Meet the MSoP Board!
After listening to Bonnie Fitzgerald talk at our general meeting in January about how she began making mosaics, I became curious about how others started their journeys. I know exactly how I began, and decided to interview the other board members to hear their stories. I asked each one how they got started, what keeps them going and to share some of their pieces that stand out to them. Although we come from varying backgrounds, experiences, and levels of expertise, we tend to feel the same way about mosaics.
I began with Veronica Kairos, our president and my mentor.
Although Veronica’s family considered art frivolous, she always valued it. She explored several art forms in high school. Since she was told that everything had to have a practical use, she began turned sewing into fabric art. In her senior year, she made costumes for a 25-person theatrical production and continued to work with theatre groups. She liked drawing but had little confidence in her abilities. Photography suited her better and she became the designated family photographer. She was a business major in college, but she chose her electives in photography. This led her to free lancing for newspapers and to photographing weddings.
Eventually Veronica realized that everything she did turned into an art project. Although her job at the state government treasury department was not an artistic one, she was able to creatively design office spaces that were business oriented. She began retirement planning exercises when she was in her 50’s. She knew doing something related to art would bring meaning to her life. She started experimenting with different materials. She was attracted to hot glass, but it was difficult to find classes that were affordable and accessible. She enrolled in ceramic classes and continued to work in clay for the next 4-5 years. She most enjoyed hand building and sculpture. She even made edible sculptures, including cake and modeling chocolate. She thought she had found her niche until an issue with the studio where she was working began to experience pieces started blowing up in the kiln. At that point,she had to decide whether or not to buy her own kiln.
Veronica began investigating alternatives. She found a drawing class at Fleisher. It was exhausting and Intense, but her skills were greatly sharpened. She came across a mosaic class at Perkins. She finally found her calling. Initially, her sculpture was her base for mosaics. By the end of her first class, sculpture became an embellishment for her mosaics. Mosaic was a place for everything she had ever done came together.
Veronica has taken classes with 12 other instructors. She began another career, teaching, when she realized people in her classes were asking her advice. She was a natural at instructing as part of her previous job responsibilities included training other employees and developing manuals and materials. She believes she is a successful instructor not because of what she tells students, but because of the questions she asks. We have to have the vision, and it is her job to help us achieve it by giving us the right tools to empower our decision making.
When I asked about her favorite pieces she replied, “I set a new challenge for each piece”. Here are a few of them:
“Girl in Blue Hat”
“I wanted the structure of the hat to be more of a suggestion, blending it into a background whose andamento suggested the movement found in a charcoal sketch. This was my first mosaic which focused on tonal values. While there are some areas that I would definitely approach differently if I recreated this now, I was very pleased with how effective this technique worked in this piece
.”
“Spoonbill”
“This mosaic was my first commission and the first time that I completed an entire mosaic using smalti set in thinset. I spent a great deal of time on developing my design and creating my andamento drawing as well as working on creating the reflection in the water and the sense of distance in the sky. This piece pushed my skill set to a higher level. It took much longer than I originally anticipated as I was adopting new skill sets and there was a heavy learning curve associated with them.”
“Flight of Fantasy”
“I was inspired by a paper cutwork design to create a mosaic in which the butterflies appeared to be lifting off of the substrate. I called upon my sculptural background to create individual 3-dimensional substrates for each of the butterflies. Each butterfly or moth represents a species native to the Delaware Valley. All of the butterflies were then incorporated into a multidimensional substrate which was meant to represent air currents and shadows. This was my first attempt to incorporate mosaic with sculpture and I enjoyed working with new materials and techniques while overcoming technical challenges. “
Alissa Blumenthal also set out on a different path. She grew up with art work all over her house. Both sides of her family include artists so she was highly influenced by their world. She helped out at school events by making posters, but thought of herself as “more athletic than artsy”, and therefore never intended to pursue a career in art. She graduated from college with a degree in health and physical education. After substituting and coaching for a bit she became a travel agent,as well as an assistant art teacher in a preschool. At one point she had a polymer clay jewelry business.
Alissa started taking art classes at night when her daughter was two. At first this was just a way to get out of the house by herself. She quickly realized how much fun it was. She started with ceramics, tried the wheel, but realized she was better at hand building. She then started making tiles. She loves to incorporate mosaics and ceramics.
“Cycle Mantra”
Alissa was always attracted to the way mosaics look. Her husband bought her first piece 30 years ago. She found a mosaic class at Mainline night school where the teacher supplied all the materials. She enjoyed creating art on found objects. An antique chair was her first project. She purchased colorful tiles at Home Depot that she would break into pieces while watching TV. Everyone in her family received flower pots.
When I asked Alissa what she most enjoys about mosaics, she said she really likes using colorful plates and tiles; anything that can break. She likes to incorporate her own tiles with other tesserae. She loves seeing the textures. Often, she goes for a whimsical look. The variety of options and techniques used within the medium keeps her interested and challenged. The possibilities are endless.
Alissa’s numerous contributions to MSOP give her a purpose to volunteer. She feels good about being part of a non-profit organization. She is a huge asset to the education committee as she enjoys using the planning skills she acquired as a travel agent.
Alissa sells her pieces in a few shops and accepts commissions on a small scale. She strives to create personalized gifts within an affordable price range.
She has made numerous mosaic and hamsa pieces over the years. This one was a commissioned “gift for a friend”
One of her favorite pieces is “Daydream “which was marked NFS in last year’s MSOP Water show.
“Daydream”
Magic Carpet is the result of a one-day workshop with SAMA Mosaicguys.com David Jarvinen
“Magic Carpet”
Alissa likes to use lots of different materials as seen in her octopus.
