Trust, Problem-Solving, and Discovery: Navigating the Ups and Downs of a Crowd-Sourced Mosaic with Julie Sperling

Saturday, February 6, 2021, at 11:00am EST

Imagine putting the fate of one of your most important mosaics in the hands of dozens of complete strangers. Well, that’s exactly what Julie Sperling did when she created the centerpiece for her most recent solo exhibition. Responding to Julie’s open call for contributions, 70 people from all over the world sent her materials to incorporate into this mosaic, and boy were their offerings both diverse and creative. Listen as she tells the story of how she made sense of it all, including all the bumps and breakthroughs (and breakdowns) along the way. This unique project had plenty of lessons learned, which Julie will share with you, including scoping the call for materials, navigating logistical issues, striking a balance between honoring the contributions while maintaining her artistic vision, and other critical parts of the creative and decision-making processes. The stories and knowledge shared will hopefully inspire risk-taking, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. There will be time at the end of the presentation for audience members to ask questions.

Julie Sperling is an award-winning Canadian mosaicist camped out at the intersection of art, environment, science, and policy. Since 2014, she has dedicated her artistic practice almost exclusively to the issues of climate change and the Anthropocene. She has served as the City of Kitchener’s Artist in Residence, and the collaborative climate action mosaic she made with the community is now part of the city’s permanent collection. She firmly believes in the important role that artists can play as advocates, activists, and change-makers. sperlingmosaics.com/