Marvelous Mosaics!

Check out the mosaics students at Laurel Highlands Middle school accomplished!  I worked with students in the school who are in the gifted program with Mrs. Crutchman.  The first week I worked with all the students and we did paper and collage mosaics to get some ideas formulated.  Some students scoffed at this work until we looked at Eric Carle's work from books like The Hungry Caterpillar that is made from paper and collage works.

I also worked with the Life Skills group and they took home some really great works too.  The custodian at the school made by hand some wooden pieces for this group and after I grouted the pieces used resin/epoxy to cover the glass.  I think this group had a great time creating their pieces too.

We used recycled glass from Youghigeny Glass in Connellsville along with glass gems and even a huge bucket of glass from a broken basketball backboard.  The students had lots of glass and material to choose from for their art pieces.  The younger groups eventually created mosaics using canvas boards and tile glue.  They did not grout their pieces because the canvas boards could not hold that much moisture without the boards warping.

The older groups worked in teams of 2 and 3 for one long class period to create their designs.  The teams worked well and really did make some great pieces that will eventually hang in the school.  The hope is that these pieces will eventually get the same resin process as the smaller works.  The school students and administration certainly were very supportive and helpful.  Another great residency sponsored in part by The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art.  Don't let the Arts go away in your school!