By John Kriz
In true community fashion, dozens of young and old New Canaan ‘volunteer artists’ gathered late last week and over the weekend in New Canaan Library https://www.newcanaanlibrary.org to help create a mosaic mural, soon to be installed under the balcony in the library’s Cioffi Family Living Room. This project has been made possible by a generous grant from the Horizon Foundation. According to the library, “This large-scale work of art will engage visitors and reflect the Library’s place as a haven for wonder, reflection, and timeless exploration for years to come.”
Artist couple Joanne and Bruce Hunter, owners of Art Spot https://www.artspotinfo.com in Danbury are leading the effort, and were instrumental in helping the library bring its vision of a true community-built art piece to fruition.
The 8×9 foot artwork depicting a slightly abstract forest scene is comprised of about 35 colors of glazed tiles like those found in a bathroom. All the tiles (called tesserae) are custom cut by the ‘volunteer artists’ and glued in place on six boards according to a pattern designed by the Hunters. Finally, about ten different colors of grout will be added — all carefully chosen and placed to create a cohesive whole.
“The library wanted something that was contemplative,” said Ms. Hunter. “It’s going into a big library — what they call their living room. And it is a place where people converge for conversation, for discussion, but also for just some solitude and some ability to spend some time quietly. So this particular image appealed to them because it’s very calming, and yet there’s a lot of movement in this. And where it’s being placed, there’s a big skylight above it, so the light’s going to hit it beautifully. And when the light hits mosaic murals made out of this glazed tile, they sparkle fabulously.”
The community participation aspect is an important part of the project. Said Ms. Hunter: “What we’ve learned very quickly is that when all these people touch this mural, it’s like their fingerprints are on it, and there’s a different pattern and rhythm to every person’s work. And it just adds to the richness of the art piece.”
Ms. Hunter concluded, noting, “People can make public art, and you can see this happening right in front of your eyes. Public art, I believe, should be made by the people who are going to be living with it. I think it’s a wonderful experience. Very few times do people get to do something bigger than themselves. Lots of people paint, but you’re painting singularly, usually at your own studio, at your own easel. This is truly something that brings tons of people together to make art collaboratively.”
The mosaic mural should be completed, with all the glue and grout dry, about a week after the first tesserae were placed. A formal unveiling will occur once the mosaic mural has been installed.
