The Mosaic Arts International 2019
Juried Members Exhibition
January 26 – May 19, 2019
The Parthenon Museum, Nashville Public Library Art Gallery
Nashville, Tennesee
downloadable pdf of press release
The 18th Annual Mosaic Arts International Exhibition Series (MAI), invigorates a new perspective of mosaic art in numerous contexts and celebrates established as well as emerging artists working in the medium today. The 58 selected works reflect the multiplicity of the mosaic medium and its endless applications. The series is comprised of separate juried exhibits featuring the best in contemporary fine art, architectural, community, & site-specific mosaics from SAMA’s diverse international membership.
SAMA is honored to present this annual exhibition series in partnership with two of Nashville, Tennessee’s iconic cultural institutions, The Parthenon Museum and the Nashville Public Library Art Gallery from January 26 – May 19, 2019.
Additional mosaic art exhibitions, gallery shows, and educational events are planned throughout Nashville this Spring culminating with the 18th Annual American Mosaic Summit, at the Sheraton Music City hotel, April 23 – 28, 2019.
The Mosaic Arts International: Fine Art Mosaic
The Parthenon Museum
2550 West End Ave.
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 862-8431
Tuesday — Saturday: 9:00am — 4:30pm
Sunday: 12:30pm — 4:30pm
Closed Monday
www.Nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parthenon.aspx
The Mosaic Arts International: Fine Art segment was juried by a distinguished panel including, Kim Emerson, Award Winning Public Artist and Founder of the San Diego Mosaic School, San Diego, California, USA;
Toyoharu Kii, Internationally recognized Mosaic Artist and Educator, Tokyo, Japan; and
Joseph S. Mella, Director of Vanderbilt University Fine Art Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
The exhibition features the works of 39 artists from the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil and Greece, including : Lynn Adamo, Karen Ami, Margo Anton, Cherie Bosela, Kate Butler, Catherine Contogiorgi, Sue Coombs, Richard Davis, Karen Dimit, Mary Driver, Christopher Elam, Cynthia Fisher, Scott Fitzwater, Carolynn Friedman, Lenni Gilbert, Sandra Groeneveld, Yulia Hanansen, Kate Hanley, Etty Hasak, Ahmed Ibrahim, Carolina Kawall, Kelley Knickerbocker, Lauren Leighton, Isabel Margolin, Julie Mazzoni, Pauline Mills, Eileen Palmer, Gila Rayberg, Cindy Robin, Angela Sanders, Monique Sarfity, Marian Shapiro, Julie Sperling, Pamela Stratton, Carrie Strope, Mia Tavonatti, Casey Van Loon, Meghan Walsh, and Anabella Wewer.
In addition to creating a collaborative selection of 39 works for the exhibition, the jurors were tasked to select several works to bestow SAMA’s annual awards. We are proud to present their selections here…
2019 Best in Show
Mushin – 無心
2018
Meghan Walsh
Washington, DC
Stone, glass, shells, horseshoe crab carcass, pottery, kiln cones
2019 Technical Achievement Award
Vino Versato
2018
Anabella Wewer
Macungie, PA
Marble, Litovi glass, porcelain
2019 Contemporary Innovation Award
Origin
2018
Mia Tavonatti
Santa Ana, CA
Stained glass, smalti, and fused glass, fiberglass mesh and resin support
Juror’s Choice Award: Kim Emerson
Going With the Floe
2018
Margo Anton
St. Albert, AB Canada
Smalti, sea spines, transparenti, kyanite
Juror’s Choice Award: Toyoharu Kii
Novel- Ties, Chapter X
2018
Karen Ami
Chicago, IL
Clay, slip, marble, slate, mortar on polystyrene
Juror’s Choice Award: Joseph S. Mella
Remember Paris?
2017
Kate Butler
Bungendore, Australia
Unglazed porcelain, vitreous glass, on hand-formed substrate
The Parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of Centennial Park, Nashville’s premier urban park. The re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. The building and the Athena statue are both full-scale replicas of the Athenian originals. Mosaic Arts International: Fine Art Mosaic is presented in the Parthenon Museum’s East Gallery.
One Hundred Moments in Mosaic Project, Season Two
SAMA is also presenting a member project in the Parthenon’s West Gallery concurrent with MAI. The One Hundred Moments in Mosaic project is a non-juried collection of work representing the full spectrum of SAMA’s diverse and richly creative membership. For a second season, an open call was issued to members to create a 6” x 6” mosaic, using materials of their choice and an original design.
