2024 Presentation Series
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Mosaic: the Medium of Connection and Community
The 2024 Presentation Series will feature internationally celebrated mosaicists and cultural leaders who believe in the power of mosaic as a medium that can connect communities and infuse art in unexpected and undiscovered environments.
We look forward to welcoming Kate Pepin, Sue Majewski, Jessica Gorlin Liddell, Barbara Dybala, Yulia Hanansen, Vera Belikova, Jim Bachor and more to the SAMA main stage, Saturday, September 21, 2024. The full day of presentations will kick off with a Networking Breakfast and include breaks to engage with Mosaic Marathon, preview the Mosaic Art Salon and enjoy a buffet luncheon. The day will conclude with a dinner reception and Mosaic Art Salon Auction.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
8:30am – 11:50am
Live from Koko Mosaico with Tami Macala
Surrounded by Ravenna’s rich cultural heritage (UNESCO lists eight of Ravenna’s early Christian monuments as World Heritage Sites), Koko Mosaico continues to explore the language of mosaic yet never loses sight of past traditions. The studio is like an atelier from times past where one can buy and/or commission mosaics. During this live Zoom remote visit, Mosaic Arts Online and Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art Founder, Tami Macala will remotely share her visit with Arianna Gallo and Luca Barbarini in the studio. We will see behind-the-scenes as Tami films a new course and the collaborative process with this world class instructors.
Arianna Gallo: I was born near Ravenna on September 2, 1976. I graduated from the Mosaic Institute of Art ‘Gino Severini’ in 1995, and from the School of Mosaic Restoration (Soprintendenza of Cultural Heritage of Ravenna) in 1999. In 2005, my husband and I opened Koko Mosaico. I like to think of our laboratory as an open studio, full of light and international in character: a space where ideas become reality. At Koko Mosaico I take care of the commissions and the artistic collaborations in addition to teaching mosaic techniques.
Luca Barberini: I was born in Ravenna on August 21st, 1981. I graduated from the Mosaic Institute of Art Gino Severini in 2000; subsequently I attended professional courses and worked at a number of the mosaic studios in Ravenna. In 2005, together with my wife, Arianna Gallo, I opened Koko Mosaico. I’m a visual artist and I like expressing myself through my unique mosaic style and technique.
Mosaic Arts Online was born out of necessity. Owner and founder Tami Macala realized that many more students would like to learn from the instructors teaching at her Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art but were not able to get there physically. Inspired by her technically savvy husband, she built the first mosaic art online school and launched in 2015. https://mosaicartsonline.com/
Every Drop Counts: A Community Mosaic Project that Educates, Empowers and Engages with Kate Pepin
Artist and Activist Kate Pepin sought to inform the average person about water quality and in particular, widespread exposure to PFAS contaminants. She will share how she engaged more than three hundred people during the development of the mosaic mural in Flint Michigan,, and how this first project continues to engage a community recovering from severe contamination of their public water system.
She will also explain how she identified and received grants and funding to support the project.
Kate Pepin (Ann Arbor via New York) creates mixed media artworks and sculptures. She often incorporates found objects or natural materials in a manner which emphasizes their resiliency and beauty. Her works directly respond to the surrounding environment, and are drawn from the artist’s everyday experiences in nature, or in civilization, often recognizing the duality existing at the intersection.
Pepin’s work demonstrates how life extends beyond its own subjective limits and often tells a story about the effects of global cultural interaction over the latter half of the twentieth century.
Her works focus on concrete questions that reflect on the resplendence and fragility of our existence. katepepinarts.com/
Collaborative Mosaics- Using the Power of Teamwork to Create Beauty in our Communities with Jessica Gorlin Liddell
Join us for an inspiring exploration of collaborative mosaic-making. In this presentation, Jessica Liddell will delve into the art of community murals. Through engaging examples and stories, she will showcase the profound impact that these projects have on neighborhoods and public spaces. From schools to playgrounds to community centers, community art empowers participants and fosters a sense of shared pride.
Whether you’re a community organizer, educator, or artist passionate about the intersection of art and community engagement, this presentation offers practical insights and tips for leveraging the power of teamwork. In a world that is often polarized and divisive, opportunities for individuals to create together have incredible transformative potential. There is something so profound about a group of individuals coming together with the shared purpose of making artwork.
Jessica will explore the process of collaborative mosaic creation, from brainstorming to unveiling. She’ll discuss the invaluable role of communication, cooperation and patience in bringing these artistic visions to life.
