Middle Ground, Sophie Drouin, Rachel Sager
Middle Ground: A Conversation in Stone with Sophie Drouin and Rachel Sager
Sunday, April 28, 2019, 9:00am – 1:00pm
You may have heard Sophie Drouin talk about listening to the rocks. You may have heard Rachel Sager talk about walking the line. But you haven’t yet heard them talk about doing these two very distinctly mosaic things together. For the first time, these two powerhouse voices of the mosaic world are sharing a stage to tell you their adventurous story of working together.
As colleagues, they have learned from and taught each other. As friends, they have struggled through the growing pains of a dynamic relationship. Through the ups of adrenaline-filled, late-night brainstorming, they will help you to see how necessary it is for artists to bridge gaps, take risks, and jump into the unknown. Through the downs, they will share with you the trials and solutions of long-distance collaboration. This presentation will be wide-ranging and cover topics such as basic mosaic problem solving, the ongoing conversation about material vs language, working together effectively, the generosity of ideas, and your very important role in the future of mosaic as a medium.
Listen to Rachel and Sophie describe the roller coaster ride of two very different people building a middle ground with tesserae and words. What started out as a simple exercise of back and forth response in stone and line, blossomed into a deeper challenge that has made them both better artists. Their 21- piece collaboration, which will be exhibited at Vanderbilt University during the conference week, spans four years and has become the most important conversation they have ever had together.
Internationally recognized, award-winning mosaic artist Sophie Drouin is admired for her eclectic vision and artistic experimentation. In early 2018 she was the Invited Artist at SAMA’s Mosaic Arts International exhibition in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the first North American-based artist ever to be given this special honor on her own. Ms. Drouin is the English editor and chief translator of the French publication ‘Mosaique Magazine’. Her art has been featured in professional exhibits in Italy, France, the United States, and Canada. She has performed as a juror in several important competitions and has taught technique classes at many mosaic studios. Classically trained in Canada, Italy, France, and the United States, she is lauded for her innovative work in combining natural stone and marble materials with mosaic glass and metal, in both traditional and modern styles. Her works include wall hangings, sculptures, window hangings in Dalle de Verre, and other uniquely textured and contoured techniques. SophieMosaics.com
Rachel Sager, The Forager Mosaicist, works on the cutting edge of the contemporary mosaic fine art movement. Her innovative work has been represented in cities throughout the U.S. and internationally and has been awarded multiple bests of show in juried exhibitions. Her Marcellus Shale Series stands as a true Pittsburgh success story and her work is collected with passion by private clients and corporations all over the world. Rachel’s commitment to the classical language of mosaic paired with her intuitive andamento style has shaped a strong voice in the mosaic world. She brings these classical techniques home to the here and now of the present American mosaic movement. Rachel proudly hails from the foothills of Appalachia and passionately preserves her storytelling, hillbilly roots as she weaves the colorful tales of family, nature, self-reliance, humor, and the legacy of coal through the lens of mosaic. Whether she is digging into the earth of her native Pennsylvania, traveling the world as a teacher and speaker, or working as the pioneer of The Ruins Project, her mission to build the line continues to inspire new generations of mosaicists. RachelSagerMosaics.com
