AVAM celebrates second phase of mosaic project

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

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By the numbers, the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) has 1,920 square feet of curving wall surface, and is comprised of 165 separate cement panels. Thanks to the Community Mosaic Wall Project, a program whose participation includes high school students, at-risk youth and others, that surface is being covered with pieces of broken mirror, stained glass, bottles, donated ceramics, and other materials that have been worked into constellations and other shapes. Weighing in at approximately 13,000 pounds at completion, the mosaic incorporates 1,200 pounds of stained glass, hundreds of blue glass bottles, and is attached to the wall with 1,320 fasteners.

AVAM celebrates the completion of the second phase of the mosaic project on Saturday, May 19, starting at noon. (The first phase, which was constructed between 2001 and 2003, resulted in the creation of mosaics to adorn the walls along the Key Highway side of the museum. The second phase will continue the project along the barrel-shaped walls and carry over to the plaza).

Students from what was then Southern High School (now Digital Harbor High School) worked on the first phase of the mosaic. The second phase has been compiled by individuals from the Maryland Youth Residence Center, the Schaeffer House, Youth Advocacy Program and Female Probation Unit.

According to museum spokesman Pete Hilsee, the fact that the mosaic was constructed by untrained artists dovetails into the museum’s community focus.
“That’s the really cool thing,” Hilsee said. “Kids would come in expecting—well, not knowing what to expect, but immediately would be given this artistic responsibility, and the ability to design things and express themselves.”

AVAM artists in residence Jack Livingston (Phase I) and Mari Gardner (Phase II) worked with the students and other youth on the project, according to Hilsee, and helped guide them along through the process of mosaic creation.

“So you would have these kids making mosaic panels by doing everything from laying down mortar and mixing it to breaking up glass and mirrors. And you would see their faces—they would just be transformed by this process.”

The mosaic is made of uniquely Baltimore materials—mirror (Baltimore was once a glassmaking center, and had several competing companies that exclusively made mirrored glass)—and what would become known as ‘Baltimore Blue Glass’ because of the city’s production of the blue-colored glass used in packaging by Bromo-Selzer and Noxzema. The result is a glittering wall that reflects the sunlight.

The museum, according to Hilsee, prides itself “on being open to the community, and (the mosaic and the artists that work on it) are definitely a part of that. The museum has a long history of working with the community and of making art with found objects.”

“The project as a whole is yet to be finished,” said Hilsee, “because all the concrete surface of the building as a whole will be covered.”

AVAM plans to formally introduce the second phase of the project with a community celebration entitled, “Bling It On.” And make no mistake, said Hilsee, this will be a fun time.

“We’re going to have a whole ribbon cutting and we’ll have dignitaries.”
And lest that sound too dry, the Edmondson Village Westsiders, a high-stepping percussion marching group, will also be present.

Best of all, said Hilsee, will be the presence of the artists themselves, who will get to see their work installed in its finished form.

“Their work becomes a permanent part of Baltimore’s architecture. And whatever trajectory their lives take, they can always come by and see their work and know they are a part of this.”

Note: “Bling It On! The Community Mosaic Wall Celebration at the American Visionary Art Museum” officially opens its second phase on Saturday, May 19 at noon. The public is welcome. Info: 410-244-1900 or www.avam.org.