In previous lives, I was a costumer and a quilter. Upon seeing the work of Anton Gaudi in Barcelona’s Park Güell, I fell in love with mosaics. I knew it was my art form, never looking back. The energy released by breaking tiles and dishes, then recreating something different is what attracted me. I started my mosaic career on Bainbridge Island, Washington where I lived on a beautiful road called Crystal Springs, hence the name for my mosaic business. In 2018, I moved to Tucson.
My first mosaic art pieces were broken household ceramics recreated into steppingstones. Then I progressed to tabletops, picture frames and mirrors. I created one-of-a-kind functional art for the home and garden, including indoor and outdoor tables, birdhouses, signs, holiday ornaments, magnets, and jewelry. Today I am focusing on tapestry mosaic or embedded mosaic art which is not grouted. Now I use many items that can’t be grouted such as broken jewelry, plastics, acrylics and other found objects and combine them with traditional mosaic glass tile. The pieces are placed so close together the spaces for grout disappear.
Recreating memories by reusing materials is an important part of my work. The best of this art is when someone gives me a broken dish, a single earring or beloved out-of-style necklace and I can give it back re-imaged and ready for another life. Participating in community art projects and creating architectural installations makes me a happy artist.
Teaching the art of making mosaics to others – both kids and adults – is one way to show how things that are broken can be made whole again. My teaching experience includes working with kids from ages 6-15 in classroom settings. For over 12 years, I have taught adults beginning to advance mosaics classes including creating outdoor mosaics, sign making, and mosaicking 3-D objects. Now most of my teaching focuses on creating tapestry mosaic. I enjoy working with adults to create new memories with the objects they have collected or to celebrate lasting friendships while creating personalized gifts for a bride, or a special birthday.
I show my tapestry mosaics at SAAG (Southern Arizona Artist Guild) at the La Encantada Mall in the Catalina Foothill. I teach at SAAG and now Blue Raven. www.CrystalSpringsMosaics.com