Jessica Gorlin Liddell has been making mosaics professionally since 1997. Her work can be found in private collections and public spaces throughout the country. She has extensive experience with large scale installations. She also fabricates her own ceramic and fused glass tiles. Jessica’s business, Bella Mosaic Art, has been featured in numerous books and magazines. She and her work have appeared on the NBC 10 Show, Good Day Philadelphia, HGTV and the Travel Channel.
Jessica has created numerous community projects in schools, senior centers hospitals and places of worship. Enthusiastic about her craft, Jessica brings the art of mosaic to hundreds of children, adults and families each year. Through her work with municipal agencies such as the City of Harrisburg, The PA Turnpike Commission and the PA Arts Council , Jessica has won a number of grants giving her the opportunity to work in some very unique and inspiring spaces. bellamosaic.com
“Hello Barbara?”: Taking on Large Scale and Unusual Commissions with Barbara Dybala
Barbara will share the inside story behind the Texarkana Tractor, a large scale and unusual commission, from start to finish. Her insights and expertise with these commissions will educate and inspire. This presentation includes budgeting, planning, scheduling, client proposal, research, studio layout and workflow, and teamwork. Audience will participate during a Q&A session at the end. Engaging visual content includes photos of the entire process in a PowerPoint presentation.
Texas artist, Barbara Dybala, lives art….and art surrounds her.Creating art with mosaic has been part of her creative journey for many years. It is Barbara’s creative thought process that encompasses everything she sees. Barbara’s love affair is in designing and creating one-of-a-kind works of art that inspire others to feel deeply, to think, and to passionately create. People of all ages have come to discover their own creative passion through her workshops and classes. In 2010, Barbara and husband, David, decided to free themselves from the tightness of suburban living and build and live in an environment that feeds the soul. They purchased 8 acres of land in rural Rockwall County, and developed a comfortable home, studio, and area they named Hidden Mosaic. barbaradybala.com
Mosaic Magic: Inspiring Creativity Through Teaching with Ahmed Ibrahim
Discover the enchanting world of mosaics and the transformative power of art education in this engaging presentation. “Mosaic Magic: Inspiring Creativity Through Teaching” explores the journey of a mosaic artist and educator, highlighting the techniques, inspirations, and stories behind this timeless art form.
Learn how to inspire creativity and foster a love for art in students of all ages by using mosaics as a medium. From selecting materials and sketching to mastering the art of mosaics, this presentation covers the essentials of teaching mosaics while encouraging artistic exploration and personal expression.
Whether you’re an aspiring artist, an educator, or an art enthusiast, this presentation will provide valuable insights and practical tips to bring the magic of mosaics into your studio and beyond. Join us and unlock the potential of your artistic journey through the vibrant and captivating world of mosaic art.
Ahmed Ibrahim has been working in mosaics since 2000, Ahmed has always believed that the most important part of your practice as an artist is venturing outside of your comfort zone. Ahmed worked as part of the Sabry Mansour artist team designing and installing 4 large mosaic murals at the Ahram Canadian University in Cairo, as well as a project in Helwan University on the Festivals building. He has many public outdoor and indoor mosaic projects installed around the Greater Chicagoland area. Currently, along with completing public works, Ahmed is a Mosaic Teaching Artist teaching at the Hyde Park Art Center, The Art Center Highland Park, and The Stirling Hall Art Center. Ahmed’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and he has been awarded the Prix Picassiette Mosaic awards 2022 for off theme category. Ahmed has a Bachelor’s degree in Mural Arts from Helwen University in Cairo, Egypt. agimosaics.com
Narrowing the Gap between Large and Small Scale Community-Involved Installations with Sue Majewski
The goal of the presentation is to explain the process involved in Community-based involvement for completed mosaic installations. I’d like to explain various methods of going about getting the proper pieces created and then how to combine them for a complete cohesive mosaic installation. Proper planning and instruction for carrying out each step in the process will lead to a successful finished product. Q&A welcome, Power Point presentation used.