Alissa’s current goal is to use the materials she has on hand before buying more.
Judy Styles had always engaged in some type of art form, even as a child. She took ceramic and drawing classes as well as jewelry making. She began her mosaic journey in 2013. At the time she was working as an administrative assistant at a university and was looking for a creative outlet. She was searching for a worthwhile end of day activity She took her first class at Fleisher and was hooked.
Judy loves “making something out of nothing.” She really enjoys working with the materials.
Smalti is a favorite. She also uses glass, pebbles, dishes, and tiles in her creations.
Judy has continued to take classes. Her instructors include Carol Stirton-Broad and Carol Shelkin. She has traveled to workshops to learn from Casey Van Loon at Bethany Art Center in New York, from John Sollinger in a “glass on glass” workshop at Delphi Glass in Lansing, Michigan; and from Yulia Hanansen in her “Flower mosaic workshop “in Willow Grove, PA. Currently she participates in mostly on-line courses as they are less expensive and more accessible.
The comradery of the mosaic community is important to Judy. In the past, she found other art modes to be isolating. She learned about MSOP while taking a class at the Mainline Art Center and has become an integral part of our board. She appreciates the fellowship it has brought where there is “no need to explain herself. “
During Covid, Judy kept busy with mosaic art projects. Rather than staying confined to her house, she ventured out and found a number of positive photo opportunities. It the best time to do so because Center City Philadelphia was practically empty.
“Covid Project”
Her African mask is one of her favorite pieces. It took 4 years to complete because not all the tesserae worked out as originally planned; it took a while to find appropriate pieces to finish the other half of the face.
“African Mask”
Judy fell in love with pineapple mosaics for some unknown reason. Pineapples are thought to symbolize “welcome” in various cultures She has completed three so far. Her hope is that two of them will be sold!
The Sunset mosaic was her first abstract project.
“An Abstract Sunset”
Judy gets her ideas from several sources. She visits Pinterest regularly and admires Helen Miles. Treasury Road YouTube is another resource. Her goals are to improve herself and become more prolific.
Lois Giovacchini, like many, was not exposed to art in her home as a child. However, she always found arts and crafts appealing. She was always an admiring observer. She earned a degree in near eastern languages and literature at NYU. A few years ago, she semi-retired from a long career in creative writing and professional fundraising for many non-profit organizations. She finally had time to “let loose and start experimenting…. Art makes me happy”. She especially likes the visual stimulation and color.
Lois found Veronica’s Saturday morning beginner’s mosaic class at Perkins. Another one hooked! She has moved on to the intermediate class. There is always something new to learn and try. She finds she can use almost anything for materials and enjoys the composition of collage. Her inspirations come from many sources. There is a stream of consciousness in her process.
Lois is inspired by the work of famous artists like Chagall and Rothko. “It is fun to pay homage to some of my favorite artists “.
She found the inspiration for “Elsie, one of her favorite pieces, during a trip to Sedona. Taking on a new challenge, she built and carved the substrate which was a new technique for her.
“Elsie” in progress “Elsie “ completed
“Mask” was inspired by the shape. “I like the idea of working with faces as it’s fun to play with traditional placements and colors. It’s a way of reshaping my own world a little.” She gifted this piece to a grieving friend and now visits it at her house.
Lois joined the MSOP board and values the solid community she has become a part of and the new relationships she has built. She likes promoting mosaic to people and exposing others to art and craft thorough our exhibitions. She has enjoyed our field trips to Luna Park and Tile Fest as well as all the motivational speakers at our meetings.
Lucinda Weller, our membership chair, attended Mercer County Community College and focused on photography. She worked as a professional photographer for many years. She always loved ceramics and in 2017 met Veronica in a pottery class. They sparked up a friendship, starting talking about mosaics, she took one of her classes, and a lightbulb went off in her head.
Lucinda “You created a monster in me”
Veronica” It was already there. I just awakened it”.
Lucinda loves the way glass shines and glistens. It mesmerizes her. Initially, she was petrified to cut it and used pre-cut pieces. As time went on, she became more comfortable. Like Lois, she likens mosaic to collage.
Lucinda enjoys giving gifts. She started by making abstract pictures frames for her mother-in law’s friends. Her newest creation, which took her many semesters to complete, was a very special gift.
“Joshua tree is perhaps my crowning achievement so far! It was such a pleasure to create such a meaningful wedding gift for my daughter and her new husband. They LOVED IT! It was proudly displayed at their wedding reception. It was a pleasure using my acquired skills to create a such a memorable piece. “
Another favorite is her pumpkin.
“It just popped into my head to make a giant pumpkin mosaic for outside my house for the autumn decorating. I made everything to be weatherproof, but it was finished, it was too beautiful to put outside and so I hung g it inside my foyer where I can see it all the time.”
Lucinda often searches google images as a starting point when she has a specific idea in mind.
This wine mosaic was for the MSOP Breathe exhibit. I was trying to think of what to do for the “Breathe” exhibit and recalled how my brother used to pour the wine into a carafe to let it breathe.
“Breathe”
Her Angel exemplifies a classic style.
What keeps Lucinda involved? She says it is “Working with people who are ‘loving and sharing’ and learning new techniques. …Unlike photography where the mystique is gone, mosaic art is still unique. “Lucinda shares an equal passion for mosaics and ceramics. She thought she would be able to use her broken pottery in her mosaics but most of them are too thick. She is hoping to use the molds Robin Miller taught her to make so she can incorporate the two.
