"Carpe Diem" by Cassidy Burkhart

Sometimes you choose your teacher, other times not.  My children attended an awesome school that challenged them beyond the norm, their montessori beginnings were put to the test.  Stretching and growing can be uncomfortable at the time, but in retrospect so beneficial.

Both of my children had the JOY of learning mosaics from me.   In their pre-teen and adolescent years they created some amazing, award winning works.  I remember rumors floating around at the time that I made their mosaics…that their pieces weren’t truly their own.  They will both confirm with strong emotion that all of the work is theirs….as my son fondly remembers, diligently working on a piece after school on his birthday for an upcoming competition. (I may have been standing over his shoulder with whip in hand, I forget.)

Every teacher has their own style. And perhaps it is rooted in their strongest most passionate drive.  For me, that’s ‘excellence’.  Working in an art form that could last millennia, doesn’t it make sense to do it with excellence?  If you want to learn to make EXCELLENT mosaics; in execution, andamento, color, design, material, I’m your man…woman…

The first class I’m offering is Intro to Micro Mosaics.  And this will probably be my most relaxed subject.  You can’t get too detailed in such a small format.  But I’ll be moving to Intermediate Micro Mosaics in the Winter…so if you want to get on board, this train is about to pull out of the station.

Are you content with average?  How do you want to be remembered?

© Vicki Hanson-Burkhart

I can remember saying many times, “I don’t do micro mosaics.”  I like to work in fine detail, but don’t enjoy cutting minute pieces.  Until I actually tried real Micro Mosaics, I had no idea how fun it actually was.  To me, it feels like doing a cross-stitch or needlepoint project, stress free, relaxing…  And it’s the perfect kit project, the perfect gift for that perfect someone who has everything.

Made with thin strands of Venetian glass called Filati, these are truly little gems.  Traditional methods and materials, meet good old American ingenuity and creativity.  I love the idea of using a centuries old medium to speak in contemporary terms…behold, the “Hashtag Micro” (pictured), my ode to the love of Twitter and joy of making an impact in Social Media.

Announcing two opportunities to make a piece like these, or a design completely your own.

Intro to Micro Mosaics

Saturday, May 19  OR Saturday, June 16

10:00am – 5:00pm

Make your own Venetian Glass Micro in a custom walnut or birch frame.  All tools and materials included.

Held in my studio at Ciel Gallery + Mosaic Studio, 128 E Park Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203

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]]> http://mosaicnarrative.com/blog/small-packages/feed/ 0 http://mosaicnarrative.com/blog/shop/ http://mosaicnarrative.com/blog/shop/#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 15:11:48 +0000 admin http://mosaicnarrative.com/blog/?p=1137 I have added the ability for you to shop online. Please browse my store.

The thing that is unique about our spiritual journey compared to unbelievers using self-help or other religions using rules and fear, is that Jesus as our Commander and Chief gives us the power to overcome every step of the way. We’re not striving but receiving this great commodity called Grace that is distributed as we need it. It’s not just a word but an entity that gives us power to overcome. Receive it and choose to administer everyday.

Meanwhile hundreds of mosaicists from across the world gathered to listen to speakers, network, take classes, sell products, view the show, hang out with friends… Lots of great energy in that enormous venue and lots of great fun!

This video gives a short tour of The MAI show, the vendor booths and a quick smile from Ilana Shafir, an 88 year old mosaicist from Israel who comes to America every year to teach, speak and show her work.  She is an amazing role model for us all.  The show continues through April 27th. Make the trip to see it!

I was thrilled to discover that my piece, “Day 5″ is visible from the front window.  May MANY be drawn in to view these works of art and be impacted deeply.

The more scientists study nature and life forms, the more amazed they become as they see the flawless perfection to the Nth detail. Therefore, what better way to speak about Creation than with tessellations as the bone structure of this piece.

So what is a tessellation? Artist MC Escher discovered through his interest in crystallography, the amazing natural formation of crystals including snowflakes and rock…, that geometric shapes can be altered, moving parts of the mass from one side to another and still fit perfectly beside one another without gap or overlap. Picture a square tile floor. Each tile’s side perfectly fits the next. I used this same understanding to take a diamond shape and change it into a fish, a wave, a cloud, a leaf section….

Day 5 is packed full of original tessellations. Each wave, each fish, each cloud….fits perfectly beside the last to form the mass of waves, school of fish, cloudy sky, leafy tree…

God designed YOU. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He knew you before you were formed. His design is flawless. His plan is perfect. His ways are beyond anything you could ever conceive.

He made you with a desire to know Him and He is waiting for the invitation from you to come into your life personally. Seek Him and you will find Him.

Charlotteans, you have ONE MORE CHANCE to see Day 5. It will be on display at Ciel Gallery Friday Feb 3rd from 6-9pm during the opening of Survey, a show of Top Charlotte Artists. Don’t procrastinate, Day 5 will only be there for one week (til Feb 11th)!
Excited!!!!!:)