| A hundred years ago--or so it seems--my college art | | | | creation--it is unmatched in sculpture and architectural |
| teacher gave me the address of a stained-glass shop | | | | skill. |
| owned by two generous brothers. Their stained-glass | | | | Mosaic differs from regular stained glass in that the |
| scraps and many visits sustained me through 36 | | | | glass is applied to a surface with glue rather than held |
| years of teaching. I recently donated two large | | | | together with lead strips (such as church windows). |
| boxes and four large, full shopping bags of the glass | | | | The surface to which glass can be applied varies |
| remains to the Museum of Contemporary Art School | | | | greatly depending upon the artist's need. With the |
| here in Chicago. They will do more mosaics and | | | | exception of plastic, glass can be adhered easily to |
| continue a tradition that dates back to the 12th | | | | most surfaces with white glue. My students worked |
| century and the Byzantine Eastern Roman Empire. | | | | on wood this time. |
| We come by some materials in circuitous ways. The | | | | Students began their mosaics by first sketching three |
| art department received a gift of approximately 30 | | | | to six drawings in black, white and color. We also did |
| tiltable drawing tables. Not really having room for | | | | a collage unit using colored papers to "pre-create" and |
| them, our teachers gave many to students | | | | translate their projects into glass. |
| interested in starting their own art studios. Other | | | | A sequential development of the project goes from |
| tables were to be disposed of. I took 12, detached | | | | black and white, to color (markers), to paper and/or |
| the drawing boards from the stands, and used them | | | | felt, and then to glass. It depends how involved with |
| for glass mosaics. | | | | materials you wish to be. |
| We first prepared the boards by sanding the wooden | | | | By this time, my students have already seen many |
| surface to remove any varnish. | | | | slides of student and professional work, as well as |
| Next, we painted the surface with white gesso, | | | | church windows to understand the basic process. |
| which was used to reflect the colors of the glass | | | | An overhead projector is also used to see the colors |
| tesserae (small pieces of mosaic glass) back into the | | | | as the pieces are placed on the viewing screen. Color |
| room. Using a color other than white would absorb | | | | mixing in easy because the transparent media allows |
| and change the glass colors. | | | | change when pieces are overlapped one. |
| We wanted the colors as brilliant as possible. White | | | | The gesso process comes first, and then the |
| glue, which dries clear, would then be used to glue | | | | placement of the broken glass pieces, each about |
| the glass to the surface. The relationship of glass and | | | | the size of a quarter. |
| light is unique. The reflective qualities of glass hide | | | | Leave a space about the thickness of the edge of a |
| many errors when used in mosaic student work. (The | | | | dime between the glass pieces for the spackle or |
| boards under the glass really took a beating from | | | | grout, which is then applied in the space between |
| hammers, glass cutters and so on.) We did mosaic | | | | each piece with a spatula or tongue depressor. This |
| art as opposed to transparent window art. Eastern | | | | ensures a solid, regular surface. |
| Roman Empire mosaic was a natural follow up to | | | | Glasscutters or hammers were used to create the |
| using stones and clay to work out patterns. Since I | | | | shapes used in the projects. |
| had a file of slides of previous student works, and of | | | | If using a hammer to break glass, all breaking must |
| Byzantium slides, my artists knew what was | | | | be done under newspaper or between the pages of |
| expected of them. | | | | a magazine. A strong paper bag can be used as well. |
| Byzantium was the flower of the mosaic craft | | | | Nippers can be used to clip edges and points. |
| steeped in religious tradition. | | | | Cover carefully to protect the eyes (needless to say, |
| Mosaics seemed to suit the extremely rigid sacred | | | | goggles are the best safety measure). When using a |
| atmosphere of Byzantium, and transparent stained | | | | glasscutter, care must be taken to hold it upright |
| glass adapted well to the more fluid Western | | | | with the teeth facing away from you. Bear clown |
| cultures. | | | | vigorously as you put the cutter toward you to |
| Christianity changed mosaics from a minor to a major | | | | ensure a clean cut. When you see a white line in the |
| craft. Emperor Constantine had the first Christian | | | | glass, it is cut. It is not necessary to carve the glass |
| church built in Rome, over the tomb of the Apostle | | | | like a turkey. One cut ensures separation when you |
| Paul decorated with mosaic glass. Glass mosaics were | | | | tap the glass on the back of the white line. The |
| used extensively in Byzantium art and architecture. | | | | teeth of the cutter are used for trimming different |
| Through each century from the 12th century to the | | | | widths of glass--it takes practice! What is necessary |
| present, various improvements in aesthetics and | | | | is the teacher's personal supervision, anticipation of |
| methods, combined with inventive accidents, brought | | | | situations and being able to put your hands in spackle |
| stained glass to its present state. In England, Charles | | | | or grout. Rubber gloves can be used if you are |
| Winston (1814-1864) explored and revised many of | | | | worried about drying skin. Hand lotion was kept on |
| the old techniques and glass formulas that had | | | | hand for more sensitive young artisans. |
| become lost over the centuries. | | | | Too many students working on one mosaic makes |
| Glass makers around the world use his revised | | | | for problems in completion. Two or three students to |
| formulas today. | | | | a large panel is a more careful approach. Only one lad, |
| The 20th century's prime examples of mosaic as a | | | | David, chose to complete his own panel, his own |
| creative media can be found in the surrounding walls | | | | way. We were both very proud and it now hangs in |
| of California's Watts Towers, slowly built by one | | | | the dean's office. |
| man, Simon Rodia, over many years as a naive | | | | |