The work of seasoned professionals is displayed here alongside enthusiastic newcomers to the mosaic making process, culminating in 100+ moments of life rendered in mosaic by artists from all over the world.
The Mosaic Arts International: Architectural & Site-Specific Mosaic
The Nashville Public Library Art Gallery
615 Church St.
Nashville, TN 37219
Monday — Friday: 9:00am — 6:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am — 5:00pm
Sunday: 2:00pm — 5:00pm
Library.Nashville.org
The Mosaic Arts International: Architectural & Site-Specific segment is a juried exhibit of the best in contemporary architectural and in-situ mosaics from SAMA’s diverse international membership. This segment was juried by Kim Emerson, Award Winning Public Artist and Founder of the San Diego Mosaic School, San Diego, California, USA. The 19 installations selected will be represented at the Nashville Public Library Art Gallery through print and digital images, video, and a collection of ephemera provided by the artists. Materials on display include drawings, sketchbooks, materials samples and tools that give visitors a unique perspective into the process of creating a large-scale mosaic work.
Ms. Emerson in her juror’s statement noted that “Public art is not for the light-hearted. Mosaics as public art is even more difficult because it is so time-consuming, thus more costly, and sometimes a real challenge to convince any client that it is a good investment…. I am truly humbled and inspired by the artists and their vision. May these artists and their projects stand as a true testimonial to the importance and purpose that mosaics have as a major contribution to our built environment and overall sense of being.”
The exhibition features the works of 19 artists from the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil, including : Marc Archambault, Carole Choucair Oueijan, Bonnie Cohen, Kathleen Crocetti, Gary Drostle, Barbara Dybala, Cynthia Fisher, Bonnie Fitzgerald, Eileen Gay, Yulia Hanansen, Sherri Warner Hunter, Gertrud Müller, Jairo & Susan Prado, Deb Englebaugh & Rachel Sager, Rochelle Schueler, Marian Shapiro, Mia Tavonatti, Anabella Wewer, Joshua Winer.
Awards selected for the Architectural & Site-Specific segment are as follows…
2019 Best Architectural Project
Baptismal Font and Pool
2017
Mia Tavonatti
Santa Ana, CA, US
Fabrication and installation by Mia Tavonatti Productions, Inc. with assistance by Tara Tavonatti and Ann Marie Price. Hand blown glass bowl by Caleb Siemon
Installation Location: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ladera Ranch, California, USA
Dimensions: Baptismal font approx. 36’h x 36″w x 36″d.
Face approx. 50″h x 32″w.
Pool 10’w x 8’d including steps and risers
Materials: stained glass, smalti and fused glass mosaic set in thinset
2019 Best Community Project
Celebrating the Diversity of Labor (image is one of 12 distinct insets)
2017
Kathleen Crocetti
Watsonville, CA, US
Installation Location: Main Street, Downtown Watsonville, California, USA
Dimensions: Twelve circular sidewalk insets at 46″ in diameter each and four at 36″ in diameter each. Sixteen in total.
Materials: Porcelain tile, Mortar Bed, Thinset, and Grout
2019 Juror’s Choice: Kim Emerson
Talking Trees
2018
Eileen Gay
Sparks, NV, US
Installation Location: Airport Heights Elementary School, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Dimensions: 8.5’ x 18’ Diameter Story Circle
Materials: Glazed porcelain tile and fused glass accents applied using modified thin-set and urethane grout onto artist fabricated EPS/concrete sculptural forms
The Nashville Public Library’s Art Gallery at the Main Branch presents exhibitions that promote access to and stimulate interest in a wide variety of ideas. The gallery is open during the library’s regular hours. Admission to the gallery is free and the public is welcome to all events. Funding for the Art Gallery made possible by generous gifts to the Nashville Public Library Foundation.
Embodied: Mosaic Arts International 2019 Invitational Exhibition will be presented at the Vanderbilt University Fine Art Gallery, March 13 – May 25, 2019. Click for More information…
About SAMA
The Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, inspiring, and promoting excellence in the mosaic arts.
SAMA was founded in 1999 by a small group of mosaic artists who wanted a venue through which they could share their knowledge, expertise, and interest in mosaic art—this most ancient of art forms that was experiencing a significant contemporary revival.
Today, nearly 20 years later, we remain a vibrant and ever-expanding group of more than 900 members, including mosaic artists at all levels, mosaic aficionados, collectors, materials suppliers, and art educators.
Contact Dawnmarie Zimmerman for images
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