Unfurled Mosaic Mural

Click on photos to enlarge

Dear Henry and Steve,

We did it! The mosaic installation for which you so generously provided Laticrete thinset and Spectralock is on the wall and it is gorgeous! We can't thank you enough for providing such superior materials to work with, and it's a great feeling to know that the mosaic will stay strong and beautiful indefinitely.

I'm attaching a press release about the project as well as a couple of photos. Designer for the project is Lin Schorr of Lin Schorr Mixed Media Mosaics, and Project Manager is Pam Goode. The mosaic is located on the outside wall at Ciel Gallery, 128 E. Park Avenue, Charlotte, NC  28203.

Again, I can't thank you enough for your support, and I look forward to thanking you both in person one day.

All the best,

Pam
www.cielcharlotte.com



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Public Art Ribbon Cutting in SouthEnd Charlotte January 18

From: Ciel Gallery + Mosaic Studio
128 E. Park Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28203
www.cielcharlotte.com

For More Information or High Resolution Images: Email Pam at pam@cielcharlotte.com
Images Included: Overall Installation and 2 Details, Unfurled

Unfurled, a collaborative glass mosaic created by over fifty professional mosaic artists, has been installed in the heart of Southend Charlotte. A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and dedication will be held Saturday, January 18 at 4:00. The public is cordially invited to attend and meet many of the artists involved in the 8' x 17' mural.

Coordinated by Pam Goode of Ciel Gallery + Mosaic Studio, the mosaic covers about 100 square feet on East Park Avenue. The lush art nouveau style design was created by Lin Schorr of Lin Schorr Mixed Media Mosaics, Novi, Michigan. 

"Every city benefits from public art," says Goode, "and Charlotte is no exception. We wanted to add a piece to the Art & Design District that would be colorful, vivacious, interactive, and expertly constructed. The mosaic contains fun scavenger hunt elements such as a frog, heart, and chameleon camouflaged in the greenery. We want the public to explore the shapes and forms and hopefully become a bit inspired."

The project has been underway for about a year. Having worked together on several of Schorr's previous collaborative projects in Michigan, Goode was eager to team up in Charlotte. Once Schorr completed the design and carved it into manageable sections, Goode put out a call to artists and selected over fifty to participate. Soon the petals, leaves and ferns made their way to Charlotte from across the US as well as from Canada, Germany, and France. 

"Response to the project has been fabulous," says Goode. "All of the art was donated; in fact, we received participation requests from about three times as many artists as we could use for this project. We knew we wanted to create a piece for Charlotte that would highlight the beauty of glass mosaic as well as provide as many artists as possible with a professional piece for their portfolios. We weren't able to secure funding through usual channels, so a successful Kickstarter campaign helped us cover the bulk of the installation costs, and Laticrete International generously donated adhesive and grout for the project."

Installers included Schorr, during a week-long visit from Michigan, as well as artists from Hickory, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia. Most of the grouters were local, adding to the Charlotte flavor of the artwork and giving even more artists an opportunity to participate. Charlotte iron forger Theron Ross provided the frame. "We're thrilled that Unfurled benefits not only art lovers in Charlotte," says Goode, "but global and local artists as well. It just fits perfectly with the mission of Ciel."

Ciel Gallery has been a Southend fixture since 2008, and was the first gallery in the US dedicated to fine art mosaics. Located at 128 East Park Avenue, Ciel features rotating juried exhibitions, outreach, and a full slate of classes as well as workshops by visiting artists from across the US. Partners Teresa Hollmeyer, Tina Alberni, and Goode all participated in the Southend mural.