Phase Two
Mosaic Art Tile Project part of Cultural Olympiad 2008
The DVBIA was proud to co-present its Mosaic Art Tile Project as one of 60 arts and cultural organizations participating in Cultural Olympiad 2008 that ran February 1 to March 21, 2008.
In celebration of its 15th anniversary in 2005, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) launched a public art project aimed at beautifying downtown streetscapes. The project involved a collaborative process between DVBIA members and a team of artists to create 12 original tile mosaics, each measuring nine square feet and permanently installed in city sidewalks throughout the DVBIA’s 90 block area.
Phase two of the Mosaic Art Tiles Project created six more tiles to add to the collection.
As they did in 2005, accomplished local mosaic artists Liz Calvin and Bruce Walther spearheaded the design and production of the mosaics.
The piece-by-piece creation of the mosaics took place during the seven weeks of the Cultural Olympiad 2008. Artisans worked in Sinclair Centre where Vancouverites and visitors could watch the designs come to life, ask questions and interact with the artists. Members of the public were also invited to help design two of the mosaics.
Creating the Mosaic Art Tiles
Measuring nine square feet, each mosaic features a common border anchored with images of Vancouver’s natural environment, including an evergreen tree, the mountain skyline, billowing wind, and ocean waves. A commemorative bronze medallion designed to recognize the sponsors and the DVBIA’s 15th anniversary is positioned within the asymmetrical border of individual mosaic tiles. Different bronze medallions recognize participation in the 2010 Cultural Olympiad.
Each mosaic has a circular centre with a different abstract design reflecting a dynamic theme – such as people, entertainment, architecture, music, logging and fishing -- that captures the essence of downtown from both historical and contemporary perspectives.
CREATING A COLLABORATIVE MOSAIC
The creative process starta with a collaborative effort to come up with ideas for images that would reflect downtown Vancouver’s unique architecture, culture, heritage and lifestyle.
When each design is finalized it is drawn onto a mosaic cement mat so that the work of arranging the hand cut tiles into a beautiful image could begin - an intricate process called tessellation. Mosaic Artist Liz Calvin and CETA Artist Richard Newell are pictured working in their studios in 2005.
Measuring nine square feet, each mosaic contains between 3,500 to 4,500 hand cut ceramic pieces in a kaleidoscope of colours. Each original work of art takes approximately 160 hours to create. The final grouting of the mosaics takes place when they are permanently installed. All 18 tiles are now installed in downtown sidewalks. Watch for a complete map of the tile locations and descriptions to come.
Liz Calvin and Bruce Walther
Liz Calvin and Bruce Walther are the lead artists for the Mosaic Art Tile Project, as they were for the first phase in 2005. They are assisted by local art students and artists from CETA (Creating Employment Through Art).
Liz Calvin has been passionate about creating mosaics for 27 years now. Liz attended a school for Mosaic Art in Northern Italy for a year to learn firsthand the traditional ways. For the last four years, she has been fulfilling a life-long dream of creating both public and private mosaic commissions full time and also sharing with others her love for the medium by teaching adult classes and mentoring youth projects.
Her public art pieces can be found at the Broadway and Commercial Skytrain Station, on the sidewalks of downtown Vancouver in six different locations, at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver, and at Parkgate Community Centre and at Noble Cove Housing Project on the North Shore. Other mosaic work includes private commissions for shop signage and home interiors/exteriors, workshops and gallery pieces.
Bruce Walther is a glass and mosaic artist. He has done numerous stained glass commissions for private residences as well as public art commissions and community mosaic projects and workshops working with youth and street involved people with drug and mental health issues. Most recently he has just completed a private commission for the Sunrise Market in Vancouver's Strathcona and is presently working with some teenagers on a mosaic for the Community Centre in the village of Steveston.
Some of the projects he has worked on include the: Lonsdale Quay Fountain Mosaic (North Vancouver); Spirit Park Community Garden Mosaic (Winnipeg); Coho Creek Mosaic (North Vancouver); Rivers Mosaic Project (Port Coquitlam); Victory Square Stage Mosaics; Carnegie Living Footprints Mosaics; Hastings Community Centre Water Park Mosaics; three Strathcona Park Entranceway Mosaics, and six Sidewalk Mosaics for the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.
Sponsorship
Thank you to the following sponsors that have supported Phase One of this project. Phase Two was co-presented by Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
The Shon Group
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Imperial Parking Canada Corporation
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Hudson's Bay Company
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Tom Lee Music Co.
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Future Shop
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Bentall Capital LP
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Oxford Properties
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Titan Worldwide
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Manulife Financial
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Edgewater Casino
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by: Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
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Mosaic Art Tile proudly sponsored by:
Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
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2005 Finished Tiles
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2008 Tiles in Production
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A map with all 18 tile locations and descriptions is in production. Check back in September 2008. In the meantime, the 2008 issue of the Van Dop Arts & Cultural Guide to British Columbia has a downtown artwalk that includes 12 of the tiles.
The publication is free. Contact the DVBIA or Van Dop for your copy at 604-521-7887/1-888-981-9886 or artguide@art-bc.com.
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