For years, I have had the idea to use mosaic as a way of nurturing a feeling of community and belonging.
I feel passionately that art should be a communal, not just individual experience. So I mused on the idea of running small workshops to help people create a mosaic (with a common theme) to display outside their home.
I sat on the idea for quite some time and then one day, I realised that my own neighbourhood has its own symbol – a kite – derived from the shape that is created if you draw round the boundaries of the political ward we are in.
And so the Mosaic Kite Trail was born! People come together, often in family or friendship groups, and create a mosaic kite to display outside their home (with or without their door number).
All the materials are pre-cut so its easy for everyone to take part. So far, there are nearly 100 mosaic kites in the trail here in my local neighbourhood!
Now I want to see how far we can stretch this idea, so….
For those of you who live near Furzedown in South London…
The next Mosaic Kite Workshop is on Sunday 29th June, 3-5pm at Seely Hall, Chillerton Road. Cost is just £15 per mosaic. Please let me know if you plan to come so I know how much material to chop!
For those of you who live far (far) away…
…people have been asking, “Is the mosaic trail just for Furzedown, or can we join in too?”
The mosaic trail is a small way of creating connection in a neighbourhood, but maybe, just maybe, it is possible to create connection through a mosaic trail that over time pops up in neighbourhoods in London, Copenhagen, Mexico City, Rome, Cape Town, Cape Cod, Melbourne, Colombo, New York and beyond.
A little piece of handmade art (and as we know, mosaics do last for centuries!) connecting us through a whimsical symbol of freedom, play and happy times (we can all do with more of that, no?)
So, the question has been asked to me and now I am asking it to you. Wherever you are in the world, would you like to join in the mosaic kite trail?
Whether you are mosaic maker / teacher / enthusiast or just an observer into this crazy little world of mosaics…does the idea of a global mosaic trail have legs?
I have ideas of how we can do this through video / local teachers and would welcome your ideas and thoughts!
Concetta x
Sounds like a great idea!
Sabiha, Toronto, Canada
Aspiring Mosaic Artist
Hi. Concetta, I live in Perth Western Australia ad would love to take part. I teach at a local Community House and I think that this would be a great project. How do we participate?
Regards
Dorothy
Great idea. I am attempting to teach myself mosaics because I do love them. I’m in West Michigan.
Hi Concetta: Love this idea. I teach mosaics at our Mental Health Drop in Centre and a few other places. I live in beautiful Kelowna, B.C. Canada. What is the next step??
Great idea to make a kite to link around the World. I’m in Sunny Suffolk, UK. How do we participate?
Hi, Concetta, i soul love to start a trail hére in my villares of Hanwell, (Banbury, Oxon). White guidelines would i need to follów?
Would love to start something in Singapore or in Chennai(India) 🙂
How do I go about it?
Concetta, See me earlier comment about the Kite Trail. I am also the Western Australian representative for the Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand. Our group is keen to participate and we have arranged a social day for 23 July where we will make kites.
Please let me know if you have any specific requirements.
Regards
Dorothy
Hi all
a web page will be up very soon with details of how to take part – so glad you all want to be part of it 🙂
Hi Concetta
I organise a local craft group in Perth Western Australia and we are very interested in making Mosaic Kite to add to the train. What do I need to get involved. Our ladies are all ready and enthusastic.
Hi Concetta, I am a mosaic artist and teacher in Auckland, New Zealand and I love this idea – how do I participate? Looking forward to hearing from you.
Very energetic post, I loved that bit. Will there bee a part 2?