Mosaic Artist Residency in Sisters, Oregon

I have been working with Rochelle Schueler (WildroseArtworks) to develop a residency program for mosaic artists at Pine Meadow Ranch in Sisters. Since 2019 when Rochelle and Kathy Deggendorfer first conceived of the idea to take a trove of discontinued and seconds tiles from Kibak Tile, also in Sisters, I’ve been along for the ride of developing a project from scratch.

Detail of the Round Barn ceiling

When Rochelle first came to me with the idea, we were working on our Baja Mexico commission Nopoló Flow. She described what she and Kathy were brainstorming, and at first I couldn’t envision it. Any mosaic mural I’ve ever built was designed using mostly solid tiles, broken and perhaps handmade tiles included. But never multi-color and pattered resist tiles, in the Portugese cuerda seca style! But the idea percolated on through 2019. For the backstory, Rochelle wrote posts at the time. Here is a link to the first post.

As 2020 dawned, Rochelle brought me in to meet Kathy and discuss possibilities for the fledgling project. The ranch, under the direction of the Roundhouse Foundation, had already researched and established an artists’ residency program, and the inaugural season was 2018. The 2020 residents were already chosen when Covid hit, and so the 2020 season had to be cancelled. Likewise, the concept of a mosaic artist-specific residency program had to be put on hold. During 2020, Rochelle and I worked on the design of the mural designs, and made preparations to have the project ready to go when it was possible. Here’s the link to Rochelle’s blog, documenting this next phase.

The center panels installed, the other four french cleats awaiting their panels to complete the mural.

As 2021 progressed, so did the center three panels. Rochelle worked a lot, and I helped some. The work was happening out at the ranch, a 35 minute drive from Bend, where we live. Here are links to the rest of the story, as we finished the panels last year. Part 3 and Part 4. By the middle of 2021, the call for artists to apply for a residency in 2022 was open, and the plan was set for a group of artists to be selected to help us complete the mural!

Artists at work! Top, Rochelle and me. Bottom, Brenda, Kellie and Line.

Here we are, June 2022, we and our three selected artists are in residence at Pine Meadow Ranch, working on the remaining four panels. Brenda Grafton from Madison, WI, Kellie Hoyt from Minneapolis, MN and Line Bergene, from Norway are the artists chosen to assist us on the mural. After the first two weeks, they are able to work on their own projects, as inspired by living on the ranch, and/or help finish the panels. We expect that after two weeks the panels will be all pieced and mortared down, but grouting will have to happen the third week. An unveiling is scheduled for June 24, so we have a deadline to meet!

2013 SAMA Mosaic Marathon

The annual conference of the Society of American Mosaic Artists came to an end a week ago in Tacoma, WA. It was an amazing week, and the culmination of more than a year's worth of work for many people, namely our fearless local co-chairs, Richard Davis and Kelley Knickerbocker. They, along with SAMA staff Dawnmarie Zimmerman and Chris Forillo, pulled off the largest conference in the organization's history. About 500 mosaic artists and enthusiasts descended on the glass-topia of the Northwest. The exhibition was held in the Museum of Glass, Chihuly glass art is everywhere in this town, and the conference hotel, Hotel Murano, is decorated with glass art, top to bottom. One aspect of our conference for the past seven years has been the Mosaic Marathon. It's a group project where a lead artist (or artists, in our case) are chosen to work with a non-profit in the conference city and design a project that is fabricated during the conference and then donated to the organization. More than a year ago, my colleague Mark Brody and I were chosen to lead this project. The host committee selected the Boys and Girls Club of South Puget Sound as the recipients.

Suffice it to say that this is a gigantic undertaking. We learned from the outset that having a team of two leads is the way to go with this. We worked on the project together on and off for over a year, and by the time the conference rolled around, we were ready! Still, it was four solid days of very long hours, with bits of the conference squeezed in. A little finish grouting and cleaning on Saturday, and installation on Sunday, and SUCCESS!

Thanks to ALL the volunteers who participated in the project, especially for our leads Ella Rhodes and Kate Jessup. And the other member of our "A" team, Karen Rycheck. Plus a big thanks to my husband Bob Faber, who helped Mark and me, along with B&G Club Director Gary Klein do the installation.

Through these photos you can enjoy the journey!