The Buggy Garden Mosaic - Grouting, Day 1

This is the continuing story of the mosaic mural I created for Hug A Bug Preschool in El Cerrito, California. A workshop was held on November 17th for 15 parents to each make a small mosaic insect to be incorporated into this larger mosaic work to be permanently installed on their site. 

 The install went smoothly on December 10th and the next day I arrived to begin grouting. The weather reports called for a small rainstorm to hit in the early evening so I had a feeling the grouting wouldn't be finished in one day. And I was right! 

 Grouting a mural with the type of "terrain" of this one is a difficult process. Some of the figurines stand out an inch from the base while other tessarae are very flat...some are glossy in texture while others are porous...and some tessarae are very meaningful to the individual who created the "bug". And the grout itself has to have a texture (not too thick yet not too runny) that can easily fill in all sizes and shapes of grout joints! So I knew that grouting this was going to be a slow and painstaking process. And I was right!! 

 But there is such a wonder when "the reveal" begins - the wiping away of the grout and slowly buffing each piece into a high shine!

 As expected, though, the weather took a turn for the worse - dark, damp, cold and blustery....so I stopped and will go back and finish tomorrow.

 

Jill Gibson

As people know, I have a special place in my heart for Jingletown, a small neighborhood in Oakland. I love the name. It comes from back in the day when the working men walked home on Friday nights, jingling their pay in the pockets - hoping to attract the ladies! Nowadays it is an urban Mayberry - filled with artists living in live/work lofts who 
have covered the 'hood with art. I am also one of those artists 
who has mosaics on the walls there.

Jingletown is also where I have participated in Open Studios for the past 5 years. I have mostly shown at the 4:20 Gallery on Peterson Street with a small group of artists. One of those artists is Jill Gibson. She is a quiet woman who exudes a calm grace. She was once a model and a songwriter. And her art is gorgeous. 
She makes sculptural pieces to hang on your wall. All of them include scenes from nature but her best ones, I think, are of the female form. 
These are reminiscent of ancient goddess sculptures.  
I own one of them and love it! 
She also does paintings, photography and much more.

Many of her original art works are in the private collections of  
Max Factor,  Guy Webster, Michael Savage, The Seattle Museum, 
Jack Nicholson, and a fifteen foot 
photo montage in The Los Angeles Free Clinic. Who knew, while hanging out at the 4:20 with her?!?!

Well, one rainy boring day, I happened to Google Jill's name. Lo and behold - I got a lot more then I planned on. It turns out that this shy woman has a life story! She was, for a short time, a member of the Mama's and Papa's singing group. But there is more too!

Below are the links to her Wikipedia site and also her website. Enjoy!

Jill Gibson is just one more reason why I love Jingletown....a place filled with characters and a surprise around every corner!
Jill Gibson's Wikipedia page
Jill Gibson's Website