeley, Joni King, Heather Boright & Suzanne Campbell who nudged me to attend the FEAST dinner on 5.20.12. John Eveland of Gathering Together Farm who hosted the FEAST dinner in support of local art and culture. The local businesses who donated bread, salad and soup. Attendees who paid $10 each and placed an envelope with $430 into my hand at the end of the evening.

Hester Coucke of The Art Center for giving me solid ground on which to walk into the city’s Public Art Selection process. Bill & Sue Shumway of Pegasus Gallery for introducing me to their friend, David Livingston.

Joan Wessell of the Downtown Corvallis Association, and David Livingston, original designer and fabricator of the trash receptacles. Enthusiastic supporters of the Mosaic Collaborations Project from the beginning. Cynthia Spencer, public arts advocate extraordinaire, who came on board as my third representative during the PASC process and mentored me with both kindness and truth.

City staff and volunteers who make projects like this possible with their time and energy. Steve DeGhetto & Linda Hart of P&R. Jim Patterson, City Manager. Our mayor, Julie Manning. Human Services Committee. City Council. Public Art Selection Committee. Art & Culture Commission.

Benton County Cultural Coalition who channels about $11,500 annually from the Oregon Cultural Trust into art, culture and heritage events throughout Benton County. This project received a $900 grant and The Art Center served as my umbrella non-profit. Thank you David Huff.

Larry Schrock of Laticrete International who generously donated all of the Laticrete 254 Platinum adhesive and Spectralock epoxy grout for the MCP project! I also got a tour of their factory and superb operation in Lebanon, OR. This company also provides materials for the Mosaic Marathon at the annual Society of Americal Mosaic Artists conference. Phenomenal people offering a phenomenal product.

Bert Schoenfeld and his team at Mid Valley Tile in whom all things are visionary and possible.

Kelly Wildman of Network Enterprises for her expertise in web design and on-line donation systems. This project was financially viable for Kelly’s efforts to make on-line donations both easy and secure.

Mike McInally, Canda Fuqua, Andy Cripe & Amanda Cowen of the Gazette Times for their media coverage. The joy of participation and installation amp considerably when people arrive with a basic understanding of what’s already in motion. I appreciate your coverage of uplifting stories and community involvement.

Mike Berrey of State Farm Insurance for your excellent advice and customer service.

To all of the people who contributed financially to the project. It was important for me to demonstrate that artists make viable contributions in communities and further fuel neighborhoods with compensation for their efforts. Thank you to everyone who advocates on behalf of public art! I have been both humbled and delighted by the response.

And especially…most especially…gratitude to EVERYONE who joined the fun as a member of the Downtown Mosaic Volunteer Brigade. The project came to life through the 152 hours that you logged at Nip & Sips generating tesserae and preparing panels for community participation events.

To my mosaic students. You inspire me and I love your enthusiasm for the art form!

My best estimate is that about 1200 community members participated in the creation of the mosaic panels during the Mosaic Collaborations Project. Stretch that community to include OSU students from all over the world living at Corvallis iHouse, attendees of the Community Connections Symposium held at Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene, attendees of the Oregon Main Street Conference who came to downtown Corvallis to garner ideas for strengthening their own downtown neighborhoods throughout Oregon, visiting artists from Salem, and a whole lot of Corvallis enthusiasts who enjoy spontaneous art opportunities and will consistently dive right in.

The Mosaic Collaborations Project is one example of a person pondering how their skill set could be used to enhance community. My hope is that others will ask this same question of themselves and take one small action step to bring something positive and innovative into being.

With deepest gratitude for this opportunity and appreciation for all that is Corvallis ~

ella

Desperately hoping I covered all bases of appreciation. It is my desire to honor everyone who brought their joy and energy to this project.

Dedicated to my Mom who immediately sent a check for $250 to sponsor one of the mosaics before she died in February of 2013 and to Ray, the gentleman whose favorite color is canary yellow.

To my Dear friends…thanks for listening, supporting and cheering me on. Moving onward…

 Oh, the possibilities…

And got to work!

We were still smiling afterward! A good thing.

And the trash cans look revived and ready for a little mosaic love…

We celebrated with treats at New Morning Bakery afterwards!  THANK YOU to Sue, Karen, Sarah and Cynthia. Deepest gratitude to Barbara Hanley and Todd & Karen Thompson who also adopted a trash can for cleaning prior to today’s event.

You are each ROCK STARS!!!

We even had our first canine participant…Sophie…a 2+ month old Boston terrier puppy!

And the usual fanfare of Corvallis Farmers Market glory!!!

Gratitude for my family who always knocks it out of the ballpark with their love and support!

Very blessed to live and work in such a phenomenal community. Celebrating vibrant downtown neighborhoods!

You can purchase their products locally at Mid Valley Tile on Sycamore!

The panels for our last community participation event are all prepped and ready to roll!  We hope you’ll join Tribe Rhoades at the Corvallis Farmer’s Market on Saturday, May 18th from 9am – 1pm!

Honestly, time to get these babies installed! We need the room!

The Hotel Murano was spectacular!  A boutique hotel featuring the work of a different glass artist on every floor!

My emphasis this year was to serve as one of the two lead assistants for Mark Brody and Lynn Adamo who were the co-designers of the Mosaic Marathon project! 3 days setting tesserae, 2 days grouting, 500+ conference attendees = 3 panels now hanging at the Boys & Girls Club of Puget Sound!

Mark and Lynn, the dynamic duo! In front of Chihuly glass at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma!

The Mosaic Art Salon is always exciting. Conference attendees create small works of art for sale. Always fun to see new techniques, what’s current and eye catching. I was so thrilled. I won the bid for Michael Kruzich’s peacock!  Also discovered that Michael is my long lost brother from Iowa!

There was so much to see this year! Mosaic Art International always features innovative work from artists all over the world!

Jim Bachor

Ali Mirsky

I also attended an opening reception for a tile exhibit, a fantastic show of NW regional mosaic art that was happening at the Tacoma Library and yet another site hosted the Transpositions show! In depth summaries and photos from each show can be found on my Facebook page!

John Sollinger

Jennifer Kuhns

Vendor showcase was energizing. The lectures were good. A closing night ball with live auction. Always a new experience each and every year! 2014 location will be Houston, TX!

Two more panels ready for installation!

They look forward to a bus tour through downtown to see them installed later this summer!