In college, Sue Majewski tried every art form —painting, clay, pastels, printmaking; “Once I started making things from other things, Mosaicing with a purpose—I was hooked!” Sue graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelors degree in Art. Her professional career was spent curating art galleries for a hospital system. She has been making and learning about mosaics for over 20 years. The real fun started when she decided to make art full time. Now, she is living her dream! sumajetski.weebly.com/
Pricing Your Mosaics for Sale and Commissions with Yulia Hanansen
When it comes to being a mosaic artist, perhaps the hardest thing to do is to price your artwork. The price has to be just right – not too high and not too low; it has to be convincing and fair to both you and your customer. It is even more challenging to price the mosaics that have yet to be created.
This presentation and discussion will shed light on how to come up with effective and accurate pricing for both finished mosaics and those yet to be accomplished. Yulia Hanansen will discuss both the material and artistic value of your mosaics and introduce the pricing formulas she uses to price her small and large-scale pieces. She will also discuss how to price work for websites and galleries that charge commission, as well as how to set prices that can later be modified for sale events and special offers.
Part of this presentation will be dedicated to how to write estimates for your mosaic commissions and how to itemize your estimate so it is comprehensive and transparent to clients.
Yulia will answer your questions during a Q&A period at the end of the presentation.
Yulia Hanansen is a second-generation artist. She has been professionally involved in mosaic making since 2001. Her Mosaic Sphere Studio, LLC was the first mosaic studio/gallery in the state of Michigan to showcase and represent mosaic artwork. The studio is currently located in the charming city of Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where Yulia works and lives. Pieces include architectural installations, wall pieces, back-splashes, wall art, public and community projects.
Yulia is a recipient of numerous awards for her mosaic and printmaking artwork, including “Best in Show” and “Juror’s Choice” awards at Mosaic Arts International. Her works have been exhibited in galleries nationwide and internationally.
Artist’s latest works represent her fascination with themes of nature, climate change, cosmos, and the connection of human beings to it. She is interested in depicting places and natural phenomena that often can only be seen with the help of technology.
Yulia holds B.F.A. from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, an M.A. from the University of Michigan, and an M.F.A. from Columbia University. mosaicsphere.com
Color in Mosaic with Vera Belikova
Vera is going to introduce you into a set of basic rules and definitions that help you understand how colors behave and interact in mosaic. You will also see why the color wheel is the best friend of a mosaicist and why French pointillists already knew how to use color in mosaic. Additionally you will be able to learn about the use of color from the analysis of works created by the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli, mosaic artists Giulio Candussio, Tatiana Dubovskaya, Jae Hee Kim, Joanna Kessel and even French pointillists Paul Signac and George Seurat. A short interactive activity will entertain you and allow you to take back home a digital tool that will guide you next time you have to create your color mixes with smalti. The presentation will finish with an opportunity to exchange your experience and impressions on color perception.
Vera Belikova has been Master Mosaicist since 2017 when she graduated from the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli. In 2018 she created two mosaic sculptures for the Apulia Region in Italy, one of which as a guest artist at Apulia Land Art Festival. In 2018 she won Sprech Agorà Design Contest, presenting a pouf with mosaic inlays, which was lately exhibited at the Milan Design Week. In 2019 she installed a mosaic sculpture in Turin for the festival Cavallerizza Irreale. In 2020 she exhibited next to Paola Navone and Elena Salmistraro in the Superstudio+ Gallery in Milan in the show of female art and design curated by its founder Gisella Borioli. Upon invitation of Giulio Menossi she represented Russia at the international mosaic symposium in Mexico in 2023. In March 2024 she held «Color in Mosaic» four-day course in Austin, Texas for the first time in the US. Throughout her carrier Vera has mainly collaborated with the mosaic artist Giulio Candussio. She is currently working on her personal projects, delving into such aspects like color and terrazzo. verabelikova.it
Dragging mosaics (kicking & screaming) into the 21st century with Jim Bachor
Bachor adapts the ancient art form of the mosaic and applies it to contemporary American life. From potholes to junk food to breakfast cereal, his vibrant work permanently locks into mortar unexpected concepts drawn from the present. By harnessing and exploiting the limitations of this indestructible technique, Bachor’s work continually surprises the viewer, while challenging long-held notions of what a mosaic should be. His pothole art project has attracted world-wide attention since 2013. Public commissions include “thrive” at the CTA’s Thorndale Red Line station and “RUN CHI” located within Niketown in downtown Chicago. Bachor’s work has been featured on “CBS Sunday Morning”, the “Kelly Clarkson Show”, NBC Nightly News, PEOPLE magazine, Oprah Winfrey’s “O” Magazine and Chicago Magazine. bachor.com